The pioneering international law firm Coudert Brothers of New York, which employs former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart, said last week it would dissolve.
Hart said Friday he would stay with Coudert, in its Washington office and in his Denver office, during the next few months as the firm breaks up.
Coudert is negotiating with several firms that may acquire some of its 28 offices in 18 countries on four continents, Hart said.
“There’s a core group of partners in New York and Washington that wants to keep the Coudert heritage alive through a merger with another law firm,” he said. “I hope to be part of that if the Coudert heritage survives in any way. It’s an honorable and rich heritage.
“If not, I will see what options exist. By no means do I intend to relocate. I plan to stay in Colorado. If it proves impossible to stay on with Coudert’s successor, I will look for other options.”
Chicago-based Baker & Mc Kenzie has offered to buy Coudert’s offices in New York, Washington, Moscow and Almaty, Kazakhstan, according to an online report Friday in LegalWeek. Baker & McKenzie had been in full merger discussions with Coudert until recently, published reports said last week.
Coudert Brothers, founded in 1853, was the first U.S. law firm to open offices in many of the world’s most important cities, including Paris in 1879 and London in 1960. The firm later opened offices in Russia and China before its U.S. counterparts.
Coudert, however, has suffered defections of top international talent in recent years. The firm remains profitable, Hart said, but has been hurt by a handful of money-losing offices and expensive long-term property leases.
Coudert’s partners voted Tuesday to dissolve the firm. Partners were authorized to seek other opportunities.
Hart has been a lawyer with Coudert, specializing in international business transactions, since 1993. The firm had an office in Denver between 1996 and 2001 with as many as 10 lawyers, Hart said. It closed with the downturn in telecom and technology, but he stayed on.
Staff writer Greg Griffin can be reached at 303-820-1241 or ggriffin@denverpost.com.
