Pepper Hamilton and Reed Smith’s merger discussions, though still in the early stages, were moving along in a positive direction, according to sources close to the firms, until they stopped abruptly on the afternoon of 22 April due to a complex series of factors.
In a rare move for a firm looking to end talks of a combination, Pepper Hamilton issued its own statement rather than a joint announcement. The firm made it clear that it was Reed Smith that reached out to Pepper Hamilton and that it was Pepper Hamilton that was ending the discussions with an eye toward staying true to its strategy and culture.
