Am Law 200 firm Michael Best has completed a strategic combination with Kane Kessler, a Manhattan firm with approximately 40 attorneys and more than 90 years of history, establishing Michael Best’s first New York presence.
The deal gives the combined firm nearly 400 attorneys across 19 offices in the United States. Kane Kessler brings corporate and securities experience along with practices in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, intellectual property, and real estate. Its clients range from startups and entrepreneurs to financial institutions and domestic and international Fortune 500 companies.
David Krutz, Michael Best’s firm managing partner, called the combination an exciting step for both firms, saying it establishes a meaningful presence in New York while bringing together talented attorneys, complementary strengths, and a shared commitment to exceptional client service. He praised Kane Kessler’s reputation for trusted counsel and practical business advice, saying its capabilities align seamlessly with the firm’s strategic objectives.
Rob Lawrence, Kane Kessler’s managing partner, will lead Michael Best’s New York office, providing continuity for the Manhattan team and its client relationships.
The New York move reflects a broader trend of regional and mid sized firms seeking beachheads in the country’s largest legal market. While the mega mergers of 2026 have grabbed headlines with multi billion dollar revenue figures, combinations like Michael Best and Kane Kessler show that strategic growth is happening at every tier of the profession.
For Kane Kessler’s lawyers, the deal offers access to a national platform and deeper resources in areas like intellectual property and labor and employment. For Michael Best, the Manhattan office opens doors to capital markets work and a client base that would be difficult to build from scratch.
Industry consultants say the key question for such combinations is always integration: whether the two cultures mesh, whether clients follow, and whether the promised cross selling materializes. The firms expressed confidence, pointing to complementary practices and aligned values as the foundation for the union.
The combination also reflects the intensifying competition for lateral talent in New York, where the presence of a local office is often a prerequisite for recruiting top partners. Without a Manhattan address, firms can struggle to convince high performing lawyers to make a move, no matter how strong the national platform.
For clients, the practical effects should be positive: broader geographic coverage, deeper benches in key practices, and a single relationship covering more of their legal needs. The firms said existing client teams will remain in place, with integration focused on systems, conflicts processes, and cross office collaboration rather than disruption.
Sources: Above the Law, ABA Journal. Image: Rare legal volumes, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
