As we celebrate 25 years since the merger of Nixon Peabody, we’re sharing the stories of attorneys and staff colleagues who were here from the start. We’re excited to continue our spotlight series with a Q&A featuring Allan Cohen, Partner and Office Managing Partner of Nixon's Long Island office.
Tell us about your role in 1999, when Peabody & Brown merged with Nixon, Hargrave, Devans, & Doyle. Describe what the firm was like then and how it changed post-merger.
I first joined the firm in 1998, so I was just settling in when the merger happened. At the time, there was a lot of excitement and a lot of confidence that the merger was a great deal for both firms. It was transformative for Nixon Hargrave, as it catapulted us from being a well-regarded regional firm to a national player. It changed not just how clients and potential clients looked at us but also how we felt about ourselves.
Fast forward to today. What does this 25-year milestone mean for the firm?
There are a lot of mergers that do not work out—either the integration of the firms doesn’t go well, and people leave, or it’s not a true merger of equals, and some people don’t feel that they have a place in the combined firm. Our combination was successful because each firm had a strong individual culture and a recognition of the values shared between us.
What do you think have been the key drivers of the firm's success over the years?
Both firms came together with highly professional and well-skilled lawyers and embraced a spirit of collaboration among the combined firm’s “new” offices that already existed within each firm. The additional depth and breadth of practice, combined with a broader geographic footprint, definitely drove our success.
How do you see the firm's role and impact on the industry evolving in the next decade?
We’ve proven that you can be in a firm with top-notch lawyers that places tremendous value on liking the people you work with. I believe that post-Covid, things like that mean more to people than they used to. Nixon Peabody is a destination for attorneys and professional colleagues who want to work in that sort of environment.
