Baker & Daniels LLP and Faegre & Benson LLP today announced the combination of their law firms following a vote by partners in both organizations. The combined firm will begin operations as Faegre Baker Daniels on Jan. 1, 2012.

"We embarked on this journey from the beginning with our clients in mind," said Andrew Humphrey, managing partner at Faegre & Benson. "Both firms identified strategic expansion as important to continue providing the high-quality services and expertise required by our clients. And that remains our focus: meeting the needs of our clients."

In addition, B&D Consulting, a division of Baker & Daniels, will become FaegreBD Consulting on Jan. 1, 2012. The combination will give the organization a total of 815 lawyers and consultants.

"The size and added capabilities of the combined firm will give us the ability to devote more resources to larger projects, bring deeper and broader experience to complex matters and transactions, and provide greater expertise in certain niche areas," said Tom Froehle, chief executive partner at Baker & Daniels. "We also believe this more visible platform will help attract and retain the highest caliber talent. Ultimately, this will help us provide better value to our clients."

As Faegre Baker Daniels, the firm intends to maintain 13 offices in the United States, China and the United Kingdom. Founded in Minneapolis, Faegre & Benson also has offices in Des Moines, Iowa; Denver and Boulder, Colo.; Shanghai; and London. Baker & Daniels has two locations in Indianapolis, where it was founded, and offices in Fort Wayne and South Bend, Ind.; Chicago; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing.

"Each firm currently serves clients from coast to coast and internationally, but we are excited about the combined capabilities and integrated resources we'll be able to offer clients," Froehle pointed out.

Humphrey will become managing partner of Faegre Baker Daniels, and Froehle will serve as the combined firm's chief operating partner. Humphrey, a corporate lawyer at Faegre & Benson for 24 years, has been a member of his firm's management committee since 2006 and served as chair and managing partner since March 2010. Froehle, who has practiced in public and municipal finance at Baker & Daniels for 23 years, has been on his firm's management committee since 2000 and served as chair and chief executive partner since January 2008.

"Another primary benefit of this combination is the creation of a true national firm with strong international capabilities," Humphrey said. "We have strong footing, leadership and legacies across our geographies that we intend to leverage for Faegre Baker Daniels. We view this combination as an opportunity to use a 'one firm,' cross-office approach. We expect lawyers, consultants and staff to continue to operate and have leadership roles across all offices."

Baker & Daniels was founded in 1863 and Faegre & Benson in 1885.

"All of our professionals are proud of our respective firms," Froehle said. "One of the things that made this combination possible was our similar histories, cultures and shared values. Our focus will be to build upon each of our existing strengths and these shared values to create a combined organization that can deliver more value than either could on its own."