Firm transactions.

The Los Angeles legal market continues to attract major players as another top-tier firm has established a local presence by acquiring smaller firms.

Washington D.C.-based Venable LLP is integrating Gorry Meyer & Rudd of Century City and Whitwell Jacoby Emhoff of Beverly Hills, each a 10-attorney firm. Gorry Meyer and Whitwell Jacoby are both litigation boutiques that also focus on entertainment transactions, real estate and intellectual property.

Six of the 20 attorneys will be Venable partners. The combined firm will be located at the Gorry Meyer location in Century City, with room to grow. Venable is one of the nation's 100-largest law firms. The firm posted $222 million in revenues for 2005.

"Our increasing size and national practice made this a logical time to establish a permanent California address," said firm-wide chairman James Shea. "Our lawyers have long worked in the state; now they'll have the support of a full-service office in this important market."

Shea noted that two long-standing clients separately identified both firms as outstanding candidates. Another perk is that managing partners of the acquired firms Tim Gorry and Doug Emhoff have been friends for 15 years.

Gorry admitted that he and his partners had consistently resisted offers to join national firms. "All of us had come from large firms, so sheer size and horizontal practices weren't necessarily an attraction," he said.

"Venable is exceptionally strong in litigation, media and advertising, real estate and other areas, but we were especially struck by the firm's eminence in regulatory work and government affairs, which presents numerous opportunities for our existing and future clients."

Staff reporter Emily Bryson York can be reached at [phone], ext. 235, or at [e-mail].