National law firm Ballard Spahr is partnering with Stillman & Friedman, a Manhattan litigation boutique, to form Ballard Spahr Stillman & Friedman LLP.

The partnership gives Ballard Spahr — a firm that focuses heavily on mortgage banking, servicing and securities litigation — its 14th U.S. office location and a large presence in New York.

Stillman & Friedman’s current crop of 14 lawyers have extensive experience representing public figures, political leaders and major Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation.

“We took a long view on entering the New York market, a thoughtful approach that would complement our strengths, preserve our values as a firm, and dovetail with our strategy to enhance our litigation platform and our geographic reach,” said Ballard Spahr Chair Mark Stewart.

“We are invigorated by the possibilities ahead, not just for litigation but for the expansion of all of our practices—real estate, business and finance, intellectual property, and public finance. We are particularly excited about bringing our lawyers together with Charlie Stillman, Julian Friedman, and the team they have built. They are among the best in the business, and they are genuinely fine people.”