Around The Firms

Piper to Merge With English Firm?

For the last year, Piper Rudnick, which has experienced growth over the past several years, has been discussing a merger with English firm DLA, which has approximately 1800 attorneys and a powerful presence in Europe and Asia. The word is that an agreement in principle is soon to come. Piper partner George Mitchell, a former Senate Majority leader, would be the new firm's executive chairman. Nigel Knowles, who heads DLA, would share CEO responsibilities along with Piper's co-chairs, Francis “Frank” Burch Jr. and Lee Miller.

Unlike the '90s merger between Piper & Marbury and Rudnick & Wolfe, ambition is the driving force behind the DLA move. However, the firms are not entirely equal. Although they have similar per-partners profits, the per-lawyer revenue is quite different, with Piper's approximately double DLA's. If the merger happens, the product would be one of the 10 largest firms in the world and a live experiment in culture blending.

---

Goodwin Procter Is Anew in DC

Washington, DC litigation shop Shea & Gardner has 70 lawyers; Boston's Goodwin Procter has 500 lawyers in Boston, New York, New Jersey and DC. Managing partners at both firms have reported that in October the two firms will merge and a new Goodwin Procter will be created. The new office will have 85 attorneys.

Generally the consensus is that the merger will be beneficial. Goodwin and Procter made the decision to achieve national status a few years ago, and began to grow in New York and in DC. The firm's desire to branch out in DC deepened in late 2003 after it lost 16 attorneys from its DC financial services group, who formed their own firm. Goodwin Procter was left with 11 lawyers, and talks with Shea & Gardner had already commenced. Although the smaller firm had been approached with other merger possibilities, they felt that they could not pass up Goodwin's. Shea & Gardner managing partner John Aldock, who will serve as managing partner of the new office, says that Goodwin would give the firm the national platform needed for it to compete with the larger firms in DC.

However, Boston firms' recent large mergers might make things tense for Goodwin. These include the May merger of Boston-based Hale and Door with Wilmer Cutler Pickering of DC, and the 2002 merger of Bingham Dana, a 500-attorney Boston firm, with 300-attorney McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen, based in San Francisco. According to Harvard Law School professor David Wilkins, who also directs Harvard's Program on Lawyers and the Professional Services, New York firms are worthy competition for the Boston firms, and so they are feeling the heat and thus trying to expand outside New England. It has been said that Goodwin has plans for further expansion. Although right now the firm is concentrating on growing the DC office, in the long run it will try spread out to the West Coast.

---

Acquisition Gives Foley & Lardner NYC Presence

Early in July, Foley & Lardner acquired the litigation boutique Friedman, Wang & Bleiberg, which has 11 attorneys. Thus the firm, which has its largest office in Milwaukee, has opened a new office in New York City. New Foley partners are Peter N. Wang, Charles M. Bleiberg, Susan J. Schwartz, Robert A. Scher and Todd C. Norbitz, and four associates have come with the move, as well. Arthur S. Friedman is the office's consultant.

According to Foley Chairman Ralf Boer, it has been a high priority of the firm to expand in New York. As a complement to its other practices, Foley's new office concentrates on securities and commercial litigation. Up until now, Foley, which has close to 1000 attorneys globally, was one of the largest U.S. firms lacking an office in New York.

---

No Merger for Orrick, Swidler

Senior officials at both firms said that merger discussions have been called off for San Francisco-based Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and DC firm Swidler Berkub Shereff Friedman. Reports say that the due diligence process revealed client conflicts and that both firms are disappointed. A merger would have given Swidler a national presence. As for Orrick, Chairman Ralph Baxter last year told LFP&B sibling The Recorder of his desire to build up his firm. Previously, Orrick tried to merge with Coley Godward in Palo Alto, CA, technology boutique Venture Law Group, and Bird & Bird in London. The firm has gained approximately 100 attorneys since 2000, but Swidler has not been so lucky, having lost of half that number in the same period.

---

Hogan's Loss Is Piper's Gain

Piper Rudnick started off July by announcing its Paris contingent. It seems that 16 Hogan & Hartson attorneys deserted its French capital office for Piper's first overseas outpost. The firm has gained several new partners, including Alan Cariddi, Bruce Mee, Frabirce Rue, Christine Bougis, Bijan Eghbal and Carol Umhoefer. Co-Chairman Francis Burch Jr. has revealed the firm's plan to take on more Paris attorneys and to send some U.S. lawyers to Paris. Plans are also under way to open a London office in the next year. As for Hogan, the firm now has one partner in its Paris office, which is close to 10 years old. Chairman J. Warren Gorrell stated that Hogan and its Paris attorneys differed on the office's direction and structure.

---

Neff Is a Newcomer

The Neff Law Group LLP joined Greenberg Glusker, a 45-year-old Los Angeles firm with more than 100 lawyers. Neff is an intellectual property and technology firm, and its impressive list of clients includes Yahoo! and Veritus Software. Richard Neff chairs the intellectual property and technology department, which has the worthy additions of partner Michelle Cooke, associate Luz Lettiere, and foreign attorney Claudio Magnolia. With the addition of Neff also comes a buildup of Greenberg Glusker's international technology practice, with clients overseas and in various national tech focal points such as Silicon Valley, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Internet agreements, copyright counseling, and anti-piracy enforcement are among the scope of their practice.

