News In Brief

Lawrence Kill, a former managing partner at Anderson Kill & Olick who left two years ago with 55 other lawyers to join Reed Smith, yesterday rejoined his former firm as chair of the litigation department. Mr. Kill joined Reed Smith in January 2008 with other high-ranking partners following failed merger discussions between the firms. “I felt like I was coming home,” said Mr. Kill, 74. “This is where I belong.” He called his return a “personal” decision. Gregory Jordan, managing partner of Reed Smith, called Mr. Kill’s departure “nothing but a very amicable process.”

Anderson Kill, which lists around 80 lawyers on its Web site compared to 120 before the defections to Reed Smith, which included 26 partners, has restructured itself to focus on its well-known insurance recovery practice. Mr. Kill said with his return the firm would look to build up its litigation practice, particularly in his specialty, antitrust. “I think I offer here…leadership that will make this firm very competitive in that area, especially in this region,” he said. Mr. Kill will be one of two name partners practicing at the firm. Bankruptcy partner Arthur Olick announced his retirement in December. – Nate Raymond

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