Foster Pepper and Garvey Schubert Barer, both with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest, have agreed to merge, creating a new firm called Foster Garvey.

The combination, which will become effective on Sept. 1, will create a firm with 180 attorneys and six offices in the U.S. and Beijing, making it one of the region's largest law firms.

Greg Duff, firm chair and principal of Garvey Schubert Barer, said he started the discussion with Foster Pepper's Steve DiJulio last fall as the firm “deliberately” seeks to expand its offerings to meet increasing client demands.

“It became quite clear, from both firms' perspectives, that there was a great fit here,” Duff said. “Not only from the [addition] of expanding practice areas and industry groups but frankly both firms thought a lot about key cultural issues, [like] the way we represent clients and treat our staff.”

DiJulio said Foster Pepper has been approached by a number of national firms but decided to move forward with Garvey Schubert Barer because of the firm's history in the Pacific Northwest.

“We stepped back, did some strategic planning … and thought that our best opportunity to address our clients' demands and working toward the future was to focus on a firm with [long-standing] roots in the Northwest and complementary practices,” DiJulio said. “Garvey Schubert Barer fits that planning perfectly, and we couldn't be more pleased with this opportunity.”

The two firms' partners voted to approve the merger on Friday. Following the merger, Duff and DiJulio will serve as co-chairs of the newly formed firm.

According to DiJulio, Foster Pepper, founded in 1904, is particularly strong in the public finance practice, representing Northwest states and local government in major infrastructure developments, such as hydroelectric projects, roads and bridges, or other critical infrastructures.

Duff said Garvey Schubert Barer has developed expertise in practice areas including labor and employment, finance, litigation, taxes, bankruptcy and real estate. Garvey Schubert Barer was established in 1966.

The combined firm will continue to deepen and serve clients in key practice areas and industries that include health care, hospitality, land use and environmental services, public infrastructure finance and affordable housing, real estate, technology and transportation.

“We aren't going to stop here, we are going to continue to look for opportunities to support our existing core practices, but also to develop additional practice areas, where our clients may have a demand,” DiJulio said.

Since early 2018, Foster Pepper has lost several groups of attorneys. The American Lawyer reported in January that 13 real-estate and land-use attorneys had moved to Stoel Rives, and smaller handfuls left last year for Buchalter and Polsinelli, as the two national firms opened their offices in the city.

“As Seattle grows, as the Northwest grows … the demand and the sophistication of that demand for legal support and service continues to evolve,” said Duff, noting that the combined platform and resources will better equip Foster Garvey for the specific needs clients require.

And, Duff said, with in-house groups growing at regional companies, such as tech giant Amazon, outside counsel must either become more efficient or offer specialized services to keep up with the competition.

“I think it is difficult for a lawyer today in Seattle, whereas maybe 15 years [ago] somebody could be a generalist and just represent you on a wide variety of matters. It is becoming increasingly difficult to do that,” he said.

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