National law firm establishes Columbus office
A national law firm is setting up shop in Columbus and taking lawyers from one of the city's most prestigious firms to open it.
Epstein Becker Green announced on Sept. 2 its plan to open the Columbus office with 12 partners from Bricker & Eckler. This week, it said eight more lawyers will join the new office.
“These 20 attorneys bring additional capabilities to the firm's core practices in health care, labor and employment and litigation, and a robust and wellrounded team to create an EBG presence in Ohio,” Steven Di Fiore, the firm's chief operating officer, said in a statement. “We have been incredibly impressed by this group's enthusiasm and how well they fit our culture. We are thrilled that they have decided to build on their already successful professional careers with EBG.”
Jennifer Nelson Carney, Stephen Kleinman, James Petrie, Chris Bennington, Jill Bigler, Jonathan Brollier, Kevin Hilvert, David Johnston, Elizabeth Kastner, Allen Killworth, Victoria Flinn Mccurdy and Jeremy Morris joined the new firm as members.
This week, they were joined by eight more lawyers: Shannon Debra, Kimberly Parks, Joshua Gilbert, Zeina Abu-hijleh, Addison Hutcheson, Christopher Page, Lindsey Roberts and Avery Schumacher. Five of those lawyers also had worked for Bricker, according to Epstein.
Epstein, based in New York City with offices across the country, has a primary focus on health care and life sciences; employment, labor, and workforce management; and litigation and business disputes. The firm was founded in 1973.
The Columbus office is led by health
care partners Jennifer Nelson Carney and Stephen Kleinman, and employment partner James Petrie.
“It was important to my practice and partners that we join forces with a team that was excited to grow in Ohio and work alongside our clients in the same ways we already do,” Nelson Carney said in a statement. “We look forward to tapping into all of the firm’s terrific resources to enhance our current offerings and better serve our national client base.”
Bricker wished its former colleagues well. After the departures, the firm has 131 lawyers.
“This event is part of a national trend of expansions of large law firms, business consolidation, and the rapid evolution of the health care industry,” Jim Flynn, the firm’s managing partner, said in an email to staff. “That Epstein targeted these partners is evidence of the reputation of Bricker attorneys and the high quality of legal services our firm provides.”
Flynn said he will take over the health-care practice in addition to his duties as the managing partner.
Flynn is a health care specialist who led Bricker’s health care practice for years.
“Make no mistake, Bricker & Eckler remains strong and very wellequipped to provide our clients with excellent personal service and outstanding value,” he said. “While we are sad for them to leave, we wish the best for our dear friends and former partners as they transition to a new opportunity. Bricker looks forward to exciting times in future opportunities on our own horizon.” mawilliams@dispatch.com @Bizmarkwilliams