Wolf Block law firm closes after over 100 years

The downturn in the real estate market has forced one of Philadelphia’s prominent law firms to shut down. The century old firm of Wolf, Block voted Monday to dissolve.

The downturn in the real estate market has forced one of Philadelphia’s prominent law firms to shut down. The century old firm of Wolf, Block voted Monday to dissolve.

Transcript:
It turns out law firms are not recession-proof. A key part of Wolf Block’s practice is real estate. A statement by the firm says the downturn in the economy, the banking crisis, and the departure of several partners means the firm can no longer afford to stay open. Sayde Ladov is chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Ladov: “It’s like when a good friend passes away you begin thinking about your own mortality. That’s the best way I can analogize it, if it can happen to Wolf Block it can happen to anyone.”

Ladov says two Jewish lawyers created Wolf Block more than 100 years ago, at a time when the city’s elite law firms would not hire Jews. She says the firm was involved in several landmark cases, including litigation against firms that fired employees because they were HIV positive.

Wolf Block employs 300 attorneys throughout the region.

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