Bricker & Eckler, Graydon law firms announce plans to combine

Columbus-based law firm Bricker & Eckler LLP and Cincinnati-based law firm Graydon Head & Ritchey LLP have announced their plans to merge effective April 3, 2023. Once merged, the firm will operate under the name, Bricker Graydon LLP.

“Both Bricker & Eckler and Graydon come to this merger with strong values, strong cultures and strong community ties, and we expect that to grow with this merger,” said Jim Flynn, Managing Partner of Bricker & Eckler. “We’re strategically bringing together a strong public sector practice at Bricker with a strong private sector practice at Graydon. Our shared values will strengthen our practices geographically and increase the breadth and depth of skills of our professionals.”

“Graydon has always been guided by what’s best for our clients and our people,” said Mike Debbeler, Chair of Graydon’s Executive Committee. “In our conversations with Bricker, we found a firm with complementary strengths, allowing us to offer clients expanded services. In this merger of equals, it is a natural add given our complementary practices and our shared history of commitment to community and public service.”

Once combined, the firm will boast expertise across eight industries including Banking & Financial Services, Colleges & Universities, Education (Pre-K to 12), Energy, Health Care, Insurance, Manufacturing and the Public Sector. Attorneys will serve clients in 20 practice areas including Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Economic Development, Employee Benefits, Estate Planning, Non-Profit, Labor and Employment (including Workers’ Compensation), Public Finance, Real Estate, Real Estate Financing, Real Estate Transactions and Tax Law.

This is the first merger for 77-year old Bricker and 152-year old Graydon. Though both have independently considered mergers in the past – an increasing trend in the legal world — it was important to each that any match aligned with strategic business priorities including diversity, equity and inclusion, family-centric cultures and community leadership.

Both firms are recognized for charitable giving, pro bono legal services and volunteerism to advance under-served communities in partnership with education, health and human services, environmental, economic development and arts organizations. Initiatives such as achieving Mansfield Rule Certification and Certification Plus, a rigorous 12-month collaboration with the Diversity Lab each year to grow the number of underrepresented groups of attorneys in leadership roles at law firms will continue.

The combined firm's roster of lawyers will become approximately 208, with a total headcount of approximately 378. Along with an expanded bench of experienced talent, the merger will enable the firm to serve clients from 12 offices across three states, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Graydon currently maintains locations in downtown Cincinnati; the Over-The-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati; Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky; Liberty Township, Ohio; and Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Bricker has offices in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Marietta, Barnesville, and Lebanon, Ohio. All offices will remain open and the firm will eventually combine the Cincinnati-based team into the downtown Scripps Center where Graydon's office is currently located.

About Bricker & Eckler LLP
Bricker & Eckler’s 77-year history is deeply rooted in public service. Combining these values with business savvy leadership, the firm’s team of lawyers represents clients across the country including businesses and corporations, nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, health care entities, school districts, municipalities, banks and insurers. Bricker has a strong track record of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Beginning in 2021, the firm joined leading law firms across the U.S. in receiving Mansfield Rule 4.0 Certification and Certification Plus aimed at growing the number of underrepresented groups of attorneys in leadership roles. Bricker serves clients across the country through offices located across Ohio in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Marietta, Barnesville and Lebanon. For additional information, please visit bricker.com.

About Graydon Head & Ritchey LLP
Graydon strives to be Greater Cincinnati’s most innovative, vibrant, and inclusive law firm, recognized by our clients as an indispensable partner, providing exceptional service and expertise. With deep legal knowledge, and even deeper empathy, Graydon serves clients in a variety of industries, in practically all areas of law, including Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation; Business Services; Financial Services; Labor & Employment; Litigation; Private Client Services; Family Law; and Real Estate. Headquartered in Downtown Cincinnati, Graydon also has offices in Over-the-Rhine, Liberty Township, Northern Kentucky, and Lawrenceburg, Indiana, to help us better connect to the communities we serve. For additional information, please visit graydon.law.