With firms’ merger off, attorneys head for Reed Smith

As the result of a proposed merger that didn't materialize between law firms Reed Smith L.L.P. and Anderson Kill & Olick P.C., Reed Smith said today it will be adding two partners and seven associates to its Philadelphia office from the other firm.

The Philadelphia additions are among 55 attorneys from New York-based Anderson Kill in an amicable departure of several of its 69 shareholders.

They will enable Reed Smith, headquartered in Pittsburgh and one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, to add attorneys to its core practices, and for Anderson Kill to focus on its core insurace recovery practice, the firms said.

Reed Smith's offices in New York and Chicago will also inherit some of the incoming lawyers.

"We recently held merger discussions with Reed Smith," said Robert Horkovich, executive committee member and chair of Anderson Kill's insurance recovery group. "We terminated the discussions because of conflicts of interest issues."

Anderson Kill said a substantial majority of its shareholders decided that such a move was not in the best interest of the company or its clients.

Forty-three of its 69 shareholders are staying at the firm. Founded in 1969, the company will continue to have offices in New York, Philadelphia, Newark, Washington and Greenwich, Ct. Its four-attorney Chicago office will be closing.

Gregory B. Jordan, Reed Smith's Global Managing Partner, said the additions to his firm from Anderson Kill were compatible with Reed Smith's long-term strategic plans for future growth.

"With Reed Smith's largest office now in London, our two new offices in China, and this increased capability in New York, we have a major presence in the three key economic centers of the world," he said.

Founded in 1877, Reed Smith employs about 1,600 lawyers in 23 offices worldwide.