Taft launches New York office as it continues to expand presence across US

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP — the second-largest law firm operating in Indianapolis — has opened an office in New York City.

The firm announced the new office on Monday. It marks the fourth major geographic move for Taft — which now has more than 1,250 attorneys across 25 offices and revenue exceeding $1 billion — in less than 18 months.

In 2025, the firm completed a series of strategic mergers that led Taft into new markets across the Mountain West, Florida, and Atlanta, plus an expanded presence in Washington, D.C., in a push to expand its position as one of the leading national middle-market firms.

The new office is located in Manhattan, and the firm expects to hire more than 100 lawyers there over the next five years. Already, more than 80 of Taft’s attorneys in other markets are licensed to practice in New York, and many of the firm’s clients are based in or operate with a New York presence, according to a news release.

The new office will be led by Bradford McCormick, Timothy Moran and Joseph Tato, who come to Taft from Steptoe LLP, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., but has offices across the country and world, including New York. The office will focus on energy, infrastructure and project finance.

“New York was the biggest missing piece for Taft as we continue to build a firm that truly serves clients nationwide,” Taft Firmwide Chairman and Managing Partner Robert J. Hicks, who is based in Indianapolis, said in a news release. “Brad, Tim, and Joe are recognized leaders in energy and project finance, and their arrival immediately positions us to play a more prominent role in one of the most dynamic sectors of the global economy.”

The launch of the New York office also represents the third lateral group to join Taft this year, following the recent arrival of a seven-lawyer team in Colorado Springs and a five-member team in Chicago.

Hicks added that Taft doesn’t normally enter a market other than through a merger. But given the pool of legal talent that exists in New York, the firm is confident it didn’t need to wait for a merger, he said. The firm will continue to explore merger opportunities there.

“We have discovered great enthusiasm in New York for our platform, our position in the middle market, and our trajectory as a firm, which is leading to a strong pipeline of laterals,” Hicks said. “We’re very excited about the growth ahead in New York.”

Taft got its start in Cincinnati in the late 1800s as Worthington & Strong. It became Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in 1924 when the sons of former President William Howard Taft joined the firm.

The firm entered the Indianapolis market in 2008 when it absorbed locally based Sommer Barnard, a 39-year-old firm with 103 lawyers. As of 2024, Taft had 173 attorneys and 270 employees in Indianapolis.