LeClairRyan announced yesterday that it has merged with New York’s Biedermann, Reif, Hoenig & Ruff. Richmond, Va.–based LeClairRyan said the number of lawyers in its New York office will grow to 40 as a result of the acquisition, which should also bring the firm more work from international clients. Biedermann Reif focuses on advising European clients—mainly those based in Germany, Switzerland, and the U.K.—on domestic U.S. and international matters involving insurance and reinsurance claims, class action claims, commercial litigation, environmental compliance and remediation, products liability, and corporate work. “We see Beidermann Reif as a portal to European clients with operations in the U.S.,” LeClairRyan chairman Gary LeClair said in a statement announcing the acquisition. For his part, Biedermann Reif president and name partner Frederick Reif said in a statement that he was excited about the opportunity to “join a growing national firm” with offices in New York and Los Angeles.
Both LeClairRyan and Biedermann Reif plan to consolidate their New York offices soon. LeClairRyan is based at 830 Third Ave. Biedermann Reif is a few blocks away in the Lipstick Building at 885 Third Ave. The merger brings the head count at LeClairRyan—which went from 294 lawyers in 2009 to 314 by the end of last year, according to data compiled by affiliate publication The National Law Journal—to about 350 lawyers. Earlier this year, LeClairRyan hired 16 lawyers from Nixon Peabody, picking up an office in Rochester.
