Law firm Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP is set to merge with Fox Rothschild LLP with the goal of expanding the firms' geographic reach in the Southeast and adding practitioners who focus on different legal issues.
The merger, expected to take effect Nov. 1, will add 130 attorneys to Fox Rothschild, for a combined total of 900 attorneys, according to a news release.
Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP, with an office at 101 North Third St. in Wilmington, has seven attorneys in the Port City, said Haley Bledsoe, senior account executive at Hughes Agency.
Julie Earp, chair of the management committee of Smith Moore Leatherwood, said in a news release that the firm is thrilled about the merger.
“For almost 100 years we have been proud to provide our clients with efficient, top level legal services. Combining resources with Fox allows us to expand our geographic reach and utilize an established nationwide network of resources for our clients,” Earp said in the release.
Earp said Fox Rothschild was attractive because it shares values that are important to Smith Moore Leatherwood.
“Fox Rothschild has remained dedicated to the principles of excellence, integrity and teamwork throughout its growth into an AmLaw 100 firm,” she said in the release.
Chair of Fox Rothschild Mark Silow said the six added locations to the Fox firm will provide a base in some of the most rapidly developing markets in the country.
“Expanding our footprint in the Southeast through this merger is an important milestone for the firm,” said Silow in the release. “We have explored opportunities in this region for many years and are delighted to have found in Smith Moore Leatherwood a firm with a superb roster of talented attorneys who share our values, our approach to client service and our entrepreneurial focus.”
The merger will add Smith Moore Leatherwood practitioners who focus on legal issues relating to manufacturing, clean energy, transportation and infrastructure.
Smith Moore Leatherwood has a sports law practice that will supplement Fox’s existing entertainment practice, according to the release.
Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP has six offices and more than 130 attorneys in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The firm opened its Wilmington office in 2005. Its practice areas include litigation, business law, health care, real estate, labor and employment, and infrastructure and development.
Fox Rothschild is a full-service law firm for businesses and individuals. The firm has more than 800 lawyers in 21 offices throughout the country.
This is not the only merger for Fox Rothschild. The firm added 23 Shaw Fishman Glantz & Towbin LLC attorneys and merged with Denver-based firm Rollin Braswell Fisher LLC earlier this year.
