Sherman & Howard merges with Taft

Denver-based Sherman & Howard LLC announced Monday it has merged with Taft, resulting in a firm with more than 1,000 attorneys from Washington D.C. to the Mountain West. The merger is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Founded in 1892, Sherman & Howard is Denver’s oldest firm. Taft is even older, with roots dating back to 1885. As each firm looked to expand its services for clients, leadership at both firms quickly realized the synergies between them. In addition to each firm having a more than 130-year history of growth and success in their respective regions, the firms shared many other commonalities.

“From the inception of the firm in 1892, we have helped shape the businesses and cities where we work and live. When we began discussions with Taft, we were immediately drawn to their collaborative, value-driven approach, and the success they have achieved by merging with firms that have a strong, local presence like we do,” said Sherman & Howard CEO Stefan Stein. “The alignment of our client-focused, people-first cultures, and the commitments to our respective communities, made this an easy decision.

“While working with the same attorneys and staff with whom they have long-standing relationships, our clients can now leverage a deeper bench and expanded service offerings both regionally and nationally,” Stein added. “We’re looking forward to starting this new chapter in our history by combining with Taft, a future-focused firm like ours.”

All eight of Sherman & Howard’s offices will join Taft’s nine primary markets, increasing the number of states with Taft offices to 10, plus Washington, D.C. In addition to expanding locations and strengthening client service through the merger, Sherman & Howard will become an integral part of Taft’s firmwide leadership structure, which gives deference and decision-making autonomy to local market leadership, while maintaining a cohesive “One Taft” delivery model.

“We welcome the respected and talented group of attorneys and staff from Sherman & Howard to our team,” said Taft Chairman and Managing Partner Robert J. Hicks.

Taft has completed six mergers to expand its footprint in the past 16 years, including Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss (Detroit), Briggs & Morgan (Minneapolis), Shefsky & Froelich (Chicago), Chester Willcox & Saxbe (Columbus), Kahn Kleinman (Cleveland), and Sommer Barnard (Indianapolis). In 2022, Am Law 100 recognized Taft as the nation’s fastest-growing law firm.

Through significant organic growth and strategic mergers in expansion markets, Taft’s revenues have grown to more than 400% of what they were at the beginning of 2017, while its lawyer headcount is approximately 275% of what it was at that time. Growth beyond the Midwest has been part of Taft’s strategic vision for several years, beginning with its expansion to Washington, D.C. in 2021.

With the addition of Sherman & Howard, Taft’s projected 2024 combined revenues are $810 million, and its projected 2025 revenues are $875 million. Taft presently is ranked number 83 on the Am Law 100 list, but based on its growth in revenues, its ranking will move up substantially following the merger.

Sherman & Howard completed four mergers and expanded its footprint in the past 17 years. Those mergers included Cage Williams; Netzorg, McKeever, Koclanes & Bernhardt (Denver); Mohr, Hackett, Pederson, Blakley & Randolph P.C. (Phoenix); and Krabacher & Sanders P.C. (Aspen), creating two new office locations with an expansion in Arizona.

Along with Colorado and Arizona, Sherman & Howard has offices in Nevada and New Mexico.