Texas-based Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart has recently acquired four-attorney Philadelphia firm Simon Moran. Barry Simon and Christopher J. Moran will serve as shareholders in the firm and will continue in their current office space under the name of Ogletree Deakins. Ogletree Deakins was ranked 173rd on the 2006 Am Law 200 chart and reported $119 million in gross revenues for 2006. The firm represents management in all types of employment-related legal matters. After Jan. 1, it will have 350 lawyers located in 28 offices, including Dallas, Phoenix, Miami and Los Angeles. Besides handling labor and employment law matters, the firm also deals with business immigration, employee benefits, and workplace safety and health law.
Source: www.law.com

Ford & Harrison, an Atlanta-based firm that employs about 170 lawyers, has acquired Chicago boutique Matkov Salzman. The move brings 9 new partners to Ford & Harrison, along with the rest of the Chicago firm’s staff. Ford & Harrison focuses its practice on labor and employment and has 16 offices nationwide, including New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, and Washington, D.C.
Source: www.law.com

Atlanta-based firm Powell Goldstein has lured two partners and 11 other attorneys and paralegals away from Akin Gump’s real estate and finance practice. Kieth Dunsmore, having previously spent 13 years with Powell, will head a new capital markets practice group in D.C. Robin Green, the second of the two partners, is to lead the new Dallas office and will be joined by seven of the former Akin Gump attorneys. The office will focus on real estate, banking, and financial services.
Source: www.law.com

275-lawyer Dallas-based firm Jenkens & Gilchrist has increased salaries nationwide, with first-year associates now earning $140,000, The firm’s Texas offices are located in Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. Also announcing raises is Houston firm Porter & Hedges, with first-years making $135,000 plus $5,000 in bonuses. Source: www.law.com