Kramer Levin Makes D.C. Splash, Adding 24-Lawyer Litigation Shop

Kramer Levin, one of the 100 largest U.S. law firms by revenue, is planning to combine with a boutique litigation shop in Washington, D.C. to launch a new outpost in the nation’s capital.

The firm is acquiring 24-lawyer Robbins, Russell, Englert, Orseck & Untereiner, Kramer Levin announced Friday. The 20-year-old Robbins Russell has a track record of representing clients in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The addition will give 400-lawyer Kramer Levin a D.C. outpost and bolster its bankruptcy-related litigation practice. The firm’s highly regarded creditor-side restructuring group has won key representations in bankruptcy cases involving Puerto Rico, Toys R Us Inc., Hertz, and Forever 21.

Adding Robbins Russell lawyers also gives Kramer Levin significant experience before the high court, a prestigious practice that can help bolster litigation groups at large law firms. Robbins Russell lawyers have argued 45 Supreme Court cases, the firm said.

Partner Lawrence Robbins argued in front of the Supreme Court this month. Robbins represented a doctor accused of being involved in an opioid “pill mill,” a case testing the burden of proof for prosecutors seeking to convict medical professionals accused of operating as drug dealers.

The tie up the first “significant transaction” since Kramer Levin was founded in New York more than 50 years ago, said Howard Spilko, co-managing partner of the firm. Kramer Levin won’t necessarily continue to seek growth through mergers. It viewed the Robbins Russell acquisition as “opportunistic” and a chance to “double down” on the firm’s litigation work, Spilko said.

“We felt the strategic fit was very aligned and that the personalities and cultures meshed very well,” he said. “Both firms feel that those criteria have been met.”

Many of the 100 largest firms are eager to merge or acquire law firms to gain scale in an environment where the largest law firms have for years outperformed their smaller peers.

The 50 largest firms by revenue outperformed the rest of the industry through three quarters last year, with demand growth of 8.4% driving a 16.4% revenue gain, according to Citi Private Bank. The group from 51-100, including Kramer Levin, also had a strong performance, but less impressive than its bigger peers: Demand grew 4.4% and revenue was up 10.7%.

Growing Trial Lawyer Bench

Kramer Levin has not yet reported its financial results for 2021, but the firm’s co-managing partners said in an interview that revenue grew more than 17% and profits per equity partner rose more than 20% last year. Those results would put the firm’s revenue north of $455 million and profits per equity partner around $2.75 million.

Its litigation department accounts for about 25% of revenue, the firm leaders said.

Paul Schoeman, a Kramer Levin co-managing partner, said the firm was not seeking “size for size’s sake.” The Robbins Russell addition allowed the firm to take on any litigation matter across the country, he said.

“There is no significant litigation in the country that working together we couldn’t do an outstanding job for our clients on,” Schoeman said.

The Robbins Russell team joining Kramer Levin includes 11 partners, two counsel, 11 associates, and 14 professional staff members.

Robbins Russell was initially founded by four partners from Mayer Brown and a veteran from the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. It’s since hired partners from firms such as Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson and Williams & Connolly.

Gary Orseck, a Robbins Russell co-founder, said the firm has been approached “many times” by larger firms looking to merge. The firm hadn’t considered previous deals.

“This is a perfect fit—like peanut butter and chocolate,” Orseck said. “That’s what made the difference here, the match we feel with these people and with this practice.”