Leary Franke Droppert PLLC to Merge with Graham & Dunn
Combined Law Firm to Establish Emerging Companies Group
01.12.2006
Graham & Dunn PC and Leary Franke Droppert PLLC announced that they will be combining their practices effective February 1, 2006 – the combined practices to be known as Graham & Dunn PC. Attorneys J.J. Leary, jr., Pat Franke, and Marc Droppert of Leary Franke Droppert will join the 45 lawyers of Graham & Dunn as shareholders. Bernadette Bulacan and Tim Giacometti of Leary Franke Droppert will join as associate attorneys.
The attorneys at Leary Franke Droppert are experienced business lawyers who focus their practice on emerging and privately held companies in a variety of industries. Many of Leary Franke Droppert's attorneys have worked in operational roles in companies, allowing them to provide the strategic counseling that is critical to closely held and start up companies.
J.J. Leary, along with Kumi Yamamoto Baruffi of Graham & Dunn, will co-chair a new Business Services department that will support the firm's industry teams. Pat Franke will head up a new Emerging Companies practice group, and Marc Droppert will be joining Graham & Dunn's Board of Directors.
John T. John, President of Graham & Dunn, welcomes the addition. "The combination of our practices represents an extraordinary opportunity for our firm, and more importantly, for our clients. We believe that our business practice areas, as well as our industry teams will be well-served from the combined expertise of our two firms. The merger is a perfect fit with our strategic plan."
J.J. Leary remarked, "We are very excited to be combining our firm with Graham & Dunn. We'll be able to continue to provide the pragmatic, business-driven advice that was the hallmark of Leary Franke Droppert and, as they grow and mature, our clients will benefit from the expanded services provided by the exceptional attorneys at Graham & Dunn."
