A potential merger between a law firm with a major Washington, D.C. communications law practice and a law firm that prior to May 2019 was home to Spanish Broadcasting System’s outside counsel, James Sammataro, is not moving forward.
Law firms Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and Stroock & Stroock & Lavan confirmed on October 26 that a potential merger of the two practices is off the table, with discussions formally ending between them.
Known across the broadcast media industry as “Pillsbury Law,” the firm is known for a communications team that includes partner Scott Flick. It served as regulatory counsel to Televisa in its merger with Univision Communications in 2022. Flick in 2020 represented Soohyung Kim and his Standard General in its acquisition of two stations in Cape Girardeau, Mo., from Sinclair Broadcast Group. He also famously represented the company through its failed merger with TEGNA.
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan has perhaps a lower profile in the broadcast media community. However, it had been the home of Sammataro until 4 1/2 years ago.
In a statement provided to the media, Pillsbury noted that various proposals were considered, including taking certain Stroock lawyers rather than engaging in a full merger acquisition. The two law firms “ultimately determined that we could not reach an agreement that adequately balanced Pillsbury’s long-term strategic objectives with the more immediate financial and other risks involved.”
Speaking to Reuters, a Stroock representative said, “Given our current options, after careful consideration we also concluded that a Pillsbury-Stroock combination was not the right path for us.”
While both law firms are founded in New York, Pillsbury’s offices include its 1200 17th Street N.W. offices in the Nation’s Capital. A team of 170 attorneys are based in this office.
