Adams and Reese Rises Up Am Law, NLJ Lists of Nation's Top Law Firms

Online, June 11, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Adams and Reese has climbed up both the 2014 "NLJ 350" (National Law Journal) List of Largest Law Firms ranked by attorney count, and the "Am Law 200" (American Lawyer Magazine) List of Top Law Firms ranked by gross revenues. Both lists were released this month. Adams and Reese ranks No. 138 on the NLJ 350, rising 16 spots from last year's ranking of No. 154. The firm ranks No. 163 in the Am Law 200, moving up seven spots from last year's ranking of No. 170.

Adams and Reese has been named to the NLJ 350 list since 2003, and on the Am Law 200 list since 2004.

On the NLJ 350 list, Adams and Reese had a 14.8 percent attorney count increase from 277 attorneys by year-end 2012 to 318 attorneys by year-end 2013. On average, all 350 listed firms showed an increase of 3.9 percent. On the Am Law 200 list, Adams and Reese increased its revenue 17 percent from 2012 to 2013. The average revenue increase was just 2.6 percent among Am Law 200 firms.

"We are proud of our firm's continued climb on both of these lists," said Chuck Adams, Managing Partner at Adams and Reese. "Our firm's strategic plan directs selective expansion in targeted markets and cities with growing economies, and we were very fortunate in 2013 to attract two excellent groups of lawyers in two new markets for our firm. But more fundamentally, we are proud of the strength of our firm and our ability to continue to attract excellent lawyers and groups who see the benefits to their clients and themselves of joining with us and adopting our firm's seamless regional approach to client service."

Adams and Reese's growth came largely as a result of two mergers in 2013. The firm added a Jacksonville office with 13 attorneys in March 2013 through a merger with Volpe, Bajalia, Wickes, Rogerson & Wachs, which specialized in banking/finance, insurance regulation and commercial litigation. In June 2013, Adams and Reese expanded to South Carolina and opened a Columbia office, adding 23 attorneys in a merger with Ellis Lawhorne, which specialized in financial services, real estate, tax and litigation. "We are a regional law firm and as the business environment for our clients becomes more competitive and complex, requiring greater expertise and resources, we want to continue meeting our clients' expectations and needs throughout our expanding region," Adams said. "The addition of these lawyers and new markets enables us to provide more resources and more areas of practice to meet our clients' needs in their current markets and in the additional markets served by our firm."

The mergers and lateral hires have helped Adams and Reese grow to nearly 350 attorneys and advisors in 16 offices in seven states and Washington, DC. Adams and Reese has offices in Columbia, South Carolina; Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama; Jacksonville, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee and Tampa, Florida; Memphis and Nashville (Downtown and Music Row), Tennessee; Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; Houston, Texas; and Washington, DC.

Adams and Reese is a multidisciplinary law firm with nearly 350 attorneys and advisors strategically located in 16 offices in 15 markets throughout the southern United States and Washington, DC. American Lawyer includes Adams and Reese on its distinguished list of the nation's top law firms - "The Am Law 200". The National Law Journal also includes the firm on the "NLJ 350" list of the nation's largest law firms.