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September 16, 2026
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Combination Establishes Michael Best's New York Presence, Expands National Platform and Multi-Disciplinary Capabilities
New York, New York (Sept. 16, 2026) – National AmLaw 200 firm Michael Best and Kane Kessler, P.C., the highly regarded New York-based law firm with a reputation spanning nearly a century and recognized for its corporate and securities practice, today announced the completion of a strategic combination.
The combination establishes Michael Best’s presence in New York and strengthens the firm’s ability to support clients with multifaceted legal and business needs. With the addition of Kane Kessler’s attorneys, Michael Best further expands its reach into the global financial and commercial networks that drive activity in New York’s capital markets. Similarly, the combination with Michael Best provides Kane Kessler’s clients with the nationwide breadth and depth of Michael Best’s various practice areas, as well as the continued corporate, securities and capital markets services, among others, that Kane Kessler’s clients have come to expect.
Kane Kessler, with approximately 40 attorneys based in New York City, has built a strong reputation among clients and peers throughout the United States and globally for its cutting-edge, service-oriented legal practice. The firm’s success derives from its talented attorneys who have earned the trust and confidence of clients, resulting in deep, long-term relationships.
Widely known for its corporate and securities practice, Kane Kessler represents a diverse client base that includes domestic and international Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, closely held businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, executives and investors in a variety of disciplines. The firm's core practice areas also include capital markets matters, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, intellectual property and real estate.
Rob Lawrence, Kane Kessler’s Managing Partner, will serve as Managing Partner of Michael Best’s New York office.
“Our clients increasingly operate on both a national and international scale and need access to a broader range of services, resources and geographic reach,” Lawrence said. “Michael Best offers a strong national platform and deep experience serving many industry sectors. This combination creates meaningful new opportunities for our clients and our people while preserving the responsive, collaborative culture that has defined Kane Kessler for over 90 years. Additionally, synergies will be realized not only through our complementary practices but also through our respective rate structures, which are compatible and cost-effective for the nature of our practices.”
Michael Best and Kane Kessler came together through a strong alignment of culture, pricing philosophy, commitment to long-term client relationships, and disciplined approaches to growth. Kane Kessler’s strengths add to Michael Best’s existing platform and broaden the integrated legal, regulatory, government relations and business advisory services available to clients.
“This combination represents an exciting step for both firms,” said David Krutz, Michael Best Firm Managing Partner. “Beyond establishing a meaningful presence in New York, it brings together talented attorneys and professionals, complementary strengths, and a shared commitment to exceptional client service. Kane Kessler has built an outstanding reputation for trusted counsel and practical business advice, and their capabilities align seamlessly with our strategic objectives.”
The combination continues a deliberate multi-year growth strategy that has recently seen Michael Best expand into key markets across the country, including California, Nebraska, North Carolina and Texas through strategic combinations and targeted talent acquisitions. Over the past several years, the firm has strengthened its capabilities in rapidly growing markets such as Austin, Charlotte, Denver, Raleigh and Salt Lake City; expanded its Midwest base; and grown its presence in major business centers such as Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The growth has focused on adding attorneys and teams with strong practices in the middle market and venture spaces who are looking for a platform where they can provide full service to their clients at a rational pricing level.
Michael Best intends to continue to invest in and grow the New York office, with a focus on adding talent, expanding service offerings and further strengthening relationships throughout the Northeast and across the firm’s national platform.
About Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Michael Best is a leading law firm, providing a full range of legal services to clients around the world. The firm has more than 450 legal professionals, including nearly 400 attorneys, serving clients in 19 offices across the U.S. in California; Colorado; Illinois; New York; North Carolina; Texas; Utah; Washington, D.C.; and Wisconsin. Michael Best’s areas of practice include: intellectual property; labor and employment relations (including employee benefits); litigation; corporate; government relations, political law, and public policy; privacy and cybersecurity; real estate; regulatory; tax; and wealth planning. The firm serves a variety of industries, such as advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, banking, and financial services, digital technology, energy, food and beverage, healthcare, higher education, and life sciences. For more information, visit michaelbest.com.