Two women-owned law firms merging in Hunt Valley

Baltimore County law firms Morgan Carlo Downs and Ward & Herzog have merged, creating the largest woman-owned firm in the region that handles insurance and civil liability defense matters.

As of Jan. 1., the newly merged Downs Ward Bender Hauptmann & Herzog, P.A. are able to provide expanded services across all of its practice areas, including insurance coverage, commercial litigation, workers’ compensation and trademarks. The firm also serves medical malpractice defendants, with a focus on long-term care liability defense and health care licensing, the firm announced this week.

Attorneys at the two firms have known each other for a long time and began talking about merging in January 2018.

“We took all year to make sure it was the right match and look at what was good and strong for both of us,”said Margaret Fonshell Ward, a partner at Downs Ward, on Tuesday.

Both firms were growing and trying to add services. Ward & Herzog had three lawyers and was looking for midcareer lawyers, while Morgan Carlo Downs was looking for a young lawyer to handle district court cases. Both firms had what the other was looking for, Ward said.

“It’s expensive and difficult to grow a small firm internally,” she said, pointing to the “heavy upfront costs” associated with bringing in midcareer lawyers and the infrastructure necessary to add more attorneys.

“Here, all of that infrastructure and those midcareer lawyers are already in place,” Ward added.

The entire firm is based out of Hunt Valley (Ward & Herzog used to be in Towson) and practices in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia, representing clients from all over the country.

“We are a much a stronger and bigger women-owned firm,” Ward said.

Downs Ward now has eight attorneys, including seven partners and one associate, and eight support staff.

The firm’s size is an advantage for it clients, Ward said, as it’s large enough to provide a broader range and more in-depth legal services while maintaining the familiarity of a small firm. Ward said it’s what she once heard a potential client describe as “right-sized.”

“I think what we’ve achieved here is getting into that ‘right-sized spot.’ Give personal, hands-on service that clients want from partners that they know,” Ward said.

The firm will continue to add young and midlevel lawyers to grow its client base in existing practice areas.

“Our joint philosophies and strengths of experience, good judgment and a proactive approach to reaching the best result are the reasons this merger will be so positive for our clients,” said Mary Alane Downs, a partner at Downs Ward, in a press release.

Partners in Downs Ward Bender Hauptmann & Herzog, P.A., include Mary Alane Downs, Margaret Fonshell Ward, Steffany K. Bender, Robin E. Hauptmann, Karen M. Herzog, Morrisann Martin and Christian W. Kintigh.