Cozen O’Connor Nabs an Entire Team of Lawyers from Dickstein Shapiro
Cozen O’Connor
Cozen O'Connor isn't subtle now that it is in growth mode. Figuring that now is the time for representing companies before state attorneys general, they lifted not one, but eight lawyers from Dickstein Shapiro, as they announced Tuesday.
As part of their plunder, they grabbed practice chief Bernard Nash, who 30 years ago founded the group. His exodus takes in train partners Lori Kalani, J.B. Kelly, Milton Marquis, Maria Colsey Heard, Ann-Marie Luciano, and Chris Allen.
"I think it's fairly clear that the attorney generals over the past several years have gotten more aggressive, and my expectation is that they will continue to do so," said Cozen chief executive officer Michael Heller.
The team is not leaving from any anger at Dickstein. "I think Jim Kelly is a fabulous chairman. We didn't leave because we don't like them," said Nash. "Even though Dickstein was larger a few years ago, Dickstein was never as large as Cozen is now."
And that bespeaks the ambition of this team of renegades. They want a larger platform. The new firm has more lawyers, and as Nash says, "If you don't constantly reinvent yourself, someone else will probably overtake you."
Such angst may be ubiquitous in our age of manic capitalistic growth. For this team of lawyers, it is an opportunity to advance to a new level surrounded by old friends.
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