Santa Monica real estate and commercial litigation boutique Gilchrist & Rutter has joined Philadelphia, Pa.-based law firm Cozen O’Connor, the latter announced Thursday.

The Santa Monica offices of Gilchrist & Rutter will begin operating under the Cozen O’Connor name effective Oct. 1, the company said. Cozen O’Connor brought on 10 new attorneys, among them eight partners, in the deal, according to a spokeswoman for the firm.

The deal expands the firm’s real estate and commercial litigation practice on the West Coast, further building its presence in the state and overall national growth, said Michael J. Heller, Cozen O’Connor’s president and chief executive.

Gilchrist & Rutter’s real estate practice encompasses commercial office, retail, multi-family, industrial, manufactured housing, development, financing, leasing, purchases, sales, joint ventures, exchanges, and regulatory and government relations practice, according to the company.

Real estate reporter Neil Nisperos can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @ReporterNeil for the latest in L.A. real estate news.