IP Law Daily, LAW FIRM NEWS: IP boutique Woodcock Washburn to merge with Baker Hostetler, (Nov 25, 2013)

Intellectual property boutique firm Woodcock Washburn and Am Law 100 firm BakerHostetler announced on November 22 that they have a signed letter of intent to combine, subject to an affirmative vote by the partners of both firms in early December. The combination would be effective January 1, 2014.

With the addition of Woodcock Washburn’s 68 lawyers, BakerHostetler would double its current IP practice to 140 lawyers and its ability to provide clients with significant IP breadth and depth, the firm said.

“Woodcock Washburn’s nationally known and highly regarded Intellectual Property practice strengthens our IP position, particularly for clients in the technology sector,” said Kestner. “This is another significant step in our mission to help our clients grow and protect their businesses in today’s complex business and regulatory environment.”

BakerHostetler has long been recognized as a national firm with a wide variety of strong practices, including a significant IP practice, according to the firms.

“The combination of our two firms broadens the scope of services we can offer our clients,” said Woodcock Washburn Policy Committee Member Joseph Lucci. “Our clients will benefit from being able to tap into the various practice strengths within BakerHostetler. We’ll be a go-to law firm for technology companies of all types.”

BakerHostetler has more than 800 attorneys in 11 offices across the United States. By combining with Woodcock Washburn it adds on-the-ground presence in three new cities—Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Seattle.

Lucci noted that Woodcock Washburn has been approached by a number of firms over the years, but has enjoyed being a stand-alone boutique. “However, the opportunity brought about by the potential combination of the resources of Woodcock Washburn and BakerHostetler was too good to pass up,” Lucci said.

Steven Rocci of Woodcock Washburn would join BakerHostetler’s Policy Committee, and Joseph Lucci will become managing partner of the Philadelphia office. Additional Woodcock Washburn partners would have leadership roles in the combined firm’s IP practice.

With offices in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Seattle, Woodcock Washburn LLP has specialized in intellectual property law since 1946. The firm’s lawyers and scientific advisors provide national and international clients with a full range of services that include litigation, patent procurement, IP strategies, trademark and copyright prosecution, licensing advice, and standards and open source software counseling across a wide range of industries and technologies.

BakerHostetler helps clients around the world to address their most complex and critical business and regulatory issues. With five core national practice groups—business, employment, intellectual property, litigation, and tax—the firm has more than 800 lawyers located in 11 offices coast to coast.

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