Downturn Didn’t Stop at Least Eight Law Firms from Opening LA Offices
At least eight law firms have opened in the Los Angeles area since the economy soured last year, spurred in some cases by the chance to merge with other firms or the chance to pick up lawyers from disbanding firms.
Most of the firms adding Los Angeles offices did not already have California outposts, the National law Journal reports. Ward Bower of Altman Weil told the publication that such offices are needed if law firms want to build a national platform.
“This is the opportunity to get into California for some who have been trying for while and haven’t been successful,” he said. “There’s a sense there’s more continuing demand for legal services in Southern California than in San Francisco right now.”
The article says many of the law firms expanding in Los Angeles acquired lawyers from the Santa Monica affiliate of Dreier, now in bankruptcy after the indictment of its leader, lawyer Marc Dreier, on charges of selling phony securities.
Blank Rome and Snell & Wilmer have opened new offices with former Dreier lawyers, while Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon and Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi expanded existing offices with former Dreier lawyers.
Other firms opening new offices in Los Angeles are Alston & Bird; Lathrop & Gage; Brooks Kushman and Gilbert Oshinsky. Constangy, Brooks & Smith has opened an office in Encino, and Haynes and Boone has opened an office in Irvine.
Updated April 8 to clarify which firms were opening new Los Angeles-area offices.
