Law firms on track to top 2008 record of 70 mergers; tally 39 in first half of 2013

Updated: Law firms based in the U.S. are on track for a record number of mergers in 2013, if the second half of the year is anything like the first.

Jul 8, 2013 10:05 PM CDT

2 bond lawyers exit Orrick for Ballard Spahr

Two public finance lawyers have leapt from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe to Ballard Spahr.

They are Pauline Schneider, who headed the practice group at her former law…

Jul 8, 2013 4:50 PM CDT

Federal agency takes over pension for shrinking law firm; was plan short by $9M or $39M?

Detroit law firm Butzel Long has announced that the federal government will take over its pension obligations.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. will assume pension obligations for about 450 plan…

Jul 8, 2013 12:32 PM CDT

Woods Oviatt adds 8 attorneys through merger with smaller legal shop

One of the larger law firms in Rochester, N.Y., region is dissolving as eight attorneys join one the area’s biggest law firms.

Three of the lawyers from Fix, Spindelman, Brovitz…

Jul 2, 2013 7:50 PM CDT

Dickstein energy chief leads 5-lawyer group to Crowell

The chief of Dickstein Shapiro’s energy practice is leading a five-lawyer team to Crowell & Moring.

Longtime partner Larry Eisenstat started work at his new firm’s Washington, D.C., offices today,…

Jul 1, 2013 9:00 PM CDT

Jury awards $12.8M in negligence case against Stoel Rives and real estate leader

A jury in Utah has awarded $12.8 million in a negligence suit against Stoel Rives and a Salt Lake partner who chaired the national real estate practice group for the…

Jun 28, 2013 10:20 AM CDT

Fox Rothschild to acquire 16-attorney Denver firm

Less than a year after Fox Rothschild entered the Denver market, the Philadelphia-based law firm has announced that it is acquiring a 16-attorney legal shop in the mile-high city.

The…

Jun 25, 2013 7:27 PM CDT

Downey Brand lays off 11 administrative and support staffers

One of the largest law firms in central California has laid off 11 administrative and support staff members.

The last time Downey Brand let workers go was…

Jun 21, 2013 5:30 PM CDT

Husch Blackwell to enter Texas market by acquiring Brown McCarroll

Husch Blackwell announced Wednesday that it will soon be merging with Brown McCarroll, acquiring its first Texas offices—in Austin, Dallas and Houston—and about 65 more attorneys in…

Jun 19, 2013 6:42 PM CDT

Partner pay holdback of 20 percent at Becker & Poliakoff is not popular

A new policy at Becker & Poliakoff of holding back 20 percent of partners’ pay is not popular, managing shareholder Gary Rosen admits.

However, he said such measures are a…

Jun 18, 2013 7:20 PM CDT

5-lawyer public law team exits Ice Miller for Frost Brown

A five-lawyer municipal-law practice group has exited Ice Miller for the Columbus, Ohio, office of Frost Brown Todd.

It includes Stephen J. Smith Sr. and Philip Hartmann, who formerly co-chaired…

Jun 13, 2013 7:39 PM CDT

11th Circuit: Money in Rothstein law firm accounts can’t be forfeited to feds

In a decision that may benefit ordinary creditors of a defunct Florida law firm and cost those swindled by its imprisoned former managing partner, Scott Rothstein, a federal appeals court…

Jun 12, 2013 9:25 PM CDT

Epstein Becker plans to close 14-attorney office in Atlanta

Less than five years ago, Epstein Becker Green was adding to the attorney roster in its “fast-growing” Atlanta office, proudly proclaiming in a 2009 press release that…

Jun 11, 2013 10:05 PM CDT

As libel trial losers battle $1M legal bill, FBI probes claimed mid-trial DUI set-up of their lawyer

The trial in a defamation case between two radio shock jocks in Florida has been over for months.

But there’s no end in sight to continuing issues involving the law…

Jun 10, 2013 10:09 PM CDT

Second-hundred largest firms ‘gambled on growth’ in 2012, boosting nonequity partners by 10 percent

Law firms in the American’s Lawyer’s “second hundred” tier boosted lawyer head count by 3 percent last year, a total of 885 lawyers.

Much of the growth came consisted of…

Jun 3, 2013 10:44 AM CDT