Quarles to combine with California law firm Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP
Bradley Vynalek, president of Quarles, said the fact that there is more synergy between the Arizona and California markets — with companies from the West Coast opening up secondary offices in the Valley — was one reason why the firm went ahead with the deal.
Quarles now has a brick-and-mortar location in California. The expansion also brings Quarles' attorney headcount up to 500 across 11 U.S. locations. Quarles president, Bradley Vynalek from Phoenix, stated that they had been in contact for 14 months and it was soon clear that the two companies were a good match. Vynalek explained to the Business Journal that when we think of strategic new locations or breaking into new markets, we want it to be done on a solid basis. Being able to add 30 lawyers to the California market is a distinct entry into the market rather than just one or two. It's more than just planting flags. Quarles' managing director Michael Aldana and the chair of its executive committee, stated in a statement that Quarles has had a California strategy in place for some time. Vynalek stated that there are companies in Silicon Valley setting up secondary headquarters here. There are executives moving to Arizona, and there is a flow of opportunities back and forth between Arizona & California like never before. Sandy McDonough, currently Paul, Plevin’s managing partner, will co-chair the combined firms’ labor and employment group with Sean Scullen who is currently the national chair of Quarles' labor and unemployment practice group. Just days after Quarles & Brady launched a rebrand, the move to absorb California's firm is made. Quarles was headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It had approximately 480 lawyers before this merger deal that allowed it to expand into California. The firm has offices in Milwaukee, Phoenix, and Tucson as well as Chicago, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Tampa, Florida.