The material apparently covered general background information on the larger firm and did not include any explicit reference to a merger.
There have been mounting expectations that Heller is pursuing a merger bid with Bakers in recent weeks.
Both firms have steadfastly refused to comment or deny the talks, though one former Heller partner this month told Legal Week that discussions do concern a full union with Bakers.
Heller is known to have actively pursued a merger as the West Coast firm moves to regain the initiative after an 18-month period in which it has lost more than 30 partners.
The San-Francisco based firm has up until now been linked to Chicago’s Winston & Strawn and Proskauer Rose but Bakers is currently viewed as the most likely prospect.
A union with Bakers would potentially create
It is believed that Heller partners have a weighted voting system meaning that senior partners would have more clout in backing or blocking a merger proposal.
Asked for comment on why information regarding Bakers would have been given to Heller partners, a spokesperson for Bakers today said: “Like all leading law firms, we are continuously studying the market for strategic growth opportunities. At any given time, we may be in discussion with a number of individuals, practice groups or firms around the world. By policy, we do not comment on such discussions until they are positively concluded.”
See Editor's Blog: Will Heller secure the big deal?