Locke Lord and Troutman Pepper announced their merger back in September 2024, creating Troutman Pepper Locke LLP, a law firm with more than 1,600 attorneys across 33 offices in the United States and Europe. This merger effective January 1, 2025, marks the launch of a firm capable of delivering expanded services across a broad range of industries and legal practice areas.

Both Locke Lord and Troutman Pepper have consistently ranked highly in Patexia’s IP reports across various practice areas, reflecting their strong commitment to excellence in intellectual property law.

What the Merger Means for IP Practices

The formation of Troutman Pepper Locke creates a unique opportunity to leverage the strengths of both legacy firms. By combining their resources, the new firm is poised to handle even more complex IP matters with efficiency and depth. Key advantages include:

Enhanced Geographic Reach: With offices in major IP hubs, the firm’s expanded footprint allows it to serve clients where innovation thrives.
Deeper Industry Expertise: The merger brings together complementary strengths in industries such as pharmaceuticals, technology, and energy, enabling the firm to offer tailored IP strategies to clients.
Stronger Litigation Teams: The combined litigation teams enhance the firm’s capacity to manage IP disputes, especially in areas like ANDA and ITC litigation.

Tom Cole, chair of Troutman Pepper Locke, described the merger as a key advancement for the firm: “This merger is a strategic leap forward, allowing us to offer an even broader and deeper suite of services to help clients solve complex legal challenges. The increased scale strengthens our ability to handle matters across an expanded geographic footprint and underscores our continued commitment to client service, efficiency and innovation.”