Luce Forward Partner Jumps to Jones Day amid Tension over McKenna Merger
A key partner at Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps won’t be joining his colleagues if the firm completes a potential merger with McKenna Long & Aldridge.
Edward “Pat” Swan, the partner in charge of Luce Forward’s San Diego office, will move to Jones Day, the Daily Journal (sub. req.) reports. Swan leads Luce Forward’s white-collar criminal defense practice.
According to the story, the move “has raised questions about whether other lawyers will follow suit and disrupt the potential merger the firm is attempting to forge” with McKenna Long. The merger was approved in December, three sources tell the Daily Journal, but tension remains as Luce Forward lawyers learn this month about their positions and financial arrangements with the new firm.
Though the merger was expected to become official in February, the law firms have delayed a merger announcement as they wait to learn whether important rainmakers will join the new firm, sources tell the legal publication.
