The combination of Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP and Welsh & Katz, Ltd., is complete, effective end-of-day Tuesday, July 15, 2008. The combined firm will be known as Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP in all markets except for Chicago where it will go by the moniker Husch Blackwell Sanders Welsh & Katz.
With the addition of Welsh & Katz, Husch Blackwell Sanders will have more than 90 attorneys concentrating on intellectual property law and intellectual property litigation. Overall, the combined firm will have 675 attorneys and 880 staff with offices in 13 cities. Both firms’ personnel and staff will remain.
“This combination is strategically beneficial to both firms. Welsh & Katz’ presence in Chicago is a perfect extension for Husch Blackwell Sanders,” said Co-Chairman David Fenley.
Co-Chairman Joe Conran commented that, “This addition of more than 45 highly credentialed and outstanding intellectual property lawyers from Welsh & Katz will significantly enhance our ability to represent sophisticated clients in IP litigation and transactional matters.”
“We anticipate that our clients will benefit tremendously from the much greater resources and expertise offered by Husch Blackwell Sanders outside of our area of specialty in IP matters,” added A. Sidney Katz, chair of the combined firm’s intellectual property group.