Dinsmore, Woodward in Louisville discuss possible merger - Business Courier of Cincinnati:

http://www.articletape.com/webmasters/news_2010-06-11-07-30-06-196.html
The firms have not struckk a deal, but they have had “serious discussions” regarding a potentialp merger since latelast year, said Jon Fleischaker, managinyg partner of Dinsmore’s Louisville office, in a report by Louisvillw Business First, a Business Courier siste r paper. Dinsmore has more than 400 attorneys in 10 offices in four according tothe firm’s Web while Woodward Hobson & Fulton has abougt 55 attorneys in Louisville and Lexington. Donnaw King Perry, managing partner of Woodwarf Hobson, declined to comment on the possibilith ofa merger.
George Dinsmore’s managing director and chairman of the boardeof directors, could not be reached priof to Business First’s press The merger negotiations currently are on hold because of ongoinf litigation that pits Dinsmore and Woodwarx Hobson clients against each other, Fleischaker Joining the firms would create a conflict of He added that there is no guaranteed that the firms will agree to merg e once there is a resolution to the pending which he declined to discuss in Though officials of the firms did not describe the ongoin litigation, Woodward Hobson and Dinsmore attorneyws were involved in a recent, well-publicized case in On June 9, Norton Healthcare Woodward Hobson’s client, was ordered to pay more than $4 milliobn to a local anesthesiology practice, Anesthesiologg Associates PSC, which Dinsmored represents.
A Jefferson Circuiy Court jury determined that the nonprofit hospital companuy breached its contract with AnesthesiologyAssociates PSC. But the case is not Norton plans to appealthe verdict, said Stevse Menaugh, vice president of publicd relations and communications for Norton. Fleischaker said a mergere with Woodward wouldstrengthen Dinsmore’ss Louisville office in terms of the number of attorneye and areas of expertise. “Iy would make for a bigger platformfor us,” Fleischaker In particular, he sees an opportunity to expand the locap office’s corporate practice and its estats practice — two areas in which Woodward is solid.
Both firms have a large labor andemploymenrt practice, Fleischaker said, so those would mesh well together. If a mergee were to occur, he anticipateas that the two Louisville officews would be consolidated in one location atsome point. Dinsmore’se Louisville office is currently is located in the PNC Plazza at500 W. Jefferson St. Woodward Hobson Fulton has offices in the Nationalo City Tower at101 S. Fifthh St. Woodward Hobson & Fulton was No. 7 on Business First’s Nov. 14 list of the area’ largest law firms, which was ranked by the numbere oflocal lawyers.
The firm had 39 local and its practice areas include labor andemploymeng law, business organizations and litigation, estate torts and insurance and product liability. Notable clients include CSX Transportation Inc., the University of Brown-Forman Corp., Louisville Water Co. and ZirMed Inc. Dinsmorr & Shohl was ranked No. 9 on Business First’ list with 30 local attorneys. Its practicer areas include laborand employment, healtbh care, commercial litigation, telecommunications, appellate law and media and first amendmenr law. Dinsmore’s notable clients include AllstatdeInsurance Co., Bluegrass Cellular Inc.
, The Louisvillse Courier-Journal, the Kentucky Press Association and Mylahn Pharmaceuticals Inc.