Scale might not seem an issue in intellectual property law, but that’s the strategy behind the merger of Christie Parker & Hale in Glendale and Phoenix’s Lewis Roca Rothgerber. The combined firm, named Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie, has about 300 lawyers, including around 80 IP attorneys, in 10 different office locations throughout Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico. Kenneth Van Winkle Jr., former managing partner of Lewis Roca Rothgerber, is managing partner of the new entity. Prior to the merger, Lewis Roca Rothgerber was looking to expand its intellectual property practice, while Christie Parker was considering merging with a larger firm to improve its patent litigation services, according to Greg Lampert, former managing partner of Christie Parker and partner at the new firm. Christie Parker managed IP portfolios – patents, trademarks and copyrights – for clients that ranged from individual inventors to large corporations. Lewis Roca Rothgerber had practices in litigation, insurance, real estate and banking as well as IP. Lampert said that in the past five to 10 years, more companies have been seeking patent litigation but they want large firms to represent them. Because of that trend, boutique firm Christie Parker saw a decline in its patent practice and was not considered for patent litigation based on its size. When presented with an opportunity to merge, both firms saw it as a good fit strategically and culturally. “I think the immediate future includes assimilating Christie Parker & Hale’s intellectual property practice into the firm, trying to cross over legacy clients and providing more legal services to our existing client base,” said Lampert. “We are all excited about the merger and are looking forward to working with our new members of the firm.” The new firm’s headquarters is in Phoenix, and it has no plans to close offices, including the one in Glendale, where more than 40 attorneys work. New Partner Commercial litigation firm Gray Duffy, with offices in Redwood City and Encino, has hired Erin K. Tenner as its newest partner at the San Fernando Valley office. Tenner comes to the firm with 30 years of experience overseeing business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions; real estate sales and purchases; and partnership and shareholder agreements. She specializes in representing automotive dealers and has published the California Auto Dealer newsletter since 1996. In addition, she is an active member of the National Association of Dealer Counsel, headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has spoken at events organized by the National Auto Dealers Association, in Tysons, Va. Before joining Gray Duffy, Tenner managed her own firm in Agoura Hills for more than 20 years. While focusing on auto dealers, she represented clients across an array of industries. “I am really excited about this move,” said Tenner. “The firm is like none other that I have been approached by in my 24 years in private practice. The attorneys here are top rate and will be a great compliment to my automotive practice.” Gray Duffy provides representation to businesses, insurers, policyholders and individuals in matters involving employment and real estate law, medical malpractice, auto dealerships, bad faith and insurance coverage. Divorce Solutions Warren Sacks, senior partner at Sherman Oaks accounting and consulting firm White Zuckerman Warsavsky Luna & Hunt, has been named the new president of Family Divorce Solutions of San Fernando Valley for 2016. Founded in 2011, the organization aims to help families going through divorce resolve their problems without litigation. It’s comprised of attorneys, mental health professionals and financial advisers, all working to help couples and their families by opting out of the traditional court-mandated process and resolving their issues through dialogue, a process known as collaborative divorce. Sacks comes to Family Divorce Solutions with 30 years of experience preparing financial reports used to help clients assess their financial options during the collaborative divorce process. The certified public accountant is also certified in financial forensics. Additionally, Sacks has been honored by his industry peers for his work in collaborative law. “My priority during my term as president is to find new methods of educating people about the possibilities of collaborative practice and help them take the steps to amicably handle their conflicts, including divorce, in a healthier way,” Sacks said in a statement. Staff Reporter Stephanie Henkel can be reached at (818) 316-3130 or [email protected].
