Over the years, Hogan & Hartson has made no secret about its intention to expand. In 1990, the Washington law firm opened its first international outpost, in London.

After Chairman Warren Gorrell took the helm in 2001, firm revenue doubled as he supervised the acquisition of offices in Munich, Beijing and Abu Dhabi.

But the firm's growth has mostly occurred in fits and starts by snapping up smaller offices in the United States and abroad -- until May 1 when the already big firm doubled in size after formally completing its merger with Lovells, a London-based firm with a similar growth strategy and 29 offices worldwide.

The combination is likely to propel the longtime D.C. firm into the top three among U.S. firms in both the number of attorneys and gross revenue.