The Rose Law Firm and Cross Gunter Witherspoon & Galchus PC, both of Little Rock, said Tuesday that they are combining, with Cross Gunter attorneys joining Rose effective Oct. 1.
“We are thrilled the highly accomplished and respected attorneys from CGWG are joining Rose Law Firm,” David Mitchell Jr., Rose Law Firm’s managing member, said in a news release.
“Their addition significantly deepens our labor and employment practice and positions the Firm for continued success into our third century of providing premier legal representation to our clients. We are excited about this new chapter of growth and the opportunity to work with these top-tier attorneys who add depth and expertise across our practice groups and industries.”
The two firms are not referring to the move as a merger because not all of Cross Gunter’s attorneys will be joining Rose, Caroline Reddmann, director of marketing and business development for the Rose Law Firm, told Arkansas Business on Tuesday. She said Cross Gunter, an employment law firm, has 14 attorneys and 12 will be joining Rose.
Cross Gunter plans to close its office in the River Market.
Reddmann said Mitchell has wanted to expand into different practice areas, and one of those areas has been its labor and employment services.
“With Cross Gunter’s reputation and us just knowing them as individuals and how they perform in the courtroom, it gave David an opening to start some conversations with them,” she said. “It seemed like it was the right fit on both sides.”
Missy McJunkins Duke, Cross Gunter’s managing director, said the companies’ “shared philosophies and commitment to client-centered service, community, and teamwork made this an exceptional opportunity to expand our practice areas with meaningful additions that will greatly benefit our clients.”
The companies said the following Cross Gunter attorneys are joining Rose:
- Amber Wilson Bagley, member
- M. Stephen Bingham, member
- Mary E. Buckley, member
- Caitlin A. Campbell, associate
- Alexander D. Clark, member
- J. Bruce Cross, member
- Missy McJunkins Duke, member
- Laura Dyer Johnson, member
- Cindy W. Kolb, member
- Ross E. Simpson, associate
- Brett W. Taylor, member
- Carolyn B. Witherspoon, of counsel
Cross Gunter was founded in 1997. Its number of attorneys in Arkansas has been falling in recent years. In 2021, it reported 23 attorneys, the most in a decade. But by June 2023, it had 13, putting it tied at No. 19 on Arkansas Business’ list of the largest law firms ranked by the number of lawyers in Arkansas. It was the lowest number of attorneys in at least a decade. In February, Arkansas Business reported that three Cross Gunter attorneys had left the firm to join the local office of Atlanta law firm Hall Booth Smith.
Meanwhile, the Rose Law Firm had been growing steadily. In 2021, it reported 30 attorneys in Arkansas and in June it had 44, making it the fifth largest law firm in the state.
Reddmann said the Rose Law Firm will be able to offer Cross Gunter clients “services that haven’t been available to them previously that we’ve been doing for over 200 years now.”
Rose is a full-service firm representing individuals, closely held businesses and companies for more than 200 years. It was founded in 1820.
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