Prestigious L.A. Law Firm Disbanding After 20 Years

The Los Angeles law firm of Kadison, Pfaelzer, Woodard, Quinn & Rossi went out of business Monday and a receiver was named to take over the 100-attorney firm, which had filed a petition in Superior Court for voluntary dissolution.

John J. Quinn and several other partners announced last month that they were going to set up their own office, reportedly after a disagreement with another principal partner, Stuart L. Kadison, who wanted the 20-year-old firm to expand to compete with larger firms.

As a result of the group departure, Kadison said Monday, “other partners and associates concluded that the firm did not have much of a future, so they began considering withdrawals.” He said some of the partners believed “that we were growing so large that they were losing the intimacy and congeniality.”

A total of 20 partners and associates were reportedly leaving with Quinn. The real estate section of the firm was reported going to the firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker.

Kadison said it became apparent to those who wanted to stay that the firm had a higher overhead than it could handle, so “we concluded we had to dissolve and liquidate.”

It was the second prestigious Los Angeles legal firm to dissolve this year. Memel, Jacobs & Ellsworth died last February after rapid expansion.

Kadison, Pfaelzer was founded in 1967 by Kadison, Quinn and other prominent attorneys, including the late Morris Pfaelzer (the husband of U.S. District Judge Mariana R. Pfaelzer), the late Walter Ely (who became a U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judge), Anthony J. Rossi and Alan R. Woodard.

Among those who have been with the firm are U.S. Atty. Robert C. Bonner and his chief assistant, Richard E. Drooyan.

Both Kadison and Quinn have served as Los Angeles County Bar Assn. presidents.

The firm has been in general practice and was well known for its litigation department. It had important corporate, government and arts clients.

Attorney David Ray was appointed receiver. Kadison said Ray will “supervise collection of our receivables, the realization of the value of assets and the payment of our obligations.” He said the firm was solvent and that there was no financial problem involved.

Quinn said all clients were being informed of the dissolution so that they could choose to either remain with the individual attorneys handling their cases or hire new lawyers.