---

Teri Zucker LFP&BR [email protected]

Piper to Merge With English Firm?

For the last year, Piper Rudnick, which has experienced growth over the past several years, has been discussing a merger with English firm DLA, which has approximately 1800 attorneys and a powerful presence in Europe and Asia. The word is that an agreement in principle is soon to come. Piper partner George Mitchell, a former Senate Majority leader, would be the new firm's executive chairman. Nigel Knowles, who heads DLA, would share CEO responsibilities along with Piper's co-chairs, Francis “Frank” Burch Jr. and Lee Miller.

Unlike the '90s merger between Piper & Marbury and Rudnick & Wolfe, ambition is the driving force behind the DLA move. However, the firms are not entirely equal. Although they have similar per-partners profits, the per-lawyer revenue is quite different, with Piper's approximately double DLA's. If the merger happens, the product would be one of the 10 largest firms in the world and a live experiment in culture blending.

---

Goodwin Procter Is Anew in DC

Washington, DC litigation shop Shea & Gardner has 70 lawyers; Boston's Goodwin Procter has 500 lawyers in Boston, New York, New Jersey and DC. Managing partners at both firms have reported that in October the two firms will merge and a new Goodwin Procter will be created. The new office will have 85 attorneys.

Generally the consensus is that the merger will be beneficial. Goodwin and Procter made the decision to achieve national status a few years ago, and began to grow in New York and in DC. The firm's desire to branch out in DC deepened in late 2003 after it lost 16 attorneys from its DC financial services group, who formed their own firm. Goodwin Procter was left with 11 lawyers, and talks with Shea & Gardner had already commenced. Although the smaller firm had been approached with other merger possibilities, they felt that they could not pass up Goodwin's. Shea & Gardner managing partner John Aldock, who will serve as managing partner of the new office, says that Goodwin would give the firm the national platform needed for it to compete with the larger firms in DC.

However, Boston firms' recent large mergers might make things tense for Goodwin. These include the May merger of Boston-based Hale and Door with Wilmer Cutler Pickering of DC, and the 2002 merger of Bingham Dana, a 500-attorney Boston firm, with 300-attorney McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen, based in San Francisco. According to Harvard Law School professor David Wilkins, who also directs Harvard's Program on Lawyers and the Professional Services, New York firms are worthy competition for the Boston firms, and so they are feeling the heat and thus trying to expand outside New England. It has been said that Goodwin has plans for further expansion. Although right now the firm is concentrating on growing the DC office, in the long run it will try spread out to the West Coast.

---

Acquisition Gives Foley & Lardner NYC Presence

Early in July, Foley & Lardner acquired the litigation boutique Friedman, Wang & Bleiberg, which has 11 attorneys. Thus the firm, which has its largest office in Milwaukee, has opened a new office in New York City. New Foley partners are Peter N. Wang, Charles M. Bleiberg, Susan J. Schwartz, Robert A. Scher and Todd C. Norbitz, and four associates have come with the move, as well. Arthur S. Friedman is the office's consultant.

According to Foley Chairman Ralf Boer, it has been a high priority of the firm to expand in New York. As a complement to its other practices, Foley's new office concentrates on securities and commercial litigation. Up until now, Foley, which has close to 1000 attorneys globally, was one of the largest U.S. firms lacking an office in New York.

---

No Merger for Orrick, Swidler

Senior officials at both firms said that merger discussions have been called off for San Francisco-based Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and DC firm Swidler Berkub Shereff Friedman. Reports say that the due diligence process revealed client conflicts and that both firms are disappointed. A merger would have given Swidler a national presence. As for Orrick, Chairman Ralph Baxter last year told LFP&B sibling The Recorder of his desire to build up his firm. Previously, Orrick tried to merge with Coley Godward in Palo Alto, CA, technology boutique Venture Law Group, and Bird & Bird in London. The firm has gained approximately 100 attorneys since 2000, but Swidler has not been so lucky, having lost of half that number in the same period.

---

Hogan's Loss Is Piper's Gain

Piper Rudnick started off July by announcing its Paris contingent. It seems that 16 Hogan & Hartson attorneys deserted its French capital office for Piper's first overseas outpost. The firm has gained several new partners, including Alan Cariddi, Bruce Mee, Frabirce Rue, Christine Bougis, Bijan Eghbal and Carol Umhoefer. Co-Chairman Francis Burch Jr. has revealed the firm's plan to take on more Paris attorneys and to send some U.S. lawyers to Paris. Plans are also under way to open a London office in the next year. As for Hogan, the firm now has one partner in its Paris office, which is close to 10 years old. Chairman J. Warren Gorrell stated that Hogan and its Paris attorneys differed on the office's direction and structure.

---

Neff Is a Newcomer

The Neff Law Group LLP joined Greenberg Glusker, a 45-year-old Los Angeles firm with more than 100 lawyers. Neff is an intellectual property and technology firm, and its impressive list of clients includes Yahoo! and Veritus Software. Richard Neff chairs the intellectual property and technology department, which has the worthy additions of partner Michelle Cooke, associate Luz Lettiere, and foreign attorney Claudio Magnolia. With the addition of Neff also comes a buildup of Greenberg Glusker's international technology practice, with clients overseas and in various national tech focal points such as Silicon Valley, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Internet agreements, copyright counseling, and anti-piracy enforcement are among the scope of their practice.

---

Teri Zucker LFP&BR [email protected]