Fennemore Craig Raids Denver Boutique Moye White for 50 Lawyers

Fennemore Craig is hiring some 50 lawyers from Denver boutique Moye White, marking the likely end of the firm after nearly half a century.

The hires, which also include about 30 legal professionals, will see the majority of Moye White’s lawyers and staff head to Fennemore Craig. Moye White is expected to officially wind down its operations later this year, according to Fennemore CEO James Goodnow.

Arizona-founded Fennemore has been aggressively looking to grow. The firm acquired three smaller firms—in Sacramento, San Diego, and Seattle—in the first three months of the year.

Fennemore’s goal is to reach $200 million in annual gross revenue by 2025, Goodnow said in an interview. That would be a nearly 40% jump from the $143.2 million in gross revenue the firm reported for last year.

The new team is expected to boost Fennemore’s corporate transaction, litigation, and energy practice groups.

“They are strong in the areas where the Denver economy is booming,” Goodnow said. The additions “expand the firm’s offering for existing clients” and will help the firm diversify its practice areas to withstand turbulent demand.

Moye White is a full-service boutique whose lawyers have defended AT&T Corp. and gone up against Amazon Corp. in court. A small group of staffers is likely to handle winding down operations, Goodnow said.

Fennemore, meanwhile, is looking to continue to grow through lateral hires. The firm is not likely to do more large group hires or acquisitions for the rest of the year, Goodnow said.