Morning News Roundup for Wednesday

This morning:

Atlanta’s Troutman Sanders LLP has closed on a deal to merge with Washington, DC’s Ross, Dixon & Bell LLP…

Detroit’s Dickinson Wright PLLC is expanding into Nashville, picking up Stewart, Estes & Donnell’s 19 lawyers…

President-elect Obama announced the nominations of four well-known lawyers to key posts in the Justice Department, including deputy attorney general, the number two spot…

Sponsors of California’s gay marriage ban accused Attorney General Jerry Brown of advancing a “far-fetched” legal theory to justify overturning the homophobic initiative…

Chicago’s Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP will pay associates bonuses — but will freeze salaries in 2009…