Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, a full-service law firm in Southfield, today announced it’s merging with Taft Stettinius & Hollister, a law firm with offices across the Midwest and the District of Columbia. The merger is scheduled to be finalized on Dec. 31.
Taft, which was founded in 1885, operates a “non-headquarter” model in seven primary Midwest markets and the District of Columbia, with each office operated by local leadership and offering legal expertise across a diverse array of practice areas.
After joining Taft, the current Jaffe leadership team will continue to lead and make Detroit market decisions, and many will step into firm-wide leadership roles, serving on Taft’s executive committee, all other major committees of the firm, and chairing practice groups.
“Jaffe is starting a new, modern chapter by joining Taft,” says Mark Cooper, CEO of Jaffe. “Taft shares our entrepreneurial mindset, Midwestern values, and commitment to culture, community, and client service. Our ability to leverage Taft’s resources and expertise will provide an opportunity to drive even greater value and results to our clients.”
The combined full-service firm, with more than 800 attorneys, will offer a broad spectrum of legal services to a wide range of industries, representing all significant practice areas.
“At Taft, our pervasive ‘client-first’ approach is central to who we are and how we operate,” says Robert J. Hicks, chairman and managing partner of Taft. “By combining with Jaffe, we welcome a cohesive, talented, and experienced group of attorneys and staff to our team offering expanded expertise to clients. As in all of our mergers, we also look forward to continuing to support the Detroit regional community, …”
Founded in 1968, Jaffe represents public and private clients throughout the Midwest and United States, and internationally, with a Midwestern rate structure. As part of its focus, the firm represents and advises entrepreneurs and businesses nationwide
With offices in Southfield and Detroit, Jaffe currently is the seventh-largest law firm in metro Detroit with more than 120 attorneys representing 25-plus practice areas.
“Jaffe was founded more than 50 years ago and has created a firm centered on client service and exceptional legal counsel. By joining Taft, a firm that shares our values and client-first approach, we ensure the legacy of the firm will continue for generations to come, in alignment with our foundational principles,” says Arthur Weiss, chairman of Jaffe.
For Taft, the merger allows the firm to enter its eighth Midwest market — the second-largest in the Midwest. With the Jaffe combination, Taft will have major offices in seven of the nine largest Midwest metropolitan markets.
Taft has completed five mergers/combinations in the past 15 years — Briggs & Morgan (Minneapolis) in 2020, Shefsky & Froelich (Chicago) in 2014, Chester Willcox & Saxbe (Columbus) in 2012, and Kahn Kleinman (Cleveland) and Sommer Barnard (Indianapolis), both in 2008. The firm has grown its attorney headcount by more than 85 percent in the past five years.
For more information, visit Jaffelaw.com and Taftlaw.com.
