Combination of leading law firms creates 85-attorney office in Washington, DC
BOSTON and WASHINGTON, July 13, 2004 — Goodwin Procter LLP, a 500-attorney law firm with offices in Boston, New York, New Jersey and Washington, DC, and Shea & Gardner, a 70-attorney litigation-focused law firm in Washington, DC, have agreed to combine, effective October 1, 2004.
The combination creates a top-level trial and litigation practice in Goodwin Procter’s Washington, DC office and a platform for continued expansion. The combined firm will operate under the name Goodwin Procter LLP.
“We are thrilled to combine with Shea & Gardner – a firm that shares our culture and values,” said Regina M. Pisa , chairman and managing partner at Goodwin Procter. “A commitment to high quality and exemplary client service is a hallmark of both firms. Like us, they are driven to find creative solutions to clients’ problems. Shea & Gardner has built its reputation on providing responsive service and cutting-edge legal work to national clients with whom it has enjoyed extraordinary, long-term relationships.”
“This combination supports our vision of positioning Goodwin Procter as a national law firm and enhances our ability to serve clients from the key legal market of Washington, DC,” said Pisa. “Shea & Gardner’s sterling reputation as a litigation powerhouse aligns perfectly with Goodwin Procter’s existing trial expertise. With close to 100 attorneys in both New York and Washington, DC, two nationally critical markets, we are well on our way to establishing a dominant East Coast presence and accelerating our transition from a super-regional to a national law firm.”
“In evaluating opportunities to combine with other firms, it was critical to us that we find a firm with a reputation for providing the highest quality legal work to clients and one that shared our values as a firm,” said John D. Aldock , chairman at Shea & Gardner. “What attracted us to Goodwin Procter was its impressive client base, talented lawyers and commitment to national growth. This is an ideal combination that will enable us to offer our clients a wider range of services, with the support of a national platform, and to continue to provide opportunities for growth for our attorneys and staff.”
Shea & Gardner has particular expertise in litigation, with strong capabilities in commercial litigation and products liability, two practices in which Goodwin Procter also has a strong presence. In addition, Shea & Gardner has a strong regulatory and public policy practice, including financial services, transportation, environmental and energy law expertise, all of which strengthen Goodwin Procter’s existing practices in these areas. Other areas that the combined firm will focus on for future growth in Washington, DC are intellectual property litigation, securities litigation, and white collar crime and government investigations.
“Both Shea & Gardner and Goodwin Procter have represented Prudential on numerous critical matters for many years,” said John Liftin, general counsel and vice president of Prudential Financial, Inc. “The complementary skill sets of each firm should result in a combination that is better than the sum of the parts.”
Following the combination, John Aldock, currently chairman at Shea & Gardner, will head the Washington, DC office. William R. Hanlon, currently administrative partner at Shea & Gardner, will become co-head of the Washington, DC litigation practice, along with Thomas M. Hefferon of Goodwin Procter. Both Aldock and Hanlon will be members of the firm’s Executive Committee.
This fall, the two firms’ offices will combine at 901 New York Avenue, which will become Goodwin Procter’s Washington, DC office.
About Shea & Gardner
Shea & Gardner is a highly-respected Washington, DC law firm, with approximately 70 attorneys and a national reputation in regulatory and litigation practices. The firm focuses on commercial litigation matters, with additional expertise in regulatory, corporate, strategic planning and public policy work.