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The defection of a prominent partner and Republican stalwart from Johnson Smith LLP is the latest setback the firm has suffered the past few years.
John Hammond, chairman of the firm's government services practice and a member of former Gov. Robert Orr's administration, will join Ice Miller Feb. 15. Hammond takes with him three lobbyists and two administrative staff members, moves that leave Johnson Smith's lobbying group nearly depleted.
The announcement comes on the heels of a failed merger, a downsizing and rapid partner turnover. Overall, nine partners and several other lawyers have left Johnson Smith the past three years, including Don Densborn and David Wright. Once major players when the firm was known as Johnson Smith Pence Densborn Wright & Heath, they bolted within six months of each other in 1999.
A year ago, Johnson Smith and McHale Cook & Welch flirted with the idea of merging, but eventually halted the exploratory talks. The firm's director of marketing position fell victim to cutbacks in August.
Sources within the legal community say losing nine partners in such a short time is unusual for a firm with 50 lawyers. By comparison, one lawyer said Ice Miller, four times the size of Johnson Smith, has lost only about half that many partners during the same span.
Despite the most recent setback, Johnson Smith is on solid ground, Managing Partner John Hoover said.
"Our situation is just fine," Hoover said. "Nobody...