Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that 53 attorneys from Schwartz Cooper Chartered have joined its Chicago office. The transaction, which takes effect July 14th and includes all seven members of Schwartz Cooper’s executive committee, will give Dykema nearly 130 lawyers in Chicago and more than 450 lawyers and other professionals nationally.
Strategically, the transaction expands Dykema’s Chicago presence and bolsters the firm’s existing practices in banking and lending; bankruptcy, insolvency and creditors’ rights; real estate/real estate finance; corporate; and litigation. The Schwartz Cooper lawyers coming over gain an enhanced platform to offer their clients expanded capabilities in corporate finance, securities, litigation, government policy, real estate, tax, and trade regulation, as well as strong vertical industry practices focused on financial institutions, pharmaceutical/medical devices, automotive, and energy and electric distribution, among others.
"The arrival of this talented and respected group provides tremendous benefits to the clients and attorneys of both firms and is a significant milestone in our continued growth," said Rex E. Schlaybaugh, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Dykema. "Adding a group of this size and caliber to our existing platform creates immediate synergies and growth opportunities that are consistent with our strategy to expand our presence in Chicago and nationally."
Robert D. Glick, managing principal of Schwartz Cooper, noted that while many firms have courted the firm and its lawyers in recent years, Dykema was the first to present a strategic vision and firm culture that resembled its own.
"We have been approached a number of times in recent years due to our solid financial performance and quality lawyers," said Glick. "Dykema provided an excellent fit given its strategy, professional reputation and commitment to being a leading firm in the Chicago market. Plus, its practice areas complement ours in all the right ways. At the end of the day, the move made a lot of sense on many levels."
Added Thomas R. Hill, managing member of Dykema’s Chicago office: "Schwartz Cooper has been a prominent institution in the Chicago legal community for decades and we are thrilled to add such a highly respected group of attorneys who complement and add depth to our core practices. Delivering on the goals that were established when Dykema expanded into Chicago four years ago, we expect to have between 150 – 200 attorneys in Chicago in the next two years, and this deal is a significant step in that direction."
Schlaybaugh noted that Dykema’s "value and service equation" played a key role in the discussions with the group from Schwartz Cooper.
"We emphasize a combination of ‘value drivers’ to ensure that high levels of service and value are consistently delivered to clients," Schlaybaugh said. "Today’s purchasers of legal services are facing intense pressure to control legal expenditures and are demanding increased value from their legal services providers. Our service model addresses these pressures by providing our clients with industry-leading quality, unparalleled service and constructive partnering to achieve our clients’ financial objectives."
Advancing Dykema’s National Strategy
As a premier firm with Midwestern roots and major offices located in Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., Dykema has developed a national footprint focused on serving Fortune 1000 and middle-market companies.
Building on its roots and driven by the needs of its clients, the firm has extended its platform nationally by developing sophisticated national practices in areas including automotive, consumer financial services, energy and electric distribution, financial institutions, international counsel, infrastructure finance, intellectual property and pharmaceutical/medical device litigation.
"Having a strong, vibrant presence in Chicago and Detroit, as well as other important markets such as Los Angeles, Dallas and Washington, D.C., gives us a unique position and perspective," Schlaybaugh added. "We continue to work diligently to stay a step ahead of client needs as they continue to evolve. This means that we will focus on expanding the firm’s core practice areas and vertical industry capabilities while growing our presence within our priority markets throughout the country. The addition of the attorneys from Schwartz Cooper is right in line with that approach and represents an exciting development for the firm."
About Schwartz Cooper Chartered
Schwartz Cooper Chartered provides practical, efficient legal solutions across a range of disciplines, including banking and finance, corporate, commercial real estate, litigation, bankruptcy, tax and estate planning, and securities. Clients include middle-market public and private companies in industries ranging from manufacturing to retail; local and national banking and financial institutions; investment funds; and commercial real estate owners, developers and lenders. For more information, please visit www.schwartzcooper.com.
About Dykema
A leading national law firm built upon its Midwestern heritage and values, Dykema has offices located in California, Illinois, Michigan, Texas and Washington, D.C., and a national practice focused on serving Fortune 1000 and middle-market companies. Dykema advises domestic and foreign-based companies and institutions on a wide variety of sophisticated business issues including corporate governance, litigation, growth strategies and risk reduction, financial services, mergers and acquisitions, international trade, e-commerce and many others. A strategic partner to its clients, Dykema maintains leading national vertical industry practices with substantial depth and experience, in areas including automotive, pharmaceutical/medical devices, financial institutions, and energy and electric distribution. Dykema continues to expand its work for companies who increasingly are attracted to the firm’s sophisticated practices, skilled lawyers and commitment to providing value and quality service.
