Bowditch & Dewey, Kenney & Sams to merge

Worcester law firm Bowditch & Dewey and Boston-based Kenney & Sams will merge as of Jan. 1.

The merger was announced by the firms on Dec. 18. The combined firm will carry the Bowditch & Dewey name.

Bowditch & Dewey has a staff of about 70 lawyers, while Kenney & Sams has a roster of about 20 lawyers.

Bowditch & Dewey has long been one of Worcester’s biggest firms. The business was founded in Worcester in 1914 as Thayer, Smith & Gaskill. The Bowditch name was added in the 1950s, followed by the Dewey name in 1970. Kenney & Sams was founded 20 years ago.

The firm has had other mergers, including one with Sheridan, Garrahan & Lander of Framingham in 1991.

Earlier this year, several lawyers from Bowditch left the firm for a Worcester office of Boston-based Prince Lobel Tye.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Bowditch & Dewey of Worcester to merge with smaller Boston-based firm

Reporting by Mike Elfland, Worcester Telegram & Gazette / Telegram & Gazette

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