Nixon Peabody snares major Thelen team

Nixon Peabody today confirmed it has hired more than 60 lawyers from former dissolved firm Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner.

The US firm’s move will add between 60 and 90 former Thelen lawyers across its business, IP, litigation and real estate practice groups. The new recruits will be joined by Thelen support staff and associates.

The lawyers will be joining the firm’s Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai and Washington, DC offices. A precise breakdown either on either total lawyer numbers or the partner-to-associate ratio was not yet available.

Nixon managing partner, Richard Langan, said: “The addition of these talented Thelen attorneys strengthens our already strong knowledge base and experience in key industries and regions which are very important to our clients.”

Last week (28 October), The Lawyer reported that Thelen’s partnership was voting on dissolution of the 400-lawyer firm due to the impact of the economic downturn.

Thelen had suffered over 100 defections in 2008. The firm was in default of its primary credit agreement, having breached a partner departure covenant that restricts the number of partners who may depart in a 12-month period.