Rudisill v. Arnold White & Durkee, P.C.

MAJORITY OPINION

ADELE HEDGES, Chief Justice.

Appellants filed this declaratory judgment action seeking a declaration of their rights following the combination of two law firms, Arnold White & Durkee, P.C. (“AWD”), and Howrey & Simon (“H & S”), which combined to form Howrey Simon Arnold & White, L.L.P. (“HSAW”). Appellants, Stephen Rudisill, Ronald Coolley, and Slawomir Szczepanski, were AWD shareholders at the time of the combination. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of AWD. We affirm.

I. Background

In 1999, AWD and H & S entered negotiations to combine their operations. AWD’s…