Firm Information - Mid-Atlantic - Page 3

Alex_de_Large · 08-01-2003, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by learnedmano
Rumor has it that Duane Morris is about to open an office in the 'Burgh -- and that partners from as many as three Pittsburgh law firms/offices will be leaving to start that office. Any scoop on what those firms might be? And any insight into why in the world DM thinks Pittsburgh, which has one decent size firm in Chapter 11 and another one that's just laid off a bunch of folks, needs another law firm in town?

According to this morning's Legal, it's no longer a rumor. DM also managed to convince a Buchanan Ingersoll partner with 30 years' tenure to jump ship. I wonder how the hell they did that?!?

AdL

learnedmano · 08-01-2003, 02:21 PM

Well, if you're on this ship, see, and it's taking on water, and kinda listing over to one side, and then this other ship pulls up next to yours, looking very sleek and seaworthy (from a distance), and the crew is beckoning you to climb aboard, well....

Alex_de_Large · 08-01-2003, 02:23 PM

Is buchannan doing that poorly?

learnedmano · 08-01-2003, 06:50 PM

I don't have any inside info regarding how BI's doing; it's just an accumulation of little things over the last couple of years (layoffs, partner de-equitizations and the like, including a recent Pittsburgh layoff; a drop in revenues significant enough to dump BI out of the AmLaw 100 last year; a number of partner defections, to Reed Smith and other places, before this one; the London and Princeton debacles; etc.) A recent BizTimes article noted that BI has renewed its Pittsburgh office lease for another ten years or so (good sign?) but that it has renewed the lease for about 10% LESS space than it now occupies (bad sign?). I'm not sure what's going on, but there seems a drip-drip-drip of not-so-good news that makes you want go, hmmm.

baltassoc · 08-04-2003, 10:49 AM

The Pittsburgh Business Journal also has an article on the new Duane Morris office. It may require a free registration.

http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/509068

I find the following Medved quote very interesting:

"We were primarily motivated by the fact that Duane provided a better opportunity, national footprint and a focused management with a clearly delineated plan for growth," Mr. Medved said. "They had the deep resources in segmented practice groups to serve my client base. I have clients in Houston and the West Coast. This allows us to have offices in those locations."

I just checked their website; I had no idea Duane had so many offices. Houston? Bangor?!? Have these guys thought out their expansion strategy at all?

baltassoc · 08-04-2003, 11:46 AM

Baltimore mid-size firm Rosenberg Proutt (now Rosenberg Martin) has added several new attorneys, including Gerard Martin, formerly of Martin Snyder & Bernstein, which has blown up. I thought Martin was a criminal defense guy, and I don't know of anyone doing that at Rosenberg, but maybe it's a good fit.

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore...33.html?f=et52 (free registration may be required)

baltassoc · 08-11-2003, 11:44 AM

From this week's Baltimore Business Journal...

When going solo has its privileges
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/517482

Paying your dues: Associates have to put in their time and money to become partner
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/517483

Two looks at very different aspects of the profession in one area. Flexibility verses stability, except the supposedly stable option is often anything but, as we know.

baltassoc · 08-11-2003, 11:44 AM

Law: New grads' employment rate declines
http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/517487

So when you went to law school, did you know that 1 out of 10 law school graduates is still unemployed at the time their student loans start coming due (February after graduation)?

Also, buried further in the story is this little gem:

"It would be hard to accuse Duane Morris LLP of sitting on its laurels. The Philadelphia firm has been acquiring lawyers like they are going out of style, en route to trying to become a 1,000-lawyer firm. "

Like they are going out of style?

Alex_de_Large · 08-12-2003, 09:24 AM

There is a very interesting article in today's Legal Intelligencer about the legal battle between former Brobeck employees, who claim that they are entitled to 60 days' severance, and Morgan Lewis, which claims that it is not the successor to Brobeck. My take is that both sides have some valid arguments, though I believe that it is a bit disingenuous for Morgan to argue that the Brobeck collapse was all a big surprise. If memory serves, MLB watched (caused?)Brobeck wither on the vine then cherry picked the choice components.

Morgan Lewis Denies It Has Duty
To Fund Severance Pay
Of Former Brobeck Workers
The Legal Intelligencer
Morgan Lewis & Bockius tried hard Friday to torpedo an effort by former Brobeck Phleger & Harrison employees to hold the firm responsible for providing severance pay after Brobeck collapsed.

Link to full article. (requires subscription)

AdL

Edit: added blurb and link to full story

08-14-2003, 10:31 PM

I saw the following job posted at a recruiter's website: Philadelphia - Major international firm seeks well-credentialed tax associate at any level with state and local experience. Top compensation.

Does anyone know what firm this is?

Thanks in advance.

Alex_de_Large · 08-15-2003, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by driver 8
I saw the following job posted at a recruiter's website: Philadelphia - Major international firm seeks well-credentialed tax associate at any level with state and local experience. Top compensation.

Does anyone know what firm this is?

Thanks in advance.

I would guess that only Morgan and Dechert even come close to meeting the definition of "major international firm" and also have tax depts. in this area.

Anyone else have any idea?

learnedmano · 08-15-2003, 12:45 PM

There are several other firms that are based in Philadelphia or have Philadelphia offices that would characterize themselves as "major" (as in, "we're big and important") and "international" (as in, "we have one or more offices outside the US"). Reed Smith and Duane Morris immediately come to mind, for example. I think both also have tax practices in Philly. There are probably others I'm not thinking of. (I don't think Buchanan Ingersoll still has a London office -- I think those guys went to Reed Smith -- but don't they still have some sort of operation in Dublin?)

Alex_de_Large · 08-15-2003, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by learnedmano
There are several other firms that are based in Philadelphia or have Philadelphia offices that would characterize themselves as "major" (as in, "we're big and important") and "international" (as in, "we have one or more offices outside the US"). Reed Smith and Duane Morris immediately come to mind, for example. I think both also have tax practices in Philly. There are probably others I'm not thinking of. (I don't think Buchanan Ingersoll still has a London office -- I think those guys went to Reed Smith -- but don't they still have some sort of operation in Dublin?)

Reed and Duane? Ok, fine, if delusions of grandeur count, fine, then those two should also be included...

baltassoc · 08-15-2003, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
I would guess that only Morgan and Dechert even come close

Dechert. Definately Dechert. I refer the board to their Martidale Hubble listing. And I quote:

"Dechert is a growing international law firm with more than 750 lawyers. . . .
And with 15 fully integrated offices in the United States, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe, we have the resources to deliver seamless, high-quality legal services to clients worldwide."

For those who regularly read the FB, I would say this is akin to calling oneself "classy."

learnedmano · 08-18-2003, 11:39 AM

Well, OK, while we're on the subject of shameless self promotion and delusions of grandeur, this is from Reed Smith's web site:

"Reed Smith is a top 20 international law firm, dedicated
to core values of teamwork, professionalism and mutual
respect, and poised to deliver a level of personal service
unsurpassed in its 125-year history."

Substitute "major" for "top 20" and what have you got -- a "major international law firm," right?

On reflection, though, the giveaway might be the last bit -- "top compensation." In Philadelphia, that should narrow the field to Morgan and Dechert (although, again, who knows how a firm might self-define "top compensation") (see, this is why we're known as the only profession that could have produced a President capable of disputing the meaning of the word "is").

This has been fun, but maybe somebody could call the recruiter and find out? The suspense is killing me. (Not like I'd qualify for a tax position at a "major international" firm anyway.)