Marietta, Ohio, is getting a new legal anchor as Bowles Rice LLP officially completes its merger with Theisen Brock, establishing the Charleston-founded firm’s very first physical footprint in Ohio and deepening its reach across the Mid-Ohio Valley.
The November 1, 2026, agreement brings 10 attorneys and 16 professional staff members from Theisen Brock directly into the Bowles Rice fold, according to the formal announcement published by bowlesrice.com. Rather than opening a de novo storefront, Bowles Rice is planting its flag in Marietta by retaining the firm’s existing offices at 424 Second Street, making it the seventh overall location for the regional powerhouse alongside its nearby operations in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Strategic Growth Along the Ohio River
For a firm that traces its roots back to Charleston in 1920, the push into southeastern Ohio represents a calculated play for regional dominance. Managing Partner Marc Monteleone made clear that expansion has always been about chemistry rather than mere square footage.
We have been actively exploring opportunities to grow our presence in Ohio, but our focus has always been on finding the right opportunity, not simply getting bigger,
Monteleone stated in the merger announcement. The Ohio River Valley is a growing region, and this merger will strengthen our ability to serve clients as they pursue new opportunities and expand their businesses.
That cultural alignment centers heavily on Theisen Brock’s six-decade history in Marietta. The firm built its reputation on long-standing client relationships and a full-service practice model spanning business law, oil and gas, litigation, and estate planning. Longtime partners Jerry Brock and Abraham Sellers helped steer the combination, bringing institutional knowledge that complements Bowles Rice’s existing multi-state footprint spanning West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and now Ohio.
Bridging Two States With One Unified Team
The geographic proximity between Bowles Rice’s established Parkersburg office and the newly integrated Marietta location creates an unusually dense operational corridor for clients working across state lines. The combined roster will pool resources across complex corporate matters, real estate transactions, and taxation issues unique to the Appalachian basin’s industrial and energy sectors.
Jerry Brock noted in the release that joining Bowles Rice is a natural next step for the firm and its clients, adding that they have great respect for Bowles Rice, its people, and the reputation the firm has built throughout the region.
Clients doing business in the Mid-Ohio Valley will see day-to-day continuity as the former Theisen Brock lawyers transition under the Bowles Rice banner. Abraham Sellers pointed to the early alignment in philosophy as the catalyst for sealing the deal.
We saw an opportunity to bring together two teams that share a similar philosophy about client service, collaboration, and community involvement,
Sellers added. We are excited about what that means for our clients and about the opportunities ahead with us operating as one firm.
