12/2/04
New York, Boston firms merge
Boston's Ropes & Gray and New York intellectual property firm Fish & Neave have agreed to merge. The merger is expected to be complete on January 1, 2005, and while Fish & Neave's 160 lawyers will become part of 580-lawyer Ropes & Gray, the Fish & Neave name will be used to designate the firm's intellectual property practice. New York Times, The Boston Globe
Managing partner steps down
Joseph P. Klock is stepping down after 25 years as the managing partner of Miami-based Steel Hector & Davis while remaining chairman of the board and head of the international practice. Alvin Davis, head of the firm's litigation group, will replace Klock as managing partner of the 200-lawyer, 11-office firm. Miami Daily Business Review
Sullivan & Cromwell adds two former feds
Two federal prosecutors are moving to the white-collar practice of Sullivan & Cromwell. Karen Patton Seymour, who successfully prosecuted Martha Stewart, will return after three years with the U.S. Attorney's office to her position as a partner, and Steven Peikin, who successfully prosecuted Frank Quattrone, will join as of counsel. New York Law Journal, NewYorkBusiness.com
McKee Nelson moves, but stays within NY
McKee Nelson is relocating its Manhattan office downtown from Times Square to Battery Park Plaza in the World Trade Center area. The firm, which currently rents 25,000 square feet, is closing on a 15-year lease for 67,000 square feet. McKee Nelson was founded five years ago and is headquartered in Washington, DC. NewYorkBusiness.com
Part-time attorney trends
Although most large law firms make part-time schedules available to their attorneys, very few take advantage of this option, according to NALP. The 2004-2005 NALP Directory of Legal Employers finds that nearly all (96.7%) of the offices in the Directory allow part-time schedules either as an affirmative policy or on a case-by-case basis, but only 3.9% of attorneys reported working part-time, compared to 4.1% in 2003. Associates took greater advantage of part-time schedules than did partners, with 5.1% of associates working part-time, compared with 2.6% of partners. NALP Press Release
Firm opens German office
Kirkland & Ellis is opening an office in Munich, the firm's seventh office worldwide and second in Europe. The Munich office will focus on private equity and mergers and acquisitions work and initially be staffed by three attorneys, two relocating from London and one joining from Clifford Chance. Firm Press Release
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