Partners

The growth-minded Center City law firm of Clark, Ladner, Fortenbaugh & Young added seven more lawyers yesterday. All are from the firm of Margolis, Edelstein & Scherlis and concentrate in insurance regulatory matters and insurance mergers and acquisitions. "This gives us another niche," said managing partner Vahan H. Gureghian. Carl Anthony Maio, James B. Dougherty Jr. and H. Marc Tepper will join Clark Ladner as partners. The other four lawyers are associates. Clark Ladner has been on a campaign to hire lawyers from other firms - so- called "laterals" - who bring clients and new sources of business with them, Gureghian said.

Five Philadelphia law firms made the 1990 "American Law 100" list compiled by American Lawyer Magazine. The list ranks firms in terms of gross income, profits per partner and revenue per lawyer. It also "grades" the top firms on how generous they are in terms of public service. The Philadelphia firms listed, in order of gross revenues, are Morgan, Lewis & Bockius; Dechert Price & Rhoads; Pepper, Hamilton & Scheetz; Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen; and Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis.

The New Jersey Section PGA defeated the Philadelphia PGA, 10-8, yesterday in the Matrix Cup competition at Commonwealth National Golf Club in Horsham. The team of 12 New Jersey pros produced wins in seven of 12 singles matches, with another halved to decide the match after Philadelphia won three of six four-ball (better ball of partners) matches with one halved.

Kimberton pro Bob Hays and partners Lou Buckwalter, Dick Lucas and Al Molloy shot a 14-under-par best-ball net of 29-28-57 to win the $7,670 Philadelphia PGA Izod Club Pro-Senior Amateur Team Championship by 1 stroke yesterday at St. Davids Golf Club. Hays won $470. Fifty-two teams participated.

At a time when many major law firms are cutting back, Dechert Price & Rhoads, one of Philadelphia's largest law firms, has added 19 lawyers to its New York City office - all from the New York firm of Olwine, Connelly, Chase, O'Donnell & Weyher, which disbanded in November. Paul Wm. Putney, managing partner of Dechert's New York office, said yesterday that the firm had been planning for more than two years to expand its New York branch and decided to proceed when the Olwine lawyers became available.

Men may think their girlfriends or wives want them to read their minds, but a new study finds that what women (and men) want more is for their partners to try to understand. In short, showing you're trying to figure out why a partner is upset is more important than getting it right. This came out of a complicated study of empathy in couples. It was part of a longtime research collaboration between Robert J. Waldinger at Harvard Medical School and Marc S. Schulz, a Bryn Mawr College psychology professor who studied at Harvard.

Bruce Glasco of Pine Valley Golf Club won the tournament of the Philadelphia Assistant Professional Organization with a 1-over-par 72 yesterday at Laurel Creek Country Club. It was his first victory in local competition since moving to the area last year from the Midwest. Scott Dunn of Concord Country Club finished second with a 73. Dunn teamed with Scott Perryman of Radley Run to win a recent assistant pros' better-ball- of-partners tournament at Woodcrest Country Club with a 66.

Pennsylvania's biggest law firm has strengthened its international ties by joining with a leading London law firm. The Philadelphia firm of Dechert Price & Rhoads said yesterday it will join with Titmuss Sainer & Webb of London, which will become Titmuss Sainer Dechert. Dechert Price & Rhoads, one of the 50 largest U.S. law firms according to The American Lawyer magazine, intends to expand its existing international market base. Dechert Price & Rhoads Chairman Thomas B. Morris said that the joining of the firms is unusual for three reasons, "First, they are taking the name of our firm, number two is that our London office partners are becoming partners at Titmuss Sainer Dechert, and finally, we have agreed to profit sharing.

DEAR ABBY : My 15-year-old stepson, "Justin," doesn't drink or do drugs. For the most part, he stays out of trouble. The problem is, he has been caught for the third time having unprotected sex. Justin has lied repeatedly about this. His father lets him get away with many things. But this is different. A 15-year-old boy can't take care of a baby, and having sex with multiple partners means exposing everyone involved to STDs. My husband and his ex have dealt with this by trying to ignore it. But the more I think about it, the more I see the danger of Justin's life being changed forever because his parents don't want to make him unhappy for a minute.

As with so many other decisions they have to make over their married lives, spouses can expect to disagree to some extent when it comes to making a home purchase. But whether they disagree on small things or major characteristics they want in a home, a happy decision can be made if both sides are willing to compromise. Here are some pointers for marital partners buying a home: Let each voice be heard. One partner will sometimes control the decision-making process.