US law firm mergers on the rise?

Altman Weil's MergerLine reports that 13 law firm mergers were announced in the three months ending Sept. 30, up from only seven in Q2, while Hildebrandt International's MergerWatch reports seven mergers closing in Q3 compared to nine in Q2. The largest merger in Q3 was Bingham McCutchen's combination with 120-lawyer Nelson McKee.