A.Y. Strauss has added 15 attorneys and 12 business professionals so far this year. Now it’s adding someone to help run it all.
On Monday, the Livingston-based law firm announced it has named John Bono its chief operating officer. He’s one of three additions to its business leadership team, along with a new real estate associate.
Managing Partner Aaron Y. Strauss said the firm’s back office has to keep up with its lawyers.
“Our growth over the past several years has been driven by the quality of our lawyers and the trust our clients place in us,” he said. “To sustain that momentum, we need to grow our operational, financial, and talent infrastructure to keep pace with our increasing lawyer headcount.”
Bono will work with firm leadership on business operations and strategic growth. He brings more than 25 years of experience in finance and operations. He was most recently chief financial officer at Barry McTiernan & Moore, and before that global director of financial planning and analysis and management reporting at A&O Shearman. Earlier, he held finance leadership roles at JPMorgan Chase and other global financial institutions.
The firm also hired:
- Brian Spiegel (senior recruiting manager): He will lead attorney recruitment, retention and talent strategy, including lateral partner and associate hiring. A former practicing lawyer, Spiegel has more than a decade of experience in legal recruiting.
- Kathy Mesaros (as assistant finance manager): She brings accounting and finance experience from several midsize law firms, including payroll and pension administration, financial reporting and budgeting.
- Sarah Austino (as an associate in the real estate practice): She represents investors, developers, landlords, tenants and businesses in commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions and leasing.
Strauss said the new hires will help the firm grow without losing what got it there.
“The deep experience of both our lawyers and our talented professionals in law firm management, recruiting, and finance will help us scale thoughtfully while staying true to the client service and culture that define A.Y. Strauss,” he said.
The firm, which also has offices in Hackensack and New York City, specializes in providing legal counsel for commercial transactions and litigation in the areas of real estate, construction, employment, cannabis, family law, environmental and corporate bankruptcy.
