Pepper Hamilton LLP and the lawyers of Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP have announced the union of the legal talent of the two firms and Pepper Hamilton’s acquisition of Freeh Group International Solutions, LLC.
The announcement was made by Nina M. Gussack, Chair of Pepper Hamilton LLP, and Louis J. Freeh, founder of Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP and Freeh Group International Solutions, LLC. The transition will take effect from September 1, 2012.
"We are delighted to join forces with Judge Freeh and his talented team,” Gussack said. “The Freeh Group will deepen and broaden Pepper’s already substantial corporate investigations, white collar advocacy and enforcement practice in key markets. With this merger, Pepper and the Freeh Group have enhanced their world-class capabilities to provide key services with a global reach.”
Gussack added that Pepper Hamilton LLP and Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan have a successful track record of working together. “We know our partners share a commitment to excellence and have experienced the benefit of working together as colleagues to enhance the value for our clients,” Gussack said.
“Pepper Hamilton is the ideal firm to combine with the Freeh Group,” said Freeh. “We know each other well, having worked closely together on significant matters in a number of arenas, including white collar, pharmaceutical/medical device, education, and financial services, both in the US and globally.”
Freeh added that this innovative move enhances the model for delivering value to clients seeking efficient, timely, cost-effective solutions to complex problems. “This transaction will allow us to do a lot more than conduct investigations and uncover problems,” Freeh said. “We will now have the depth to react quickly to sophisticated, complex issues anywhere in the world. Even more unique is our ability to give our clients real solutions, not merely determine facts, and then work with all parties to implement those solutions. That’s what clients want. That is where we will provide extraordinary value.”
Scott Green, Chief Executive Officer of Pepper Hamilton, discussed the strategic competitive advantage that the transaction creates.
“As individual firms, Pepper Hamilton and the Freeh Group have leading white collar and investigative practices,” said Green. “But the combined platform allows us to offer clients a full-service approach to solving complex problems.”
Green said that the acquisition of Freeh Group International Solutions, a renowned and worldwide consulting company, allows the combined firm to offer clients the outstanding capabilities of top consultants, forensic analysts, and former FBI and comparable resources worldwide. “In total, this creates a capability that we see no other law firm being able to match,” Green said. Green said that the transaction provides clients with the specialized expertise often needed to address the most complicated challenges. “Whether the challenge involves Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations, corporate regulatory compliance programs, or defense in a government investigation, Pepper is well positioned to serve our clients better than ever,” Green said.
Green explained that Freeh Group International Solutions will retain its name and, while wholly owned by Pepper, will continue to operate independently of the law firm under the leadership ofJames R. Bucknam, its President and Chief Executive Officer. Freeh will become a member of the Pepper Hamilton Executive Committee and will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board of Freeh Group International Solutions. The attorneys joining Pepper from Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan will join Pepper’s White Collar Litigation & Investigations practice group headed byThomas M. Gallagher.
Pepper Hamilton LLP is a multi-practice law firm with more than 500 lawyers in seven states and the District of Columbia. The firm provides corporate, litigation and regulatory legal services to leading businesses, governmental entities, nonprofit organizations and individuals throughout the nation and the world. The firm was founded in 1890.
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