Cozen O’Connor, Meckler Bulger to Combine

Chicago - April 23, 2015 - Cozen O’Connor and Chicago-based Meckler Bulger Tilson (MBT) are pleased to announce their respective partners have agreed to a combination of 60 attorneys from MBT with Cozen O'Connor.  Upon completion of the transaction, together with Cozen O'Connor’s existing attorneys in Chicago, the firm will have 60 attorneys in Chicago and 15 attorneys in San Francisco. MBT’s strengths in labor and employment, complex insurance coverage, commercial litigation, and white collar defense and government investigations will augment Cozen O'Connor’s existing practices in those areas. MBT also brings the country’s preeminent legal fee solutions business serving the financial services industry and corporate legal departments.  It is anticipated that MBT’s attorneys will join Cozen O'Connor effective June 1, 2015.

“We look forward to welcoming the outstanding lawyers and staff from MBT and their clients. MBT has earned a national reputation as a go-to firm for complex insurance and commercial litigation and labor and employment,” said Michael J. Heller, president and chief executive officer of Cozen O’Connor. “One of our strategic goals has been to extend our practice and industry sector strengths in Chicago, because of its importance as a leading business and legal market in the United States.  Having lawyers of MBT’s caliber and reputation join us will allow us to broaden the depth and breadth of services we provide our clients, and significantly advances our strategic goal to increase our presence in Chicago and the Midwest.”

“Cozen O’Connor is one of the largest law firms in the country with an international platform and excellent reputation for client-service and results,“  said Bruce R. Meckler, a founder and current co-chair of MBT.  “Combining our strengths, in particular our labor and employment practice, complex commercial litigation and leading legal dispute business with Cozen O’Connor’s corresponding strengths, will enable our clients to tap resources across the United States, London and Toronto.”

At Cozen O'Connor, Meckler will serve as Vice Chair of the Commercial Litigation Department, and Joseph E. Tilson, the current Co-Chair of MBT, will serve as Co-Chair of Cozen O'Connor’s Labor and Employment Department.  Both Meckler and Tilson will also serve on Cozen O'Connor’s Management Committee and National Board of Directors.

“Our combined labor and employment practice will give us a more visible national platform as we take full advantage of Cozen O'Connor’s extensive reach in 23 cities across the country. This larger footprint will give us the added resources we need to both better serve our clients and continue to build our practice," said Joe Tilson.

Meckler, Tilson and several other MBT partners are well known in both legal and political circles in the Chicago Metropolitan area. Another MBT partner, Richard “Dick” Devine, served as the Cook County State’s Attorney from 1996 to 2008, as well as several other high level government positions in the State and City.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has 575 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 23 offices across two continents.