Lexington, KY - The Cincinnati-based law firm of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP has announced plans to merge with Louisville-based Woodward, Hobson & Fulton LLP, effective September 1.
The merger will roughly double the Kentucky presence of Dinsmore & Shohl, which was ranked as the state's ninth-largest law firm by the Lane Report in February 2009. The merged firm will include 105 practicing attorneys in the Commonwealth, including roughly 40 in their Lexington offices, said Dinsmore & Shohl managing partner George Vincent.
Woodward, Hobson & Fulton's 54 practicing attorneys will bring capabilities in estate planning and probate practice, as well as mass tort litigation expertise that Dinsmore & Shohl currently does not have in Kentucky, in addition to an exemplary reputation for excellence and top-notch client service, Vincent said. In addition, Dinsmore & Shohl has been recognized as the top firm for mining law in the country, Vincent added, which is expected to benefit Woodward, Hobson & Fulton's clients in that area.
"It's really an example of where one plus one equals three," Vincent said. "We are looking forward to continuing to grow our capabilities in the state of Kentucky."
Donna King Perry, managing partner of Woodward, Hobson & Fulton, said that, in the Lexington market in particular, Dinsmore & Shohl's capabilities in regulatory practice and its strength in labor and employment law will offer valuable support for the attorneys in her firm. Being part of a larger firm will also open new opportunities and help them strategically to compete on a more regional basis, Perry said.
"We're very excited about the opportunity to join with a firm that has a regional footprint," said Donna King Perry. "It will position us as probably one of the top four or five firms in the state."
Founded in 1908, Dinsmore & Shohl includes more than 450 attorneys practicing in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton in Ohio; Lexington, Louisville and Frankfort, Ky.;Charleston, Morgantown and Wheeling, W.V.; and Pittsburgh, Penn.
Woodward, Hobson & Fulton, founded in 1917, has offices in both Louisville, Ky., and Lexington.