Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C., the high-profile insurancerecovery law firm, which lost 55 attorneys last year, announcedtoday it has expanded by merging its national practice withVentura, Calif.-based Wood & Bender LLP.

The firm said the merger, which became effective Thursday, adds14 attorneys to Anderson Kill's group of 79 lawyers and adds aCalifornia location to offices in New York; Newark, N.J.;Philadelphia; Greenwich, Conn.; and Washington.

Wood & Bender has represented Fortune 500 companies,construction companies and financial institutions in insurancerecovery matters since 1995, said Anderson Kill.

Nationally, the combined firms will retain the name AndersonKill & Olick, P.C., while the practice in California will beAnderson Kill Wood & Bender LLP. All of Wood & Bender'sattorneys will continue to work for the new entity.

In January 2008 Anderson Kill announced that 55 of itsattorneys, including 26 of 69 partners or “shareholders,” wereleaving to join the giant global law firm Reed Smith. Among thosewho left were Lawrence Kill, a partner and co-chair of theantitrust/unfair competition group, and Jeffrey L. Glatzer, thefirm-wide president and chief executive officer. Anderson Kill saidat the time that it was an “amicable departure.”

A spokesman for Anderson Kill said the expansion shows thesuccess of a firm focusing on policyholder recoveries and having noties to insurance companies.

Founding partner Eugene Anderson pioneered insurance recovery asa discrete practice area in 1969. The firm has represented largecorporations, governments, charities, major religious andnot-for-profit organizations, small companies and individuals.

The firm said that in addition to securing millions inrecoveries it has worked with the nonprofit United Policyholders,filing over 250 amicus briefs that have been cited by numerouscourts nationwide, including the United States Supreme Court.

Robert M. Horkovich, Anderson Kill managing shareholder, said ina statement that the Wood & Bender merger is a strong marriageof skills and cultures.

“The Anderson Kill brand always has stood for zealousrepresentation of policyholders in a world in which many insurancecompanies assume they always hold the upper hand,” said Mr.Horkovich. “We are thrilled to join forces with a firm with such astrong track record whose practice, philosophy and strategies meshso thoroughly with our own.”

David P. Bender Jr., managing partner of Wood & Bender,commented, “Combining with Anderson Kill will give us the best ofboth worlds–extended reach and resources without any of theconflicts or encumbrances that joining a large firm often entails.We are joining the best of our peers, who share our focus and ourcommitment to policyholders' interests.”

Wood & Bender attorneys joining Anderson Kill Wood &Bender include four partners: Mr. Bender, David E. Wood, David A.Shaneyfelt and Caroline R. Hurtado.

The Wood & Bender magazine “Enforce,” the journal ofinsurance policy enforcement, will now be produced by Anderson KillWood & Bender, the firms announced.

Anderson Kill said Wood & Bender's tag line “Settle ForEverything” will now be adopted by the combined firms.

In addition to insurance recovery, Anderson Kill & Olick,P.C., offers solutions in anti-counterfeiting, complex commerciallitigation, corporate transactions and securities, labor andemployment, taxation, trusts and estates, and bankruptcy.

Anderson Kill said the merger permits Wood & Bender to offerhigh-level service in these practice areas to its clients.