Manatt and Steefel Plan 2008 Combination
Move Will Enhance Powerful Bay Area Presence and National Capabilities
SAN FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES - November 30, 2007 - Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, the national law and consulting firm, and Steefel, Levitt & Weiss, one of San Francisco's best known and most respected law firms, announced today an agreement in principle to combine the two firms. The transaction is expected to be completed by February 1, 2008. The combined firm will operate under the name of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. Steefel has more than 45 lawyers in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and together, Manatt will have a total of approximately 450 professionals in California, New York, and Washington, DC.
"This combination will advance Manatt's strategic plan and significantly expand our capabilities and reach in the Bay Area," said William T. Quicksilver, Manatt's Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner. “Steefel is known for leadership and technical proficiency in core practice areas, outstanding client service, and connection to the communities in which Steefel lawyers and staff professionals live and work. They share our commitment to excellence and to the progressive values that define us. We are committed to growth in our principal markets and in building leading practices that focus on targeted industry sectors. We have found an outstanding firm with which to join forces as we continue to work to achieve our goals."
"We are extremely pleased to have found a partner that shares our values and commitment to excellence," commented Clayton B. Gantz, Steefel's Managing Partner. "The combination of the two firms is a home run for our clients. It will significantly enhance the depth and breadth of our skills and experience, expand our geographic footprint outside of California, and allow us to offer a broader array of services to our clients."
Manatt's San Francisco-based attorneys and professionals will move into Steefel's offices at One Embarcadero Center resulting in a total of 65 attorneys and professionals in San Francisco. The San Francisco office will be jointly managed by Manatt's current San Francisco administrative partner, Christopher L. Wanger, and by Gantz. Steefel's offices in downtown Los Angeles will remain open as a complement office to Manatt's office in West Los Angeles.
"When Steefel was founded 27 years ago, we knew that we were building a special firm, with the talent and profile to represent successfully an elite client base in a range of specialized practice areas," said Barry W. Lee, Chairman of Steefel, Levitt & Weiss. "This combination will afford new opportunities for professional and personal growth for our lawyers and staff. We could not be more pleased."
"Combining with a firm of Steefel's quality allows us to better develop our core practice areas nationally as we serve existing clients, broaden our client base in Northern California and attract the very best attorneys," added Manatt's Wanger. "We are excited about becoming an even more integral part of the San Francisco business community and about what this combination means for our firm's future."
In addition to sharing progressive cultures and core values, Manatt and Steefel share several strong practice areas, including complex business litigation, tax, non-profit organizations, financial services, real estate, and energy and natural resources. Manatt's national platform provides the opportunity for Steefel to expand its representation of existing clients and for existing Steefel clients to access strong national capabilities in capital markets, M & A, intellectual property, venture capital and private equity, healthcare, entertainment and media, advertising, and government and regulatory.
About Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, provides legal and consulting services to a global client base from offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto, San Francisco, and Sacramento, California; New York City and Albany, New York; and Washington, D.C. Manatt includes Manatt Health Solutions, a healthcare policy and strategic business advisory group, and ManattJones Global Strategies, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary that develops and implements strategies to expand client businesses and facilitate their effective competition in global markets. For more information, visit www.manatt.com, www.manatthealthsolutions.com, and www.manattjones.com.
About Steefel, Levitt & Weiss
Steefel, Levitt & Weiss was founded in 1980 on the simple principle that smart, effective business law could be practiced best in an environment that rewards client service and personal achievement. Steefel attorneys are recognized nationally as experts in Complex Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Development and Finance, Business and Taxation, and Regulated Industries. The firm has offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles.