Walter and Linda Markus Daniels, the husband and wife team that launched the Triangle’s first law firm focused almost exclusively on the high tech industry in 1982, are merging their firm with Ward and Smith, P.A.
The Daniels and fellow partner Jim Verdonik along with Jose Cortina will form the technology law practice within Ward and Smith. The Daniels, Daniels & Verdonik name will disappear. Verdonik joined the Daniels in 2003 to form DD&V. Cortina came on board later that year..
“Basically we felt like it was time to have some additional bandwidth,” Linda Daniels told WRAL Local Tech Wire. “I am very happy about it. This has been in the works for several months, and it is a very good match.
“The technology practice will grow,” she added. “We have big plans.”
The DDV law firm is a regular content contributor to WRAL Local Tech Wire with its “TechLaw” weekly commentary.
The Daniels, Verdonik and Cortina are among the best known lawyers working in the region’s high tech sector. At Ward and Smith the four will focus on intellectual property, securities, mergers and acquisitions and business law.
Ward and Smith is based in New Bern and also has offices in Raleigh, Greenville and Wilmington. The Daniels firm will operate out of the Raleigh office for a few months then establish the tech practice at a new operation in west Raleigh, Linda Daniels said. DDV did have its office in RTP.
The merger of the firms took place on July 1.
"The joining of these two firms is truly exciting," stated Ward and Smith’s co-managing director Kenneth R. Wooten in a statement. "Daniels Daniels & Verdonik is a specialized firm with exceptionally knowledgeable attorneys who will strengthen our firm’s full service capabilities."
Linda Daniels focuses on entrepreneurial firms and international business. Walter Daniels works with technology companies on business, financial and intellectual property. Verdonik works in the areas of business and securities law, including venture capital and mergers and acquisitions. Cortina’s focus is intellectual property, patents and counseling.
Through working with a larger firm, Linda Daniels said she and her colleagues could offer more services to their clients. She also noted that Ward and Smith already has clients that could benefit from a technology practice.
“They have a huge demand for our abilities in their client base,” she added.
Ward and Smith has more than 70 attorneys.
"This is a natural synergy between firms," Walter Daniels said in a statement. "By joining forces with Ward and Smith, we can provide ongoing legal support beyond the initial start-up stages for the technology-based companies Daniels Daniels & Verdonik has built our reputation on representing."
