‘What’s Not to Like About Miami?’ Says London Law Firm

London-based Clyde & Co, a legal advisor to insurance companies including Zurich, Berkshire Hathaway and Chubb, has announced the acquisition of Miami litigation law firm Thornton Davis Fein, opening its sixth U.S. office.

“What’s not to like about Miami?” said Michael Knoerzer, managing partner of Clyde & Co’s New York office.

The city is viewed as a gateway to Latin America, although Knoerzer took that cliche a step farther, saying, “We think of it as the de facto capital of South America.” Other large law firms that have opened in Miami in recent years include Jones Day, Sedgwick and Bryan Cave.

Knoerzer stressed that the deal to bring onboard the firm’s five equity partners and 35 other lawyers and staff, is structured as a true merger, rather than a Swiss verein.

“We aren’t just trading under a brand name,” said Knoerzer. “They are our partners and we work closely with them.”

The deal is effective July 1 and fits into the firm’s overall strategy to expand its practices in the United States to better service the firm’s insurance industry clients.

Clyde & Co. staffs 1,500 lawyers in practices including aviation, infrastructure, oil and gas, among others. The international law firm has other offices in San Francisco, Newport Beach, New York, New Jersey and Atlanta.

This particular deal in Miami brings the firm business in aviation, insurance and marine industries. Equity partners joining are: civil litigator Barry Davis, aviation lawyer Tom Thornton, product liability lawyers Fred Fein and Doug Horelick and insurance coverage lawyer Holly Harvey.

The firm’s website has the aesthetics of a forgotten government website rather than a sophisticated law firm, but it lists a long list of impressive clients nevertheless.

From the website:

Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., Astaldi Construction Company, Bank of America Corporation, BlackRock, Inc., Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, Crum & Forster, General Electric Company, General Reinsurance Corporation, Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Honeywell International Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Lloyd’s of London, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, United Airlines, Inc., US Airways, Inc.

The client list is followed by a single question, and an answer:

“Why do individuals and huge, household-name companies with offices, plants, products, and businesses all over the world turn to an AV rated, medium-sized law firm like Thornton Davis Fein when their fortunes, futures, and reputations are on the line?

In a word — RESULTS.”

Duh, right?!