HUNTINGTON – Local law firm Huddleston Bolen is merging with national law firm Dinsmore & Shohl, effective Feb. 1.
Huddleston Bolen, which is based in Huntington, has offices in Huntington, Charleston, Ashland, Ky., and Louisville, Ky.
Dinsmore & Shohl has offices in West Virginia, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. It is based in Cincinnati.
Dan Earl, managing partner at Huddleston Bolen's Huntington office, said the law firm is looking forward to the merger.
"We are very excited about this merger," Earl said. "We get the depth of experience from more than 500 attorneys that we didn't have before and so much more."
Anna Dailey, managing partner at Dinsmore & Shohl's Charleston office, said the firm wanted a bigger investment in West Virginia.
"This speaks to the growth of this state and its business environment," Dailey said. "We are excited all the way around."
Earl said Huddleston Bolen has always wanted a Northern West Virginia presence and, with the merger, will be able to have that.
"Our focus continues to be on growth and making strategic moves to add services that benefit our clients and strengthen our offerings," George H. Vincent, Dinsmore's managing partner and chairman, said in a press release. "Last year, we expanded our national footprint with offices in Chicago and Denver. As we grow, we don't want to lose sight of our Midwestern roots."
Vincent said the merger demonstrates Dinsmore's commitment to West Virginia and Kentucky.
"Combining with Huddleston Bolen also brings established litigators, commercial lawyers and estate planning attorneys that complement the deep talent we currently have," he said in the press release.
In 2015, Huddleston Bolen was named at "Top Listed" Railroad Law Firm in the United States by Best Lawyers. The publication also called the firm a "Tier 1 Law Firm" in the Charleston/Huntington market in banking and finance; bankruptcy and creditor rights; corporate law; construction law; and employment law.
With the merger, Dinsmore will have 575 attorneys and locations in 18 cities throughout Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C. and West Virginia.