Prominent San Francisco litigation shop Kerr & Wagstaffe didn't survive to see 2019. But a reconstituted boutique is relaunching with four partners, as the rest of the firm's lawyers strike out on their own.

After nearly two decades, Kerr & Wagstaffe officially shut its doors on Nov. 30. Following the departures of four attorneys, the four remaining partners, James Wagstaffe, Michael von Loewenfeldt, Frank Busch and Maria Radwick launched Wagstaffe, von Loewenfeldt, Busch & Radwick on Dec. 1 to continue representing clients in high-stakes trial and appellate litigation.

“You have a lease that ends, and it was an expensive building, so it causes people to think about what they want in the next 10 to 20 years,” said Wagstaffe, who co-founded Kerr & Wagstaffe with retired partner H. Sinclair “Rod” Kerr  Jr. in 1999. “I like the idea of a small, agile, nimble law firm.”