Houston-based Coats Rose opened an office in Cincinnati on Aug. 1 with four lateral hires from Jones Walker, expanding Coats Rose's affordable housing practice in the Midwest. Because of the departures, New Orleans-based Jones Walker has closed its Cincinnati office.

Alysse Hollis and Ronald Bell joined Coats Rose as directors and John Peck and Robert Bruns are now of counsel in the firm's Cincinnati office.

Barry Palmer, a director in Houston who heads the firm's affordable housing and community development practice, said Coats Rose wants to expand the reach of its practice, which is already active in many states.