Eight Attorneys of Bell, Ryniker & Letourneau Join Blank Rome

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that all eight attorneys of Bell, Ryniker & Letourneau, P.C. – a leading Houston, Texas maritime law firm – joined Blank Rome today in the Firm's Houston, Texas office.  These additions further enhance Blank Rome's Houston presence and its maritime and energy practices, while expanding the depth and scope of services that Bell, Ryniker & Letourneau provides to its clients.

This group of attorneys and additional professional staff bring significant experience in maritime and energy law, in addition to the areas of insurance, transportation, government contracts and construction.  Michael K. Bell, Keith B. Letourneau, and Douglas J. Shoemaker join as partners; Robert J. Ryniker, and James C. Arnold join as of counsels; and Mitchell R. Machann, Tracy Freeman, and David G. Meyer join as associates. 

"We are delighted to welcome Michael, Keith, Douglas and all of our new colleagues to our Houston office and to the Blank Rome team," said Alan J. Hoffman, Co-Chairman and Managing Partner.  "We look forward to working with this talented and respected group of attorneys as we continue to expand in the Houston market and strengthen our well-established maritime and energy practices."

Blank Rome's Maritime practice is the largest in the United States and represents publicly traded and privately owned companies throughout the world.  With the addition of the Bell, Ryniker and Letourneau group, Blank Rome's maritime practice is comprised of 40 highly regarded professionals based in New York, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Houston – a key market for the maritime and energy industries. 

"Through our global practice, we aim to provide clients with excellence in all aspects of maritime and offshore capabilities," said John D. Kimball, Partner and International and Maritime Litigation and ADR Practice Group Leader.  "The Bell, Ryniker & Letourneau team has long been recognized as one of the leading maritime law firms in Houston, and brings significant depth and capability to our maritime and energy practices."

Jonathan K. Waldron, Partner and Maritime, International Trade and Public Contracts Practice Group Leader added, "We have been eager to expand the size and scope of our maritime practice to meet growing client demand for some time, and are thrilled that we have found an outstanding group of attorneys to enhance our ability to serve our clients, both regionally in the Gulf of Mexico and nationally."

"We are excited to join Blank Rome and its notable maritime and energy practices as it expands in the Houston market," said Michael K. Bell, Partner.  "Our established client base of domestic and international clients will undoubtedly benefit from the Firm's geographic reach and breadth of practice areas." 

In 2011, Blank Rome combined with Abrams Scott & Bickley and officially opened its Houston office.  With the addition of the Bell, Ryniker & Letourneau team, 20 attorneys now serve clients from that office in a wide variety of civil, criminal, and administrative matters in state and federal courts, at both the trial and appellate levels.

"We welcome the Bell, Ryniker & Letourneau team to our Houston office," said Barry Abrams, Partner and Administrative Partner of Blank Rome's Houston office.  "In addition to having  decades of legal experience, our new colleagues  also recognize and value the importance of dedicating time to professional and civic endeavors, which makes them an excellent complement to both the Houston office and the entire Firm."  

For an on-line version of this press release that includes attorney bios, please visit www.blankrome.com/brl

About Blank Rome LLP
Blank Rome LLP is one of America's largest law firms.  With nearly 500 attorneys serving clients around the globe, Blank Rome is an international law firm representing businesses and organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to start-up entities.  Blank Rome helps its clients in all aspects of their businesses.  The Firm's practices cover areas including business tax; commercial and corporate litigation; consumer finance; employment, benefits and labor; environmental litigation; financial services; business restructuring and bankruptcy; government relations; intellectual property; maritime, international trade and public contracts; matrimonial; mergers & acquisitions and private equity; product liability, mass torts, insurance; public companies and capital formation; public finance; real estate; trusts and estates; and white collar defense and investigations.  Blank Rome also represents pro bono clients in a wide variety of cases and matters.  More information about the firm is available at www.BlankRome.com.  

SOURCE Blank Rome LLP