Law firms are getting back to the business of growing, and mergers are the quickest way of accomplishing that goal.  For the first 9 months of 2011, there were 43 firm combinations , up 79% from the same period in 2010, when the number was 24.  Those statistics were compiled by law-firm consultancy Altman Weil Inc. In Q3 of 2011, 14 mergers were announced - 11 of which came from acquisitions of firms with 35 attorneys or fewer.  The biggest was the merger of the 500-attorney Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge in Boston with 160-attorney Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon in Chicago.   Another notable merger was between Indianapolis-based Ice Miller and Schottenstein Zox and Dunn, of Columbus, Ohio, creating a 300-attorney firm. In addition, New Orleans-based Jones Walker, which has about 300 lawyers, merged with 67-attorney Watkins Ludlam in Jackson, Miss. Ward Bower, a principal at Altman Weil, said he expects the increase in mergers to continue - "there's pretty big stuff in the pipeline."    [Reuters, 10/3/11]