Law Firm to Regain Presence in New York

Lerach Coughlin Stoia & Robbins, the biggest U.S. law firm representing investors in securities fraud suits, is regaining a presence in New York a month after splitting up with its Manhattan-based partners.

Lerach agreed Thursday to acquire the 15-lawyer firm Geller Rudman, with offices in Melville, N.Y., which is on Long Island, and in Boca Raton, Fla., firm co-founder William S. Lerach said.

Samuel H. Rudman, a Geller Rudman partner and a former Lerach partner, said the combined firm would eventually open an office in New York City.

Lerach Coughlin, based in San Diego, split last month with New York-based Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman, a firm Lerach, 58, once led with Melvyn I. Weiss. Weiss, 68, retained the New York and Florida offices, while Lerach was left with most of the West Coast operation.