Reed Smith is in talks with Chicago firm Sachnoff & Weaver over a possible merger. Based in Pittsburgh, Reed Smith is looking to continue the expansionary trend it has set over the past several years. The recent merger with London-based Richards Butler is effective as of January 1st, and will bring the firm to a total of 1,300 lawyers. Reed Smith currently has 18 offices, including Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
Source: www.law.com
Chicago-based Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw is in the process of expanding to Hong Kong, looking to grow their global stature. If they can navigate the red tape, Mayer Brown would join the list of big firms in China, including Baker McKenzie, Hogan & Hartson, and Sullivan and Cromwell. Mayer Brown employs approximately 1,400 lawyers in 13 offices worldwide.
Source: www.law.com
Virginia and Washington, D.C.-based firm LeClair Ryan has opened a new office in Manhattan. The practice will start with three partners, headed by Paul A. Merolla, and focus on financial services and corporate bankruptcy. LeClair Ryan currently employs 140 lawyers firmwide.
Source: www.leclairryan.com
Ford & Harrison, an Atlanta-based firm that employs about 170 lawyers, has acquired Chicago boutique Matkov Salzman. The move brings 9 new partners to Ford & Harrison, along with the rest of the Chicago firm’s staff. Ford & Harrison focuses its practice on labor and employment and has 16 offices nationwide, including New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, and Washington, D.C.
Source: www.law.com
St. Louis-based Armstrong Teasdale has made another expansionary move, acquiring San Francisco boutique Senn Meulemans. The move brings 9 new attorneys to Armstrong, as well as offices in San Francisco and Las Vegas. The firm employs 264 lawyers in 11 offices worldwide, including Washington, D.C. and Shanghai, China.
Tags: Armstrong Teasdale LLP | Shanghai
In a bold move, two private equity attorneys have left King & Spalding’s New York practice, taking on new jobs at Nixon Peabody. Dominick DeChiara and Bradley Vaiana’s lateral move will strengthen Nixon Peabody’s New York practice, which currently employs approximately 100 lawyers.
Source: www.nylawer.com
230-attorney firm White & Williams has grown its New York office through the acquisition of local boutique Koerner Silberberg. The union brings five new lawyers to the firm, two as counsel and three at associate level. White & Williams has eight total offices, including Wilmington and Pittsburgh.
Source: www.nylawyer.com
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham is currently in merger talks with Preston Gates & Ellis, a Seattle-based firm that employs 400 attorneys. The combined firm would be composed of 21 offices and a total of 1,400 lawyers, and would bring a strong Asian presence to Kirkpatrick.
Source: www.legalweek.com
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld will be the next to move into Beijing with plans to open a new office within the next 2-3 months. The firm plans to send two U.S.-based partners to head the office. Akin Gump employs over 900 lawyers in 15 offices worldwide.
Source: www.law.com
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips has given its associates another raise in pay, with first-years now earning $145,000 anually. Manatt employs 300 attorneys and has offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, Sacramento, New York and Washington, D.C.
Source: www.law.com
