Adams and Reese, a 300-lawyer firm based in New Orleans, is expanding into Memphis. The office will open with an initial staff of 15 attorneys picked up from Armstrong Allen, but the firm plans to quickly increase the size of the office. Source: www.law.com
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Kelley, Drye, & Warren and Collier Shannon Scott have officially merged. In the new structure, the staff of 400 attorneys will operate under the name Kelley, Drye, & Warren in all offices except D.C., which will use the name Kelley Drye Collier Shannon. Source: www.law.com
Tags: Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Dallas firms Munsch, Hardt, Kopf, & Harr and Gardere, Wynne, Sewell have raised associate salaries. Both firms maintain offices in Dallas, Houston, and Austin. Gardere Wynne, who employs 278 attorneys, will now pay first-years $140,000. Munsch Hardt employs over 100 attorneys and has set first-year pay at $135,000. Source: www.law.com
Tags: Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. | AustinThree more major Texas firms have announced raises for associates at all experience levels. Dallas firm Winstead, Sechrest & Minick has bumped first-years to $135,00 with a $5,000 potential bonus and Houston-based Fulbright & Jaworski’s first-years will earn $140,000. Baker & McKenzie will pay associates in Dallas and Houston $140,000 with a $10,000 potential bonus for the first year. Source: www.law.com
Tags: Houston2005 saw a 12.93 percent increase in lateral hiring in Texas over the previous year, according to Texas Lawyer’s recent study of 18 of the state’s largest firms. Akin Gump recorded the most at 95 lateral hires, and Corporate and Securities came in as the hottest practice area with 97 total hires accross the surveyed firms. Source: www.law.com
Pittsburgh-based firm Reed Smith and UK firm Richards Butler are working to complete a merger deal by the end of May, creating a 1,300 attorney entity with a worldwide presence. The deal would not only grow Reed Smith’s presence in London and Paris, but also in the Middle East and Asia. Source: www.law.com
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Plans are now in the works for a new Singapore office, as well as for an increase the size of the London practice. Within two years, the firm expects to grow in size to 1,000 attorneys, nearly doubling its current staff of 600. Source: New York Lawyer
Tags: Duane Morris LLP | New York
Boston firm Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo is expanding into California, recently aquiring a small Palo Alto boutique and expecting the same in L.A. and San Diego. This follows similar moves by Boston firms Goodwin Procter, Wilmer Cutler, and Ropes & Gray. Source: New York Lawyer
Tags: Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. | New York
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius has cleared the extensive Chinese approval process and will open a new office in Beijing. The continuing relationship between Silicon Valley and Chineese technology industries has made it a necessary and appealing step for the firm. Morgan Lewis employs 1,200 attorneys in 20 offices worldwide. Source: www.law.com
Tags: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP | Beijing
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has raised salaries for Texas associates at all levels. The firm’s first-years will now earn a base of $135,000 with an additional $5,000 bonus. Akin Gump employs 900 attorneys worldwide and has Texas offices in Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Source:www.law.com
Tags: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | Austin