Duane Morris and Hancock Rothert & Bunshoft Law Firms to Merge

Duane Morris LLP and Hancock Rothert & Bunshoft LLP have entered into a definitive agreement to merge under the name of Duane Morris. The merger will be effective Jan. 1, 2006.

Hancock Rothert & Bunshoft is well-known for its work in insurance counseling and defending insurers and reinsurers in complex insurance coverage actions and arbitrations. Hancock attorneys have represented Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London, as well as other London, European, United States and Bermudian insurance and reinsurance companies, some of which are existing Duane Morris clients. The firm is considered to have one of the top insurance coverage and professional liability practices in the country.

The addition of more than 60 Hancock lawyers in San Francisco will increase Duane Morris’ lawyers in that office to 90. The firm presently has 30 lawyers in its San Diego office and in addition, on the effective date of the merger, will have 10 lawyers in its new Los Angeles office. With this merger, Duane Morris will have more than 100 lawyers involved in insurance coverage work.

“In addition to an excellent insurance coverage practice, Hancock has outstanding litigators with a strong presence in such areas as commercial litigation, technology, professional liability, construction, appellate, healthcare and product liability,” said Sheldon Bonovitz, Chairman of Duane Morris.

“The combined firm provides Hancock with deeper bench strength and a national platform as well as an ability to serve and develop its insurance and reinsurance clients in Europe, Bermuda, and the United States,” added Bonovitz, noting that Duane Morris’s full-service London office has an existing business development presence.

Joining the Los Angeles office, in addition to the Hancock lawyers, will be Russell Roten, formerly a partner at Coudert Brothers, along with four other Coudert attorneys. Duane Morris intends to expand the Los Angeles office focusing in the areas of commercial litigation and intellectual property and will continue to expand the Las Vegas office, opened by Hancock earlier this year.

The combined firm will have in excess of 600 lawyers in 19 offices and is projected to generate revenue approaching $350 million in 2006.