Stacy Louizos left Drinker Biddle & Reath on its last day before a merger with another law firm to co-lead Blank Rome's investment management practice.

Louizos, a partner at Drinker Biddle, joined Blank Rome as a New York partner this month to co-chair its investment management group alongside Thomas Westle. Louizos counsels investment funds and independent boards on organizations, offerings, board governance and compliance.

Louizos said Drinker Biddle's decision to merge with Faegre Baker Daniels—a combination effective Feb. 1—had nothing to do with her move to Blank Rome, saying she still had many friends and close relationships at the merged firm and wished them well.

She said she has known Westle for years and looked forward to being part of a firm that was committed to growing its investment management group. Blank Rome lists 56 people in the practice on its website, mostly partners in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

"It was just too good to pass up," said Louizos, whose first day at Blank Rome was Feb. 1. She said she has received "nothing but extremely positive responses" from clients, some of whom had worked with Blank Rome before. She declined to name them.

Her practice covers a range of work related to the creation and operation of investment companies, according to Blank Rome, including the organization of open-end and closed-end investment companies, mergers of mutual funds and fund complexes, and compliance with federal laws and regulations. She has served as fund counsel and as counsel to independent trustees and independent boards, "including a number of large and well-known mutual fund groups," Blank Rome said.

Peter Schnur, co-chair of Blank Rome's corporate, M&A and securities group, and Grant Palmer, the firm's managing partner and CEO, praised Louizos in a statement, with Palmer saying she would be a "tremendous asset" and Schnur saying she is well-regarded in the industry.