Denver law firm Kamlet Reichert LLC will merge with Kansas City, Mo.-based Lathrop & Gage LLP, the oldest law firm west of the Mississippi.
The merger will create a full-service firm with strengths in business transactions, real estate, oil and gas, and litigation and intellectual property.
The combined firm will be called Lathrop & Gage. It will have 37 lawyers in Denver and rank among Colorado’s 20 largest law firms.
According to today’s article at denverpost.com, Jay Kamlet, firm partner was quoted as saying:  “It really brings us areas we weren’t able to do before — oil and gas and intellectual property.”
According to the article, Kamlet said Kamlet Reichert had been approached by a number of law firms about merging in the last six years, but had considered just three other offers. A deal never worked out because of philosophical and cultural differences between the firms, as well as reluctance to break existing leases to combine offices.
The merger comes just one month after Kamlet Reichert LLC celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Founded in 1873, Lathrop & Gage boasts a long tradition of success. The firm has 300 lawyers in 11 offices in six states. While the firm offers the depth and strength of a national firm, it also possesses the hands-on service, management style and aggressive competition of a smaller firm.