Houck Anderson Announces Merger with The Chartwell Law Offices, LLP

Miami-based Houck Anderson, a renowned
maritime and admiralty law firm, announced that it merged with The Chartwell
Law Offices, LLP, one of the fastest growing law firms on the East Coast.
The merger became effective March 1, 2013.

Houck Anderson is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell. The firm is
also named a Best Law Firm in America in Maritime Law by US News and World
Report. Founded in 1992, the firm has earned an outstanding reputation in
maritime and admiralty law, and its principals, Mark Houck and Andy Anderson
are sought-after speakers at maritime conferences worldwide. The firm, with
offices in Miami and in Ft. Lauderdale, expanded its practice areas to
include general liability, premises, construction, aviation and other
defense litigation over recent years. Houck Anderson represents many of the
leading insurers, P & I clubs, brokers and commercial interests, here and
abroad, in matters ranging from Superyacht and pleasure craft liability to
international shipping, hull and machinery claims and crew member
litigation.

The Chartwell Law Offices, LLP was founded by four lawyers in 2002 in Valley
Forge, PA. Following rapid growth and the opening of offices in Pittsburgh,
Scranton, Philadelphia and Harrisburg PA, Chartwell expanded into New York,
New Jersey, Massachusetts and Florida. The firm now has 85 attorneys
practicing principally in first and third party insurance coverage,
casualty, employment and commercial litigation. With the addition of the
Houck Anderson attorneys, Chartwell now has 13 lawyers in its Florida
offices.

"This is an important new chapter for Houck Anderson," said Mark Houck,
founder of the firm, and now the Managing Partner of Chartwell's Florida
operations and Maritime Practice. "We have worked hard to gain the respect
of the maritime industry, and to be a leader in this arena. The timing of
this merger is perfect as it gives us the opportunity to use Chartwell's
positioning to expand our marine-based practices to the entire eastern
seaboard, while Chartwell can increase its footprint in the important
Florida market." Houck added that the two firms share important contacts in
the London insurance market, as well as a culture of providing top-flight
niche expertise. "This merger is a great fit," he noted.

The merged firm will operate under the Chartwell name. Chris Troy, Chair of
Chartwell's Insurance Practices & Property section, said, "An expanded
Florida presence is important to our domestic, European and London
clientele. We handle major property and catastrophe work around the world,
and with the addition of the Houck Anderson attorneys, we are now better
positioned to meet our clients' needs in Florida and throughout the Gulf
Coast." Chartwell is currently representing various insurance markets in
several dozen major claims stemming from Hurricane Sandy losses.

Chartwell's practice areas have also expanded to handle toxic tort,
creditor's rights and construction defect litigation. "We will continue to
expand our firm, both geographically and by practice area, whenever we come
across talented litigators who are also good people. The team at Houck
Anderson certainly fits that bill," noted Chartwell CEO Cliff Goldstein.