West Coast class action leader Lerach Coughlin Stoia & Robbins has moved back into New York, a month after the firm split from East Coast practice Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman.

The 51-partner San Diego-based firm, headed by William Lerach, has taken over the 15-lawyer class action firm Geller Rudman. The new firm will officially come into being on 1 August and will be called Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins. The combined firm will have approximately 140 lawyers.