Will Thelen — Or Heller — Be the First to Find a Dance Partner?

[WSJ_law_blog]

Thelen or Heller Ehrman — which firm will find a dance partner first? Last week, all eyes were on Heller, which reportedly flirted with Baker & McKenzie before launching talks with Mayer Brown (which, as far as we know, haven’t yet culminated in anything).

Today, however, the spotlight has swung back to Thelen (which rhymes with “wheelin’,” not “failin’”). According to the National Law Journal’s Leigh Jones, Thelen is in talks with Nixon Peabody. A combined firm would have about 1,150 attorneys.

A spokesman for Thelen did not confirm to the NLJ that it was speaking specifically with Nixon Peabody, although he said that the firm is actively pursuing a merger partner. The firm has lost several partners in recent months and, earlier this year, made a splash by laying off 26 associates, a sum which now seems rather modest.

In a statement released by Nixon Peabody, the firm said: “While we are open to considering growth opportunities that are consistent with our strategic objectives and criteria, it would be inappropriate to comment on any specific discussions at this time.”