Firm Watch
Aug. 13, 2002
Remaining Lyon Lawyers Search For New Homes
While the remaining 80 attorneys at dissolving Lyon & Lyon scatter to find new homes, the New York office is fast at work with Proskauer Rose.
While the remaining 80 attorneys at dissolving Lyon & Lyon scatter to find new homes, the New York office is fast at work with Proskauer Rose.
Lyon & Lyon, which intends to close on Aug. 31, issued a press release Thursday saying that both the Orange County and San Diego offices were exploring merger options, while the firm's Los Angeles, San Jose and Washington, D.C., outposts would dissolve.
Leading the rumor mill as a potential destination for Lyon & Lyon attorneys is Palo Alto's Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Other Lyon & Lyon attorneys are heading to Seattle-based Perkins Coie and Tampa, Fla.'s Holland & Knight.
In the midst of Lyon & Lyon's failed merger talks with Townsend and Townsend and Crew last month, New York's Proskauer Rose acquired Lyon & Lyon's New York office, which included head partner James Shalek and six others, on July 29.
Shalek opened the Lyon & Lyon New York office in 1997 with two attorneys and expanded the office to 10.
"When I opened the New York office, Lyon & Lyon had 125 lawyers," he says. "We were expanding. When I left, we had 90 lawyers in six offices, and it seemed in everybody's best interests to wrap the New York office into another firm."
Proskauer Rose Chairman Alan Jaffe believes that the group has found a perfect home.
"Jim Shalek is a nationally recognized patent litigator and intellectual property lawyer," Jaffe says. "He and his team will be an important addition to our burgeoning patent and intellectual property practice."
In addition to Shalek, other attorneys joining Proskauer Rose include Kristin H. Neuman, who joins as senior counsel, and Mark A. Catan, Alan Federbush, Robert S. Mayer and Baldassare Vinti, who join as associates. The group reportedly brings a book of business with a $5 million value.
Proskauer Rose has 390 attorneys in its New York office and 550 firmwide. In addition to New York, the firm has offices in Washington, D.C., Boca Raton, Fla., Newark, N.J., and Los Angeles.
Liz Valsamis
For reprint rights or to order a copy of your photo:
Email
Jeremy_Ellis@dailyjournal.com
for prices.
Direct dial: 213-229-5424
Send a letter to the editor:
Email: letters@dailyjournal.com