Offit Kurman joins forces with smaller Baltimore law firm

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Offit Kurman, the Bethesda-based Am Law 200 firm, has teamed up with the Baltimore firm Thomas & Libowitz.

The staff of Thomas & Libowitz — cofounded more than a half-century ago by Steven Thomas — joined Offit Kurman on Sunday, according to a Monday press release. The move adds to Offit Kurman’s presence in Baltimore, where it was founded, during a period of growth that has seen expansions to Georgia, Florida and Texas in the past year.

“We offer the resources of a large firm, but our target market and our pricing market is that of a small-to-mid-size firm,” Tim Lynch, president of Offit Kurman, told The Daily Record. “They bring good lawyers and good clients, and we bring a much bigger, deeper platform and a lot more resources.”

The move is an “affiliation,” rather than a merger or acquisition. Offit Kurman hired all of the Thomas & Libowitz staff but did not purchase the firm itself or its assets. Thomas’ firm continues to exist as a separate entity but will likely enter a “wind-down phase,” Lynch said.

Lynch said the employees are fully integrated into the firm and that their work is being minimally interrupted.

“It’s not a standalone unit, and they don’t want it to be,” he said. “The plan is to help them grow.”

Lynch said Offit Kurman has been an Am Law 500 firm for about five years and expects revenue over $200 million this year.

“We are proud of the legacy Thomas & Libowitz has built since 1975 and the many clients who have trusted us with their legal needs,” Thomas stated in the release.

“We look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued success and serving the Baltimore/Washington region in the years to come.”

Ted Offit, cofounder of the firm, called it an “exciting development” and referred to Thomas as “one of the region’s leading corporate and business transaction attorneys.”

“Steve and his team will further enhance our long‑standing reputation throughout Baltimore and Maryland,” Offit said in the release. “Put simply, Offit Kurman will be an even better firm with Thomas & Libowitz joining us.”

The other Thomas & Libowitz attorneys moving over are Margaret Argent, Wayne Davis, Jessica Denkevitz, Megan Easter, Stasia Thomas Nardangeli and Gus Themelis. All are principals except for Denkevitz. A paralegal was also hired.

Offit Kurman is the 18th-largest law firm in the greater Baltimore area, according to a list maintained by The Baltimore Business Journal. The company had 39 local attorneys and more than 300 overall as of January, when the list was last updated. Thomas & Libowitz ranked 65th, with 11 employees, all of them local.

In the release, Lynch said the affiliation “reinforces our long‑term commitment to the region.”

This story has been updated with quotes from Tim Lynch.