Fennemore Craig makes another mass lawyer hire, leading to closure of Denver law firm
“It’s a very clean way to do a transaction,” Fennemore Craig CEO James Goodnow told Law.com. “You don’t have to worry about the complexities of integrating financial or technology systems.” (Image from Shutterstock)
Fennemore Craig has made a fourth mass lawyer lateral hire this year, adding about 50 lawyers and 30 staff members from Denver-based law firm Moye White, according to a report by Law.com.
The lawyer exodus will lead to the closure of 48-year-old Moye White, which will be winding down operations throughout the year, Fennemore Craig CEO James Goodnow told Law.com. Moye White appears to be losing the bulk of its lawyers based on its website, which lists 60 lawyers working there.
Goodnow said Fennemore Craig is structured as a professional corporation, which makes it difficult to merge with firms structured as limited liability partnerships. That’s why Fennemore Craig is turning to mass lateral hires.
“It’s a very clean way to do a transaction,” Goodnow told Law.com. “You don’t have to worry about the complexities of integrating financial or technology systems.”
Moye White managing partner Merc Pittinos told Law.com in a November interview that his firm was facing “the same nationwide recruitment and retention challenges that many firms are seeing.” In addition, Moye White “took a hit during the pandemic,” he said.
In an April 1 press release, Pittinos said the decision to join Fennemore Craig “is about expanding on our vision for growth to become the go-to business law firm in the West.”
Fennemore Craig has also added lawyers from Wagner Kirkman Blaine Klomparens & Youmans of Sacramento, California; Sullivan Hill of San Diego; and Savitt Bruce & Willey of Seattle, Law.com reports.
