CHICAGO— Husch Blackwell , a full-service law firm, and Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek , one of the top business and litigation law firms in the state of Wisconsin, recently completed a merger, creating a firm with more than 700 attorneys, including one of the larger real estate practices in the US. The combined firm has retained the Husch Blackwell name and will continue to operate in all markets where both firms currently have offices. With the addition of WHD's offices in Milwaukee, Madison and Waukesha County, WI, as well as Chicago, the combined firm has offices in 19 cities. Kansas City-based Husch Blackwell and WHD had combined annual revenues of about $346 million in 2015, placing the firm among the Am Law 100, The American Lawyer's annual ranking of the nation's 100 top-grossing law firms . “It's important for a real estate practice to have boots on the ground,” Caroline L. Hermeling , who leads Husch Blackwell's real estate development and construction team, tells GlobeSt.com. And considering the key role it plays in the nation's real estate, “Chicago is certainly one of the cities we're most focused on expanding into.” Whyte Hirschboeck had about 140 attorneys, mostly in Wisconsin, and about 10 in Chicago. Husch Blackwell already had about 25 in the city, and the offices will physically combine on August 1. But Hermeling says the firm also plans to hire additional real estate attorneys for the Chicago office. In addition to giving the firm a significant presence in the state of Wisconsin, the merger brings a nationally-recognized condominium association practice to Husch Blackwell, she adds, among many other client services. Husch Blackwell's real estate practice already had a national profile due to its work on stadiums in five major sports. For example, the firm was special counsel for the lease negotiations between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Wisconsin Center District , a public agency that owns the city's new $500 million arena. The lawyers at Husch Blackwell also handle the real estate needs of a number of publically-traded companies, and represent a host of levee and flood control districts that stretch from Iowa to Arkansas. In addition to this Wisconsin move, Husch Blackwell also recently merged with firms that had offices in Dallas and Houston, giving it the geographic coverage it sought. “We feel that Husch Blackwell now covers the mid-continent very well,” says Hermeling. The combined firm will also have offices in St. Louis, Springfield and Jefferson City, MO; Austin; Chattanooga and Memphis, TN.; Lincoln and Omaha, NE; Denver; Phoenix; Washington, DC; and London. Husch Blackwell CHICAGO— Husch Blackwell , a full-service law firm, and Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek , one of the top business and litigation law firms in the state of Wisconsin, recently completed a merger, creating a firm with more than 700 attorneys, including one of the larger real estate practices in the US. The combined firm has retained the Husch Blackwell name and will continue to operate in all markets where both firms currently have offices. With the addition of WHD's offices in Milwaukee, Madison and Waukesha County, WI, as well as Chicago, the combined firm has offices in 19 cities. Kansas City-based Husch Blackwell and WHD had combined annual revenues of about $346 million in 2015, placing the firm among the Am Law 100, The American Lawyer's annual ranking of the nation's 100 top-grossing law firms . “It's important for a real estate practice to have boots on the ground,” Caroline L. Hermeling , who leads Husch Blackwell's real estate development and construction team, tells GlobeSt.com. And considering the key role it plays in the nation's real estate, “Chicago is certainly one of the cities we're most focused on expanding into.” Whyte Hirschboeck had about 140 attorneys, mostly in Wisconsin, and about 10 in Chicago. Husch Blackwell already had about 25 in the city, and the offices will physically combine on August 1. But Hermeling says the firm also plans to hire additional real estate attorneys for the Chicago office. In addition to giving the firm a significant presence in the state of Wisconsin, the merger brings a nationally-recognized condominium association practice to Husch Blackwell, she adds, among many other client services. Husch Blackwell's real estate practice already had a national profile due to its work on stadiums in five major sports. For example, the firm was special counsel for the lease negotiations between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Wisconsin Center District , a public agency that owns the city's new $500 million arena. The lawyers at Husch Blackwell also handle the real estate needs of a number of publically-traded companies, and represent a host of levee and flood control districts that stretch from Iowa to Arkansas. In addition to this Wisconsin move, Husch Blackwell also recently merged with firms that had offices in Dallas and Houston, giving it the geographic coverage it sought. “We feel that Husch Blackwell now covers the mid-continent very well,” says Hermeling. The combined firm will also have offices in St. Louis, Springfield and Jefferson City, MO; Austin; Chattanooga and Memphis, TN.; Lincoln and Omaha, NE; Denver; Phoenix; Washington, DC; and London.