Here come the newcomers to Connecticut. In recent months, Philadelphia's Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, the international firm of Locke Lord Edwards and Maine's Verrill & Dana have invaded the state.

Also, Carlton Fields Jorden Burt; Dickstein Shapiro; Hinckley, Allen & Snyder and other “foreigners” have expanded their presence. Add that to the increasing strength of regional players like Day Pitney; McCarter & English; and McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter and it appears we may be in the midst of a market consolidation in Connecticut.

Does this mean our indigenous firms are in trouble? Will we eventually become a state where most of our “big law” lawyers are affiliated with firms based out-of-state? Bear in mind that Chambers & Partners' roster of ranked law firms contains 14 indigenous firms and 14 local offices of firms based out-of-state. Even five years ago this was not the case.