WORCESTER—Two longtime Massachusetts law firms are becoming one, a move they say will strengthen legal services across Worcester, MetroWest and Boston.
Bowditch & Dewey LLP and Kenney & Sams PLLC announced this week that they are merging, combining their attorneys, practice areas and offices into a single firm operating under the Bowditch & Dewey name. The merger takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.
The combined firm brings together Bowditch’s more than century-long presence in Central Massachusetts and Greater Boston with Kenney & Sams’ boutique litigation and risk management practice. Bowditch, founded in 1914, focuses on areas including business and finance, real estate and environmental law, litigation, employment, family law, and estate and tax planning. Kenney & Sams, founded about 20 years ago, concentrates on civil litigation, including construction, employment, business and real estate disputes, as well as insurance coverage and personal injury matters.
In a statement announcing the merger, Bowditch Managing Partner John Shoro said the move “will solidify our presence in Central Massachusetts, MetroWest and Boston, and add a significant number of experienced trial attorneys to our firm as we continue our growth.”
Kenney & Sams co-founder Chris Kenney said the merger aligns the firm’s courtroom experience with Bowditch’s broader resources. “Aligning our courtroom experience with Bowditch’s wide array of practice areas and extensive legal resources produces a combined law firm that is bigger, better, and stronger,” Kenney said in the release.
Michael Sams, co-founder of Kenney & Sams, said the merger creates a full-service firm for clients. “The significant high-end practice area depth that Bowditch brings combines so well with our strengths in trial work, litigation, and risk management,” he said.
Under the agreement, both Kenney and Sams will become equity partners and co-practice leaders within Bowditch’s litigation department. The firm will maintain primary offices in Worcester, Boston and MetroWest, along with additional locations in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island.
Bowditch Chief Operating Officer Tina M. Bussone said the merger positions the firm for continued growth. “As we approach 2026, we will be able to attract and retain legal talent in this competitive market and offer new opportunities to our attorneys and staff,” she said in the announcement.
