U.S. FEDFunding
Charlesbank invests in Wood Smith Henning & Berman's new back-office services company
Insurance defense firm Wood Smith Henning & Berman on October 19, 2026, formed WSHB Support Services, a management services organization that will run non-legal operations for the firm, backed by an investment from private equity firm Charlesbank Capital Partners. The law firm says it remains independent, with its lawyers keeping sole authority over legal practice and client matters. Terms were not disclosed.
Announcement (Reuters (via TradingView)) → · Law360 Pulse, Above the Law
Key points
- The Los Angeles-based trial firm has more than 550 lawyers across 23 states and represents insurers, self-insured corporations and institutional clients.Reuters (via TradingView)
- Charlesbank's capital will help the firm expand geographically and invest in technology, artificial intelligence and data science, the firm said.Reuters (via TradingView)
- The MSO model lets outside investors own a firm's non-legal back-office operations without breaching U.S. rules barring nonlawyer ownership of law firms.Reuters (via TradingView)
- The Financial Times and Above the Law previously reported a valuation of about $700 million for the business.Reuters (via TradingView)Above the Law
- Gipson Hoffman & Pancione and Troutman Pepper Locke advised the firm; Weil, Kirkland & Ellis and Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz advised Charlesbank.Reuters (via TradingView)
Sources3 articles across 3 outlets
Above the Law
Law360 Pulse
Reuters (via TradingView)