It has been rumored that the law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf is working on a prepackaged bankruptcy and merger all in one. Many in the industry are wondering whether or not the firm we be able to pull it off without a hitch. One of the potential suitors for Dewey is that of Greenberg Traurig. A top partner from the firm said that a full merger is very unlikely and that the firm more than likely would cherry pick attorneys from Dewey across the globe in order to improve its presence in overseas markets.
It appears that Dewey is working to acquire a group of partners from Dewey’s office in California. Richard Rosenbaum, the CEO for Greenberg, traveled to the Dewey office in California this past Wednesday to meet with some key attorneys there. He met with Rick Climan, a mergers and acquisitions specialist, and Bruce Bennett, a bankruptcy specialist.
Hershel Wein, a tax partner for Dewey in New York, has left the firm to join KPMG along with international tax partner Fred Gander. These two departures put the total at 72 since the beginning of 2012. Should Dewey file for bankruptcy it would not be the first of its kind as Ruden McClosky filed a prepackaged bankruptcy in 2011 and then was acquired by Greenspoon Marder.