Major law firm expands its presence in non-legal arena with acquisition of Wescott Professional Publications.

Duane Morris LLP, among the nation's 100 largest law firms, recently acquired a provider of professional educational materials, representing another addition to the firm's growing group of non-legal services businesses. This new entity, now known as Wescott Professional Publications, will retain its existing management led by CEO Kathleen F. Lilley.

Wescott provides nationally accredited continuing medical education products for physicians and health care professionals--in competition with a number of newsletter publishers.

Through a variety of tools such as home-study courses, resource guides and compact disks, Wescott provides effective continuing education materials in the area of medical-legal issues affecting physicians and other health care providers. Courses will also be offered on the internet for those physicians who prefer that medium.

"Rapid and on-going change in the health care arena is creating the need to help health care professionals maintain broaden their knowledge in a range of areas necessary to serve the needs of their patients," said Duane Morris chairman Sheldon Bonovitz.

"Duane Morris's involvement in the area of continuing education for health care professionals spans more than 25 years by virtue of the scope of our Health Law practice," Bonovitz said. "This opportunity not only meets an important need, it is synergistic with our overall business goals."

While initially focusing on continuing medical education, plans call for Wescott to broaden into areas involving other professions, including insurance, employee benefits, and human resources.

One Liberty Place, Philadelphia. PA 19103, 215-979-1000, fax [phone], www.duanemorris.com