Michael Hausfeld's Old Firm to Become Cohen, Milstein, Sellers & Toll

In the wake of the abrupt departure of name partner Michael Hausfeld, the old firm is clearly due for a name change. This morning, Steven Toll, one of the firm’s remaining name partners, told Legal Times that Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld & Toll will officially become Cohen, Milstein, Sellers & Toll. Washington partner Joseph Sellers, who heads the firm’s civil rights and employment practice, will replace Hausfeld as the fourth name on the door. Sellers has been at the firm since 1997.

Toll also says he expects Cohen, Milstein will lose its San Francisco office to Hausfeld’s new firm, Hausfeld LLP. “The lawyers there work very closely with Michael. We do not expect to maintain that office.” Toll adds, “We will actually save some money on San Francisco,” since Cohen, Milstein will sublease the office space to another tenant. Hausfeld recruited Michael Lehmann, the partner who heads up the San Francisco office, in 2007.

Other partners who have left or are expected to leave Cohen, Milstein to join Hausfeld include Robert Eisler, head of Cohen, Milstein’s New York office, and Washington partners William Butterfield, Brian Ratner, and Charles Tompkins, says Toll.