Large Firms
Jun. 21, 2002
Seyfarth Shaw Loses S.F. Leader
SAN FRANCISCO - Robert Ford, the longtime managing partner of Seyfarth Shaw's San Francisco and Sacramento offices, has left the firm to join the Menlo Park office of Jones Day Reavis & Pogue.
William Dritsas, 46, who helped open Seyfarth's Bay Area offices with Ford in 1985, is Ford's replacement as managing partner. Both men represent employers in labor and employment counseling and commercial and environmental litigation.
Todd Johnson, managing partner of Cleveland-based Jones Day's Menlo Park office, said the firm's Silicon Valley outpost has grown from three to 17 lawyers in the last two years. He said he hopes to hire more lateral partners in the next two to three weeks.
Jones Day represents newspapers owned by Knight Ridder Inc., and the Washington Post Co., in labor and employment matters.
Ford, 53, moved to Jones Day on Monday. He is "somebody who brings other newspaper clients," Johnson said. One of Ford's clients is the San Francisco Chronicle.
"I am bringing some work with me [to Jones Day]" Ford confirmed, declining to name clients. He wouldn't discuss his motives for the move except to say he was looking for "new opportunities."
Founded in 1945, and headquartered in Chicago, Seyfarth Shaw represents financial institutions, newspapers, hotels, health care organizations, airlines and railroads in labor and employment matters.
The firm employs 42 lawyers in San Francisco, 51 in Los Angeles, and 13 in Sacramento. Local clients include the University of San Francisco and Levi Strauss & Co.
Dritsas took over for Ford on Wednesday. He said Seyfarth will soon diversify its practice areas, particularly in business and real estate law.
Jones Day recently has expanded its Southern California intellectual property litigation practice to 26 attorneys. Additions to the Los Angeles office include partner Lawrence LaPorte and of counsel David Randall, who will start in July. Both come from local intellectual property boutique Lyon & Lyon.
"I'm reasonably confident we now have the largest IP litigation team in Southern California," said Rick McKnight, partner-in-charge of Jones Day's Los Angeles office. "I don't think there's a firm in the region that has more lawyers and more firepower than the group we've assembled."
Joel Rosenblatt
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