Allen & Overy Poised for Growth

08/14/06

Allen & Overy poised for growth
UK-based firm Allen & Overy has finally silenced critics by registering considerable growth in the U.S. LegalWeek.com recently reported that the firm's New York office has recorded a major increase in productivity and practice performance.

The law firm is looking to recruit new attorneys domestically and will invest in new practice areas. Although the firm is focusing on organic growth, it is also open to the idea of a merger. The New York office, which was launched in 1985, has grown by around 40% in the last four years, up from around 60 U.S.-qualified lawyers and 18 partners in 2002 to 115 lawyers and 30 partners this year.

Nossaman Guthner Knox & Elliott expands practice to Seattle
California-based Nossaman Guthner Knox & Elliott LLP has embarked on expanding its presence across the United States. It has opened a new office in Seattle and hired two attorneys to concentrate on transportation and infrastructure projects in the region. Additionally, the law firm has the reputation of providing expertise in complex civil litigation; infrastructure; land use, environmental, real property and water; healthcare; corporate transactions, and public policy law.

Since last year, the firm has been expanding to new regions, including Washington, DC/Virginia; Austin, TX; and now Seattle in the past three years. Apart from these, the 140-attorney firm has offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Irvine.

Fulbright & Jaworski partner on the Top-20 Arbitration Practitioners list
Fulbright & Jaworski's arbitration practice was in the limelight recently when its partner Mark Baker was rated amongst the top-20 arbitration practitioners across the globe. According to Practice Law Company's Cross-border Dispute Resolution Handbook, Baker excelled in IP-related disputes. The publication provided comparative information on his inclusion in list, which was based on the reaction of his peers, and thorough research on the cases which he handled.

This was Baker's second notable achievement in as many months, after National Law Journal chose him as one of the nation's 100 most influential lawyers. Baker has also served as Chairman of International Advisory Committee at the International Center for Dispute Resolution of the American Arbitration Association. As a partner with Fulbright & Jaworski, he co-heads the firm's International Department which has 130 attorneys in 13 offices worldwide.

Merchant & Gould beefs up management strength
Merchant & Gould has strengthened its IP and litigation practice with the addition of six attorneys and a new chief operating officer, as reported by law.com. Robert Crowell, appointed as COO at the Minneapolis office, has experience in law firm management including finance, technology implementation, human resources, and marketing. The newly appointed attorneys at the firm's Minneapolis, Atlanta, and Washington offices will add to the firm's commercial litigation group that specializes in IP litigation matters including infringement actions and license disputes, and patent portfolio management.

Currently the firm has 105 practicing attorneys with expertise in IP law, which includes patent, trademark, copyright, unfair competition, trade secret, advertising, internet, and computer law. The firm represents a broad spectrum of clients, including individual inventors, emerging companies, Fortune 500 corporations, governmental bodies, and academic institutions. Clients represent diverse industries and technologies including chemistry, biotechnology, computer hardware and software, medicine, and manufacturing