Two North Jersey law firms are merging to create Porter Thomas Grabell & Baumwoll P.C. in Englewood Cliffs, a firm that will operate in New Jersey and throughout the metropolitan area, it was announced this week.
Fisher Porter & Thomas, a well-known boutique firm specializing in business, commercial, real estate, family and civil litigation, is merging with Grabell to form PTGB, which will be run by managing partner Arthur “Scott” Porter.
“The demand for boutique firms has been growing due to the efficiency and connectivity to the talent we offer,” Porter said. “Clients find that larger firms cannot address the personal and direct connections to their needs and — while we are growing by expanding with the merger and addition of new partners — we remain committed to that personal connection.”
PTGB also named David Baumwoll as a partner who will continue his leadership in commercial litigation, real estate and business transactions, as well as general litigation. Baumwoll’s success at Fisher Porter & Thomas was a driving factor in the decision to merge with the Grabell firm.
The merger is a direct response to clients’ needs for expanded employment law representation, tied to Matthew Grabell’s nearly 30 years of experience both prosecuting and defending employment matters. Grabell also provides training for corporate clients on employment law, including CBS, ABC, Major League Baseball, Showtime and Imagine Entertainment.
Along with the PTGB’s expansion in employment law, the new firm will grow its commercial, real estate and family law practice for both existing and new clients.
“The successes we have enjoyed by the increasing our core clientele have generated a growing steam of clients — and, now, that growth will continue with the merger with the Law Office of Matthew Grabell,” Porter said. “While not only bolstering our existing areas of practice — it introduces a new generation of lawyers and of counsel attorneys to continue our success.
“Matthew’s knowledge of the increasingly complex practice area of employment law adds a tremendous amount of experience that expands our reach with his extensive client base. David has been a vital member of our team for the last four years and continues to be a highly motivated leader in our office and helped spearhead our recent growth — proving himself to be an exceptional asset to the firm.”
Along with the merger and new partner announcements, Porter Thomas Grabell & Baumwoll added Michael Eidman as of counsel to bolster the firm’s personal injury practice area. Some of Eidman’s notable medical malpractice litigation successes include a $4.8 million settlement related to a late diagnosis of bacterial meningitis and a $4.1 million jury verdict for birth trauma. Eidman is a member of the bar in both New Jersey and New York.
Porter Thomas Grabell & Baumwoll is also a correspondent law firm to the LawExchange International, where the firm connects clients to qualified attorneys throughout the world specializing in corporate and business matters.
Many of its partners and of counsel attorneys are licensed to practice not only in New Jersey and New York, but the U.S. Supreme Court, the District of Columbia, the U.S. District Court of New Jersey, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Third and Fourth Circuit, U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the U.S. District Court for Connecticut, among others.
