Dinsmore, Woodward in Louisville discuss possible merger - Dayton Business Journal:

ramsburgsyuheo1544.blogspot.com
The firms have not struck a but they havehad “serious discussions” regarding a potentialk merger since late last year, said Jon Fleischaker, managingh partner of Dinsmore’s Louisville office, in a repor by Louisville Business First, a Dayton Business Journa l sister paper. Dinsmore has more than 400 attorneyxs in 10 offices in four according tothe firm’s Web site, whil Woodward Hobson & Fulton has about 55 attorneysw in Louisville and Lexington. Donnwa King Perry, managing partner of Woodward Hobson, declined to comment on the possibility ofa merger.
George Vincent, Dinsmore’s managingb director and chairman of the board of could not be reached prior toBusiness First’ws press deadline. The merger negotiations currentl y are on hold because of ongoing litigatiob that pits Dinsmore and Woodware Hobson clients against each Fleischaker said. Joining the firms would creatre a conflictof interest. He added that thers is no guarantee that the firms will agree to mergr once there is a resolution to thependingb litigation, which he declined to discuss in Though officials of the firms did not describe the ongoinh litigation, Woodward Hobson and Dinsmore attorneys were involvedc in a recent, well-publicized case in Louisville.
On June 9, Norton Healthcares Inc., Woodward Hobson’s client, was ordered to pay more than $4 milliojn to a local anesthesiology practice, Anesthesiologg Associates PSC, which Dinsmore represents. A Jeffersom Circuit Court jury determineed that the nonprofit hospital company breached its contracf with AnesthesiologyAssociates PSC. But the case is not Norton plans to appealthe verdict, said Steve Menaugh, vice presidentf of public relations and communications for Fleischaker said a merger with Woodwarde would strengthen Dinsmore’s Louisville office in terms of the numbere of attorneys and areas of “It would make for a biggeer platform for us,” Fleischaker said.
In he sees an opportunity to expandr thelocal office’s corporate practice and its estate practice two areas in which Woodward is Both firms have a large labod and employment practice, Fleischaker said, so thosed would mesh well together. If a merger were to he anticipates that the two Louisville offices would be consolidatef in one location atsome Dinsmore’s Louisville office is currently is locate in the PNC Plaza at 500 W. Jeffersobn St. Woodward Hobson & Fulton has officeds in the National City Tower at101 S. Fiftgh St. Woodward Hobson & Fulton was No. 7 on Businesz First’s Nov.
14 list of the area’s largest law firms, which was ranked by the number oflocap lawyers. The firm had 39 localo attorneys, and its practice areas include labotr andemployment law, business organizations and estate planning, torts and insurancse and product liability. Notable clients includs CSX Transportation Inc., the University of Louisville, Brown-Formanb Corp., Louisville Water Co. and ZirMed Inc. Dinsmore & Shohll was ranked No. 9 on Business First’s list with 30 locap attorneys. Its practice areas include labofand employment, health care, commercial telecommunications, appellate law and mediaa and first amendment law.
Dinsmore’s notable clients include AllstateInsurance Co., Bluegras s Cellular Inc., The Louisvillw Courier-Journal, the Kentucky Press Association and Mylab Pharmaceuticals Inc.