Dewey Has Already Drawn On 75% of its $100 Million Credit Line

The New York law firm, which has lost more than 80 lawyers in recent weeks, is near an agreement with banks about extending its line of credit for a couple of weeks, a person familiar with the talks said.

Lenders are being cooperative, said Martin Bienenstock, one of four members of the chairman’s office after the ouster of Steven H. Davis, formerly its sole chairman.

Mr. Davis was removed amid a criminal investigation into his conduct by the Manhattan district attorney.

“Bankruptcy is always a last resort and is not in current plans,” Mr. Bienenstock wrote in an email. “If real property and equipment leases are assumed by other firms or renegotiated, and the lenders realize on their accounts receivable and inventory, there may be no need for judicial intervention.”

The firm is currently talking with “many merger partners,” Mr. Bienenstock said.

The firm has drawn about $75 million of a $100 million credit line from banks, said a person familiar with its finances. The firm said in an internal memo April 29 that New York prosecutors were probing possible wrongdoing at the firm and that Mr. Davis was ousted from a five-person chairman’s office and the executive committee.

Mr. Davis hired criminal defense attorney Barry Bohrer, a partner at Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Iason, Anello & Bohrer, as he faces allegations of misconduct.

“Every action of Mr. Davis as chair of the firm was taken in good faith and in the best interests of the firm,” Mr. Bohrer wrote in an email confirming his retention. “He is confident that fair-minded professionals will conclude that he engaged in no misconduct.”