Wood Smith Henning & Berman
National litigation defense firm
Year of Investment
2026
Sector(s)
Business & Consumer Services
Status
Current
Website
wshblaw.com/(Link opens in new window)Headquarters
Santa Monica, CA
Team
Founded in 1997, Wood Smith Henning & Berman (WSHB) is a national litigation defense firm serving insurance carriers and self-insured corporates across general liability, construction defect and other areas of practice. With 550+ attorneys operating 43 offices across 23 states, WSHB has taken more than 2,000 cases to verdict. In addition to its trial skills, the firm’s longstanding embrace and use of technology, AI and data metrics to assist in litigation management have distinguished the firm as an innovator in the industry.
Investment Summary
In 2026, Charlesbank invested in WSHB’s management services organization (“MSO”), which houses the IP, non-legal operations and corporate support services of WSHB, LLP. This investment is the culmination of a multi-year thematic pursuit in the litigation services ecosystem; WSHB sits at the intersection of professional services and insurance - both areas where Charlesbank has a history of partnering with founders and management teams to scale companies. Our investment in the MSO will help WSHB accelerate strategic M&A and investment in technology and AI-enablement.