Major law firms Weil Gotshal & Manges and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz are currently advising on the $22 billion buy-out of Kinder Morgan. Weil Gotshal’s Boston corporate partner James Westra is representing Kinder Morgan, and Wachtell corporate partners Daniel Neff and David Silk are representing the buyer.
Source: www.legalweek.com
Cooley Godward to Merge with Kronish Lieb
In a move to become a full-service firm with a national presence, Silicon Valley-based Cooley Godward will merge with New York’s Kronish Lieb Weiner & Hellman. Effective October 1st, the new entity will be known as Cooley Godward Kronish and employ 550 attorneys firmwide.
Source: www.nylawyer.com
Firms Report Need for Bankruptcy Associates
Anticipating an increase in bankruptcy and restructuring cases for 2007, firms across the country are expressing the desire to grow the practice area. This includes many major Texas, New York, and California firms. All report the desire to expand their staffs by at least 10%, particularly with mid-level lateral attorneys.
Source: www.law.com
Wachtell Lipton Tops Survey
In an annual survey conducted by Vault.com, New York’s Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz placed number one as the most prestigious law firm in the country. The rest of the top ten was dominated by major NY firms.
1 Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz New York, NY
2 Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP New York, NY
3 Sullivan & Cromwell LLP New York, NY
4 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP New York, NY
5 Davis Polk & Wardwell New York, NY
6 Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP New York, NY
7 Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton LLP New York, NY
8 Latham & Watkins LLP Los Angeles, CA
9 Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP New York, NY
10 Kirkland & Ellis LLP Chicago, IL
(From Vault.com’s 100 Most Prestigious Firms)
Akin Gump to Move Manhattan Office
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld will move its Manhattan office to One Bryant Park in 2008 upon completion of a new, 54-story tower. The firm will occupy 203,218 square feet across six floors of the building. With 20 attorneys recently added to its New York practice, Akin Gump expects to hire 75 more by the time of the move.
Source: www.law.com
Raises at Gibbons Del Deo
New Jersey-based firm Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione announced associate raises effective as of January 1 for its New York and Newark offices. First-year associates will earn $125,000 for 2007, a 23% increase over its 2006 rate. Gibbons Del Deo employs 200 attorneys and has additional offices in Trenton and Philadelphia.
Source: www.law.com
Montgomery McCracken Gives Raises, Looks to Grow
Philadelphia-based firm Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads will raise first-year associate pay to $125,000 annually as of September 1st. The change keeps pace with earlier moves by other Philly firms. Montgomery, which has five offices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, currently employs 170 attorneys, but will look to grow the number “comfortably over 200 attorneys,” according to chairman Stephen A. Madva.
Source: www.law.com
Greenberg Traurig Opens Tampa Office
Greenberg Traurig is set to open its 27th office in Tampa, Florida this Tuesday. Starting small, the office will initially house four attorneys. Greenberg expects plenty of business in the city, though, as 25% of the state’s GDP is currently produced in the Tampa Bay area. Looking to grow the office over time, managing partner David B. Weinstein states: “…make no mistake, our goal is to develop a full-service office that is a significant player in the Tampa Bay legal market.” Greenberg employs approximately 1,300 lawyers.
Source: www.law.com
L.A. Office for Venable
In a move to expand its national presence, Washington, D.C.-based firm Venable LLP has opened a new office in L.A. throught the aqcuisition of two boutiques: Gorry Meyer & Rudd L.L.P. and Whitwell Jacoby Emhoff LLP. The move brings twenty attorneys to Venable, with a total of approximately 500 firm-wide. Venable has offices in Washington, New York, Maryland, and Virginia.
Source: www.law.com
Fish & Richardson Picks Up Eight from Andrews Kurth
Fish & Richardson has snared 8 business and litigation attorneys from Texas giant Andrews Kurth. Citing Fish & Richardson’s exceptional IP practice as the main appeal in the move, the new attorneys will bring the Austin office’s total to twenty. On the other side, Andrews Kurth managing partner Rex VanMiddlesworth is disappointed and notes that “…business is strong and our struggle is to just get enough folks to do what we need to do.”
Source: www.texaslawyer.com
