Patton Boggs Appears Headed for an End

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The law firm of Patton Boggs, following a disastrous battle with Chevron, appears to be headed for an end, according to Business Week.

Most recently, the firm was unable to merge with Locke Lord, which is headquartered in Texas.

  

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Just last week, Legal Times reported that the firm was dropping lawyers again and closing one of its offices in Newark. Then, news came that the firm was in merger talks with the firm of Squire Sanders, a firm that began in Cleveland.

Many believe that Patton Boggs has fallen victim to marquee litigation that dries up. For example, the firm argued September 11 liability, and that case was resolved in 2011. It seems as though the firm relied on the litigation from this case too much.

The partner who got the firm involved in the September 11 litigation, James Tyrell, also got the firm involved in the oil pollution suit between Chevron and Ecuadorian villagers in the Amazon. In 2011, the villagers were awarded $19 billion from a verdict, but Chevron refused to accept the ruling of a trial court in Ecuador.

A side battle has erupted between Tyrrell, from Patton Boggs, and Chevron. Tyrrell is working with Steven Donziger, who has been accused of fabricating evidence and misconduct while in Ecuador. It remains to be seen whether or not Patton Boggs will even see a dime from their work on the case.