Burns & Levinson and Perkins Smith & Cohen Join Forces

Editorial Contact: Andy Baron PAN Communications (978) 474-1900 abaron@pancomm.com

Boston - December 22, 2005

Burns & Levinson’s strong corporate and business practices matched with Perkins Smith’s robust Science & Technology practice provides increased depth regionally and globally

Burns & Levinson LLP and Perkins Smith & Cohen LLP announce that the attorneys of Perkins Smith & Cohen, including members of its “Sci-Tech” practice, are joining Burns & Levinson. The combination of Burns & Levinson’s strong corporate, finance and other business law specialties with Perkins Smith’s thriving Science and Technology Group provides Burns & Levinson with significant high-tech and life sciences expertise. With the addition of the Perkins Smith & Cohen attorneys, Burns & Levinson will grow from 100 to nearly 140 lawyers.

Founded in 1960, Burns & Levinson specializes in business law, finance, business litigation, real estate, bankruptcy, intellectual property and private client representation. Burns & Levinson has additional offices in Providence, R.I., and Washington, D.C. Perkins Smith & Cohen, founded in 1975, has a renowned Science & Technology practice—dubbed “Sci-Tech”—with a strong emphasis in intellectual property law specializing in the representation of scientists, entrepreneurs, emerging companies, universities and public and privately held high-technology and life sciences companies.

“Unlike other recent regional deals matching Boston law firms with firms from far-flung areas, this marriage is uniquely Boston, combining the best business law attributes of Burns & Levinson with the unrivaled technology expertise of Perkins, Smith & Cohen,” said David P. Rosenblatt, managing partner at Burns & Levinson. “Boston is a leading center for life sciences, colleges and universities, and we saw the strength in Perkins Smith’s Sci-Tech practice and how it would complement our corporate, finance and venture capital practices. Having Perkins, Smith & Cohen join us will create a host of opportunities and synergies for all of us.”

Rosenblatt emphasized the importance of Perkins Smith & Cohen’s intellectual property practice, noting that Jerry Cohen, one of Perkins Smith & Cohen’s founding partners, is a highly respected intellectual property attorney. “As a firm focused on New England-based clients, as well as national and international clients, it is critical that we have sufficient depth and breadth in the intellectual property arena,” he added. “Perkins Smith & Cohen’s longstanding reputation for excellence in this area provides us with the opportunity to better serve these businesses and open the doors for us to market ourselves more strongly to the high-tech and life sciences communities.”

Robert D. Friedman, managing partner at Perkins Smith & Cohen, also lauded the combined firm. “We’re thrilled about the prospect of combining our Science & Technology group with Burns & Levinson’s impressive corporate and business law acumen,” said Friedman. “The combined firm will also have international expertise in representing business interests in Canada, China, Europe and Israel. In addition, Perkins Smith clients will benefit from the added depth offered by Burns & Levinson’s litigation, real estate, and trusts and estates practices.”

Friedman described the partnership with Burns & Levinson as a significant growth opportunity. “The range of specialties that they bring to the table will enable us to provide full service to our clients and expand and develop new client relationships,” he said.

Perkins Smith & Cohen LLP is expected to join Burns & Levinson LLP in early January 2006.

About the Firms:

Burns & Levinson, with 100 attorneys in four offices in New England, as well as one in Washington, D.C., is a full-service Boston-based business law firm. The firm has grown steadily and strategically throughout the years and has become a premier New England-based business law firm with regional, national and international clientele. The firm has expertise in corporate law, finance, venture capital, private equity, tax, bankruptcy, lending and leasing, real estate, intellectual property and business litigation. Burns & Levinson also has a large private clients group that services clients in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust litigation, divorce and other family law issues. In addition, the firm has a wholly-owned subsidiary office in Montreal, Quebec to service its Canadian clients. For more information, visit Burns & Levinson at www.burnslev.com.

Perkins Smith & Cohen, with 40 attorneys, is a full-service Boston-based law firm with a focus on the Science and Technology sector. Its Patent and Intellectual Property practice is widely known with significant representation of scientists, inventors and entrepreneurs in both established and emerging technology and life sciences companies. The firm also represents numerous universities throughout the country in patent, licensing and technology matters.