Cozen O'Connor Takes Another From Ballard in L&E Hiring Spree
Robert Kaplan, who joined the firm in Philadelphia, is the third former Ballard Spahr lawyer to make the move this year.
July 10, 2019 at 03:06 PM
3 minute read
Cozen O'Connor.
Cozen O'Connor has added another member to its labor and employment practice from Ballard Spahr, extending a hiring streak in the practice from the firm's Pennsylvania rivals.
Robert Kaplan is the third former Ballard attorney to join the practice at Cozen O'Connor in the first half of this year, following Daniel Johns, who came on board in January, and Kelly Kindig the following month. Kaplan worked with Johns and Kindig as an associate.
“Cozen's labor practice is a bit larger, and I share some clients with the attorneys that came over in the last few months, so it will be good to reunite with them,” Kaplan said.
He said he didn't foresee any other lawyers from the practice at Ballard joining the trio at Cozen O'Connor in the near term.
Kaplan described himself as a generalist in his practice, handling matters ranging from benefits plan design, amendment and termination to administration and governance.
Robert Kaplan of Cozen O'Connor.He said he does anticipate his clients from Ballard making the move over to Cozen O'Connor with him.
In a statement, Cozen O'Connor said that Kaplan will also be working closely with the firm's M&A group as well as its corporate securities group.
“Rob's prior investment/retirement services background makes him a valuable asset to both clients and our internal practice groups,” Thomas Giotto, co-chair of the firm's labor and employment department, said in a statement.
Ballard is not the only firm to experience multiple labor and employment practice departures to Cozen O'Connor. Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney saw a mass exodus to the firm between 2017 and 2018, losing more than 30 attorneys to the firm, many in the employment practice.
According to ALM data, Cozen O'Connor has seen a head count increase from just over 500 lawyers in 2015 to more than 660 as of 2019, along with the opening of several new offices, including in Newark, New Jersey, and Pittsburgh. It has also risen in the Am Law rankings during that time, moving from 103 in 2015 to 76 in 2019.
Prior to joining Cozen O'Connor, Kaplan spent six years as an associate at Ballard, over five years at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and just over a year at Ascensus as an Employee Retirement Income Security Act consultant.
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