CHICAGO — Baker & Daniels LLP today announced plans to establish a significant presence in Chicago with the opening of a new law office at 311 South Wacker Drive. With the expansion, B&D; Equity Property Tax Group will move from its current location at 225 West Washington Street in Chicago to the new Baker & Daniels' office.

Last fall, B&D; Consulting, a division of Baker & Daniels, established a presence in Chicago with the addition of B&D; Equity Property Tax Group. Norman J. Quinn III, who has more than 30 years of experience in real estate, finances and taxes, leads B&D;'s national full-service property tax consulting practice.

"We are pleased to be entering the Chicago market. As the major Midwest commercial center, Chicago complements our existing national and international practices in Indiana, Washington, D.C. and China," said Tom Froehle, Baker & Daniels' Chair and Chief Executive Partner. "Moreover, a Chicago presence will help us serve the needs of our existing clients and showcase our experience and service to other companies."

"We already have begun to reach out to other lawyers in our strategic effort to expand our Chicago office to 50-plus professionals initially," Froehle added. "Just as we have done in our other locations, we expect to attract outstanding lawyers who want to be part of a growing office with a collaborative culture that offers a high quality and professionally satisfying career opportunity."

Veteran Chicago lawyers Richard E. Michaels and David M. Allen will lead the new Baker & Daniels' office. Both were shareholders with Schuyler Roche, P.C.

Michaels, who served as President of Schuyler Roche from 1994 to 2007 and continued as Chair in 2008, focuses his practice in domestic and international transactions. His early experience as a certified public accountant has assisted him in representing corporate clients in commercial matters on a global scale for more than 30 years.

Allen concentrates his practice in business litigation. He brings more than 35 years of legal experience advocating for a variety of clients representing manufacturing, health care and trust service companies in complex commercial and tort litigation.

Initially, Michaels and Allen are being joined by five additional lawyers from their former firm. They are Andrew W. Geier, Catherine C. Gryczan and Randall R. Schwartz II, who practice in corporate finance; Rachel T. Nguyen, who focuses in business litigation; and Mary K. Walter, who represents clients in securities matters as well as securitizations and merger and acquisition transactions.

"The opportunity to help lead the creation of this new office is one of the most exciting things I can imagine being involved with," Michaels said. "I am delighted to continue my corporate and transactions practice from the Baker & Daniels' platform and very much look forward to being part of the Baker & Daniels' team."

"I echo Rick's enthusiasm for this opportunity," Allen added. "Both as a co-leader of the new office and as a member of Baker & Daniels' litigation group, I am thrilled to help launch this new office and to be a part of Baker & Daniels."

Froehle said, "Rick and Dave are exceptional lawyers and outstanding individuals. They share our Baker & Daniels' values and will do a terrific job building our Chicago team and expanding our reach in this important market."

Baker & Daniels has a multi-year lease for 21,000 square feet of office space at 311 South Wacker Drive.

Founded in 1863, Baker & Daniels LLP serves clients in regional, national and international transactional, regulatory and litigation matters. More than 370 lawyers and legal professionals provide services from offices in Indiana, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and China. For more information about Baker & Daniels, visit www.bakerdaniels.com.

B&D; Consulting is a national advisory and advocacy firm based in Washington, D.C. Since 1985, B&D; Consulting professionals have been providing interdisciplinary consulting services to growing sectors of the U.S. economy, including management planning, government relations, industry-based technical skills and strategic communications capabilities. B&D; Consulting is a division of Baker & Daniels LLP, an international law firm. For more information about B&D; Consulting, visit www.bakerdconsulting.com.