BOSTON, MA and PORTLAND, ME — August 1, 2013 — Verrill Dana, LLP, a full-service law firm with headquarters in Portland, Maine, today announced that it has merged with the law firm of Friedman Gaythwaite Wolf, LLP (FGW), creating a superior team of award-winning trial lawyers. Verrill Dana now totals 118 lawyers in the firm’s five offices located throughout the Northeast.
The merger, effective August 1, combines two firms that share a proven passion for aggressive and efficient resolution of clients’ legal matters. The addition of FGW’s exceptional litigation practice will add depth to Verrill Dana’s highly regarded and well-established trial group’s experience in “bet the company” litigation matters. FGW’s trial lawyers and their clients will now have access to Verrill Dana’s comprehensive range of legal services.
As a result of the merger, Verrill Dana, led by Managing Partner Keith C. “K.C.” Jones, will offer a broader array of specialized experience in the following core practice areas: complex commercial litigation, corporate disputes, personal injury and products liability, toxic torts and environmental litigation, professional liability disputes, insurance litigation, and labor and employment litigation.
“We’re excited to grow our practice with the addition of such esteemed trial lawyers,” said Jones. “The lawyers joining Verrill Dana enjoy sterling reputations in the states in which they practice. Each firm’s wealth of experience and courtroom acumen, coupled with highly individualized client service, makes this merger a perfect fit.”
“We are truly honored to become part of the Verrill Dana team and look forward to the wonderful opportunities that this merger creates,” said FGW’s Managing Partner, Martha Gaythwaite. “The combination of our two outstanding firms will contribute to the depth and breadth of our individual practices while establishing a synergy conducive to meeting the varied needs of our clients. Partnering with Verrill Dana allows us to expand our regional practice, as well as enrich our proven ability to offer quality litigation assistance in high-profile, complex cases.”
Those joining Verrill Dana include the following partners:
Harold Friedman founded Friedman Gaythwaite Wolf in 1984. His vision was to create a firm of attorneys with extraordinary trial skills and a fearless approach to protecting the interests of their clients in and out of the courtroom. Harold is a former Assistant United States Attorney who tried cases involving federal crimes, fraud and civil matters. In private practice, he has tried cases to juries in jurisdictions throughout the United States with the emphasis in the Northeast. Harold’s clients often retain him to “parachute in” as trial counsel in significant cases. He frequently represents product manufacturers, parties in commercial disputes and clients in personal catastrophic injury cases. Harold has been honored as one of only 500 lawyers worldwide inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, where he is a Director.
Martha Gaythwaite has spent the bulk of her professional career trying cases before juries. At last count, Martha has tried more than 150 civil jury trials to verdict, including a wide variety of complex product liability, toxic tort and environmental cases. She is listed in the 2012 New England edition of Super Lawyers and was selected for the inaugural edition of the Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, a listing of women attorneys who have received the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards from their peers.
Karen Frink Wolf began her trial career at Friedman Gaythwaite Wolf in 1985. Her practice is devoted to medical and professional responsibility matters, pharmaceutical product liability, complex commercial litigation, and high stakes domestic relations. She is also in high demand as a mediator and arbitrator. Karen is a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, is one of Benchmark’s Top 250 Women in Litigation, and is recognized in Chambers Best Lawyers. She is committed to the ideal of equal access to justice for all, and is a four-time recipient of the Pro Bono Publico award for service to low-income family law litigants.
About Verrill Dana
Verrill Dana, LLP is a full-service law firm with more than 100 attorneys conducting a nationwide practice from offices in Portland and Augusta, ME; Boston, MA; Stamford, CT; and Washington, D.C.
To learn more, visit our website at www.verrilldana.com.
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View the Friedman Gaythwaite Wolf attorneys joining Verrill Dana.