Schiff Hardin and Mazur Carp & Rubin Combine, Deepening Construction Law Bench and Enhancing Trusts and Estates Capabilities

CHICAGO, July 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Schiff Hardin LLP is pleased to announce that Mazur Carp & Rubin, P.C. combined its law practice with Schiff Hardin's law practice on July 1, 2013, and will operate under the name Schiff Hardin LLP. Based in New York City, Mazur Carp & Rubin consists of distinguished construction law and trusts and estates practices. Mazur Carp & Rubin's 11 attorneys plus staff have joined Schiff Hardin's New York office, the second-largest office in its nationwide network. Schiff Hardin now totals almost 400 attorneys across the firm's seven offices located throughout the United States.  

"Mazur Carp & Rubin's combination with Schiff Hardin is a perfect fit," said Schiff Hardin's Managing Partner, Ronald S. Safer. "Our colleagues from Mazur Carp & Rubin are first-class lawyers and people. Their distinguished practices, combined with Schiff Hardin's nationally recognized Construction Group and Private Clients, Trusts and Estates Group, brings to clients—both in New York and nationwide—extraordinary depth in two of our strongest practice areas."

Sayward "Woody" Mazur, who co-founded Mazur Carp & Rubin and led the firm's construction practice, said, "This combination is an exciting development for our firm. We know many Schiff Hardin lawyers well. They are committed to the same type of personal, long-term relationships with clients that have been a hallmark of Mazur Carp & Rubin and that our clients highly value. And with Schiff Hardin's national platform, we have a new opportunity to provide our clients a broader array of services within our areas of focus, as needed."

Construction Law Practice Combination

The combined experience, knowledge and first-rate reputations of Mazur Carp & Rubin's construction law practice and Schiff Hardin's Construction Group creates an extremely deep bench of practitioners and strengthens a powerful capability to represent clients with significant capital expansion projects in all major industries, including healthcare, hospitality, energy, transportation and other areas of critical infrastructure. The combined Construction Group now includes 17 attorneys who are dedicated completely to practicing construction law.

Schiff Hardin's Construction Group focuses on matters related to large contract procurement, project controls and field-based project management, nationwide. Mazur Carp & Rubin has built a sterling reputation in the courts, arbitration panels and construction bar in New York. These highly complementary characteristics are key to defining the combined group as Schiff Hardin continues to expand its construction practice nationally.   

Kenneth M. Roberts, leader of Schiff Hardin's Construction Group and a member of the firm's executive committee, facilitated the Mazur Carp & Rubin combination.

"The timing of this combination couldn't be better," Mr. Roberts said. "New York City is the first city to return to major capital expansion projects since the financial crisis, with many new, major projects in higher education, healthcare, and transportation infrastructure underway and in the pipeline. These critical projects require smart and steady navigation of the law and regulations to get done on time and on budget. Our combined practices bring us the bench strength to do this in New York and anywhere else across our national platform." 

Mr. Roberts added, "Everyone in the New York construction bar knows that Woody Mazur is the lawyer you want on your project. He and his partners are well known in the key venues and among senior corporate managers for their intellect, leadership, diligence and basic decency. We are proud and excited to have Mazur Carp & Rubin combine with Schiff Hardin."

Trusts and Estates Practice Combination

Schiff Hardin's Private Clients, Trusts and Estates Group gains significantly from Mazur Carp & Rubin's history handling fiduciary litigation in New York, especially that of Gerald I. "Jerry" Carp whose 45-plus years of experience navigating the New York Surrogate's Court is a rare asset among trusts and estates practices. In addition, partner Robert M. Freedman brings to Schiff Hardin a focus on elder law and planning for individuals with disabilities and special needs and their families.

"Mazur Carp & Rubin's combination with Schiff Hardin creates a broad and solid capability for New York-based private clients and corporate fiduciaries," said Thomas W. Abendroth, leader of Schiff Hardin's Private Clients, Trusts and Estates Group. "We are committed to the New York market, and clients can be confident for years to come that Schiff Hardin is poised to serve their needs in estate planning, estate and trust administration, fiduciary litigation, and elder and disability law." 

Mr. Carp added, "Over the past 30-plus years, our clients have come to rely on us not only as their lawyers but as trusted advisers for themselves, their families and for future generations. This combination provides our clients with a team of advocates and advisers that is stronger than ever. We're excited to contribute our footprint in New York to this fine practice and enhance the value that both firms provide to clients, both in New York and nationally."

Among the largest and most recognized practices at the firm, Schiff Hardin's Private Clients, Trusts and Estates Group includes nearly 30 lawyers with nine in the New York office, including the attorneys from Mazur Carp & Rubin. Six of the Group's attorneys are Fellows of the prestigious peer-elected American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).

While many general practice law firms are shedding their trusts and estates practices, Schiff Hardin is committed to expanding its practice as it plays an important role in the firm's overall growth. More than a century old, the practice offers clients the experience and depth of a large team of attorneys, supported by complementary capabilities of the firm's lawyers in other practice areas and in offices nationwide.

Schiff Hardin's Chairman, Robert H. Riley, emphasized that the combination reflects the ongoing effort of both firms to exceed client demands for high quality, high value legal services. "The strategic value of this combination for both firms is very clear. The Mazur Carp & Rubin lawyers add strength to two of our firm's core competencies, and Schiff Hardin provides them with the resources and geographic reach to grow their practices in unprecedented ways. The real winners, however, will be our clients, who will receive the very best of both firms going forward. This is a great fit."

Mazur Carp & Rubin's interesting composition of construction lawyers and trusts and estates lawyers formed when close friends, Mr. Mazur and Mr. Carp, joined together to start the firm in 1980.

Schiff Hardin's New York office, established in 1991, provides an array of key legal services in addition to construction law and trusts and estates work. The office address is 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10103, and the main telephone number is (212) 753-5000.

About Schiff Hardin LLP

Schiff Hardin LLP is a general practice law firm representing clients across the United States and around the world. We have offices located in Ann Arbor, Atlanta, Chicago, Lake Forest, New York, San Francisco and Washington. Our attorneys are strong advocates and trusted advisers – roles that contribute to many lasting client relationships.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

SOURCE Schiff Hardin LLP