Friday firm closes in on 100 lawyers to remain atop list

Arkansas Business, June 9, 2008 by John Henry

THE SAME THREE LAW FIRMS continue to dominate Arkansas Business' annual list of the largest firms.

Friday Eldredge & Clark LLP of Little Rock is closing in on the century mark with 95 lawyers. It increased by four since the last survey.

Mitchell Williams Selig Gates & Woodyard PLLC of Little Rock gained two, sending it up to 67, and plans to add another four lawyers in the state by late summer.

Although it doesn't affect the list, which is ranked by the number of lawyers licensed in Arkansas, Mitchell Williams also increased its presence in Austin, Texas, by acquiring a local boutique insurance law firm. All five lawyers from the longtime Austin firm Long Burner Parks & DeLargy PC have joined with Mitchell Williams.

The Austin office of Mitchell Williams was opened by Bill Bingham, who died last December after opening the office a year ago.

Harry Hamlin, managing partner, said the Austin office would likely add three more attorneys by year's end, and grow to about 15 attorneys within three years.

Wright Lindsey & Jennings LLP of Little Rock gained three lawyers to total 59 and No. 3 on the list.

Last year, Wilson & Associates PLLC, the Little Rock law firm that specializes in real estate law, reported 42 lawyers, which was good enough for fourth place on the list. That number was a total for all its offices, not just the number in Arkansas. This year the number of Wilson lawyers with residences in Arkansas is 26, but the firm said it plans to add another four by August. It now ranks No. 8. See story on Page 19.

In April, the Wilson firm also formed WilHold LLC in partnership with FT Ventures of San Francisco and CMS Holdings Group of Denver.

WilHold is a holding company that puts the law firm's support companies under a single entity, said Jennifer Wilson-Harvey, chief operating officer of the law firm.

With the partnership, Wilson-Harvey said the firm gains the strength of having a financial partner worth more than a $1 billion, which has as a goal of becoming a major influence in the mortgage banking default world, Robert M. Wilson Jr., managing attorney for the firm, wrote in notifying employees of the move.

No jobs will be added or lost or moved, Wilson-Harvey said at the announcement. Wilson & Associates remains as the law firm.

In his letter to employees, Wilson said, "The difference in ownership is that we will have expanded our ownership group to include FTV and CMS."

Jumping from sixth place last year to No. 4 this year is Kutak Rock LLP. The national law firm, based in Omaha, Neb., grew by four lawyers and now has 39 based in Little Rock and Fayetteville.

Making the biggest gain in the number of lawyers added is Williams & Anderson PLC of Little Rock. The firm added five lawyers and now has 29 total, but it remains in eighth place on the list.

Overall, the legal profession continues to expand in the state. Besides Wilson, only six of the 28 firms surveyed reported a decline.

New Partners

Kutak Rock recently said two lawyers in its Fayetteville office, Michael R. Bond and T. Christopher Pledger, have been elected to join the firm's partnership.

In addition, nine new attorneys have joined the firm at its offices in Fayetteville and Little Rock.

Bond has been an attorney with Kutak Rock in its Fayetteville office since September 2002. Pledger has been with the firm's Little Rock office since September 2006.

The new attorneys include Russell C. Atchley, of counsel, who joins the litigation group in the firm's Fayetteville office after more than 25 years as a trial attorney in northwest Arkansas and Tyler S. McClay, of counsel, who joins the medical malpractice defense team at Little Rock.

The others are Marjorie F. Amerine, Little Rock; Stuart C. Hindmarsh, Fayetteville office; Allison C. Langston, Little Rock; Daniel M. Oberste, Fayetteville; Heather Lipke Schmiegelow, Fayetteville; W. Carson Tucker, Little Rock; and Shay S. Virtue, Little Rock.

Annual Meeting

The Arkansas Bar Association holds its 110th annual meeting this week at The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa in Hot Springs.

Events get under way June 11.

The events will continue through the week and end on Saturday with the annual meeting of the House of Delegates, along with advice from experts on eight things every lawyer needs to know.

By John Henry

jhenry@abpg.com