Five-Lawyer Greenberg Group Leaves BigLaw to Join Ariz.-Based Firm

Five lawyers have leapt from the Phoenix office of Greenberg Traurig to a 100-attorney Arizona-based law firm.

Those headed to Gallagher and Kennedy include John Clemency, the only Greenberg Traurig partner in Phoenix a bankruptcy practice, reports the National Law Journal in an article reprinted in New York Lawyer (reg. req.). Two counsel at Greenberg, Todd Burgess and Julie Rystad, will be partners at their new firm, effective Monday.

Their departure adds to an increasing list of BigLaw attorneys who are moving to much smaller law firms.

The managing partner of the approximately 80-attorney Phoenix office of 1,800-attorney Greenberg Traurig did not immediately respond to the NLJ's request for comment. However, a spokeswoman for Greenberg says the firm has a growing bankruptcy practice.