MIAMI — Ruden McClosky, a 175-lawyer Florida firm, is acquiring an eight-lawyer Palm Beach County boutique firm, Elk Christu & Bakst.
“We feel this is an opportunity to pick up good lawyers,” said Carl Schuster, Ruden’s managing partner.
Elk Christu & Bakst has offices in both Boca Raton and West Palm Beach.
Their lawyers will move into Ruden’s existing West Palm office and some will remain in the Boca office, giving Ruden a new office in that city.
The acquisition is a sign that Ruden is prospering, even in these tough economic times, said Schuster. It is effective Monday.
Lawyers at Elk Christu & Bakst did not return calls for comment. Their lawyers — Michael Bakst, peter Blacklock, Eric Christu, Devon Coughlan, Scott Elk, Kristen Lynch, Alan Quiles and Mark Snider — specialize in corporate, employment, real estate, estate planning and litigation.
Joe Ankus, a longtime legal headhunter with Ankus Consulting of Weston, Fla., called the acquisition a “nice dovetail for Ruden.”
“This strengthens Ruden’s position in West Palm and it also strengthens them in the area of bankruptcy,” Ankus said. “This is a nice boutique acquisition for them. Elk Christu & Bakst has a good reputation, particulary in bankruptcy.”
