Saul Ewing LLP, an AmLaw 200 firm based in Philadelphia, entered the California market this month in a merger with Freeman Freeman & Smiley.
The merger brings Saul Ewing to Century City and Irvine, where the 50-attorney Freeman Freeman & Smiley are headquartered. Those offices have adopted the Saul Ewing name, and former Freeman Freeman & Smiley managing partner Steven Ziven now serves as managing partner of the Century City operation and is on Saul Ewing’s executive committee. Terms of the merger, which had been in formal discussion since September, were not disclosed.
Ziven said his firm had initially sought out the merger, with Saul Ewing emerging as a top candidate shortly after making contact.
“The main reason we wanted to have a merger was because we wanted a national platform,” he said. “When we met Saul Ewing initially, we were really focusing, as they were, on culture. We wanted to make sure we had the right people and that everyone at their firm was comfortable with it.
“When we opened it up (for discussion),” Ziven added, “Saul Ewing was one of a number of firms we entertained, and they rose right to the top when we spoke with them.”
Freeman Freeman & Smiley’s reputation in real estate, trust and estate law, and its nearly 50 years of work and client-building, helped make the merger attractive for Saul Ewing. Prominent California industries such as higher education, cannabis, sports and entertainment and agribusiness also line up well with the firm’s existing national practices. Many of Saul Ewing’s clients have substantial operations in California — the firm noted that it handled more than 500 client matters in the state during the past three years.
“We’re very thrilled with the attorneys that we have (from this merger),” Jason St. John, Saul Ewing’s firmwide managing partner, said. “We are committed to growing both of our offices here and our intent is to continue to build off the strength of our California lawyers and then expanding into some of the industries Saul Ewing is known for.”
Ziven says he sought to find an arrangement where he could bring the entire firm happily along for the ride. He said he also aimed to bring his firm to a national market.
“We were referring away some of that business or turning it down, and now we don’t have to do that,” Ziven said.
St. John indicated that Saul Ewing wasn’t done with its expansion into California.
“We are going to continue to aggressively look to grow in California, by filling empty offices here but also by exploring other California markets,” he said. “Silicon Valley and San Francisco are certainly attractive markets. We’re looking in San Diego. This is a really important market to us.”
Saul Ewing already has a local client should it ever open an office in San Diego. Topgolf Callaway Brands Corporation, which is headquartered in Carlsbad, has been a Freeman Freeman & Smiley client for years.
“Freeman Freeman & Smiley has been a long-term strategic legal adviser,” said Marty Hochman, deputy general counsel for Topgolf Callaway, in a statement, “and we look forward to taking advantage of the deeper bench of attorneys and additional resources this combination will bring.”
