DETROIT, Mich. – LAWFUEL – The Law Firm News Wire – Butzel Long, one of Michigan’s oldest and largest law firms, has opened an office at 551 Fifth Avenue in New York City by acquiring Hollyer Brady Barrett & Hines LLP , a well-established commercial law firm. The Hollyer Brady lawyers have a significant practice in mutual fund work, banking, other specialized financial services work, corporate and real estate work and arbitration and litigation.
“Several of our New York-based clients specifically requested that we open a New York office,” said Philip J. Kessler, Chairman, Butzel Long. “We are fortunate to have found these gifted lawyers with distinguished careers in New York to join us in our initial effort to build a practice there. Their core values mesh extremely well with ours; and their skills strengthen our existing practices and increase our ability to provide outstanding counsel to a broad client base.”
The Hollyer Brady Barrett & Hines lawyers began their careers in large, highly regarded New York City firms. They have impeccable credentials and an impressive list of clients including prominent mutual funds and international banks and many of New York’s cultural icons.
“Butzel Long increases our depth of capabilities and breadth of services in ways that complement our client base,” said William L.D. Barrett, a Hollyer Brady partner. “We look forward to working with our new colleagues and to the broad range of resources and depth we can offer our clients and theirs. We are also eager to assist our new firm in building an important practice in New York.”
Butzel Long has a long history with New York. In the late 1800s, the firm had a New York office to represent more effectively merchants along Jefferson Avenue in Detroit. Later, as the automotive industry and the companies that would drive it were emerging, the Firm — and Leo Butzel in particular– had a regular presence in New York to finance these new businesses, which changed the world.
“We need to look to high-value markets to accomplish our long-term goals for growth and to augment the range of our resources for clients,” said Mr. Kessler. “With a Midwest cost base, the combined firm will be able to continue to provide cost effective, high quality services to all of our clients. As a pre-eminent Michigan firm, we can take clear advantage of the business that flows naturally between the Michigan and New York economies. There are also close connections between our Florida practice and the New York market, which will add to the favorable impact of this combination.”
There are also clear synergies between the New York practice and Butzel Long’s clients in Europe, Asia, North and South America, and particularly important connections between New York and China.
“The combination of Hollyer Brady and Butzel Long is highly synergistic and will enable us to represent our clients even more effectively, wherever they may be located,” said Mr. Kessler. “Our firm remains committed to Michigan. At the same time, the addition of our New York office and the talented lawyers who will practice there, create a solid foundation for growth in the largest business and legal market in the United States and one that is vital internationally. We believe that the clients of Hollyer Brady and Butzel Long will be significant beneficiaries of the advantages that the combination of our firms immediately creates.”
