Manatt Phelps acquires San Fran's Steefel Levitt

Los Angeles-based Manatt Phelps acquired Steefel Levitt.

Manatt decided to merge with the 45-lawyer real estate finance and business litigation firm to boost their presence in the Bay Area, in line with their long-term plans to grow nationally - specifically in Los Angeles, New York, Northern California and Washington, D.C.

The six attorneys at Steelfel's downtown Los Angeles office will move into Manatt's West Los Angeles office, while the 17 lawyers at Manatt's four month old San Francisco office will move into Steelfel's main office there. The downtown LA office will be kept in a complimentary capacity.

If the merger is completed by February as expected, Manatt will likely move into the Am Law 100, up from No. 112 in 2006, The Recorder reports.

Steefel has struggled over the last few years, losing its partners to bigger San Francisco firms. Their partners voted unanimously for the merger.

READ: Manatt Phelps Swallow Steefel, The Recorder
Manatt Press Release