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Two Youngstown law firms join forces
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: February 27, 2014
Two longtime Youngstown law firms have combined their legal forces.
Manchester, Bennett, Powers & Ullman officially merged with Newman, Olson & Kerr on Feb. 1. The new entity includes 20 attorneys under the name Manchester, Newman & Bennett.
“This was not a merger of need, but one that made sense,” said Stephen Bolton, president of the new firm and former president of Manchester, Bennett, Powers & Ullman, which brought all 14 of its attorneys to the new firm.
“Our businesses were compatible but not completely alike and our approaches are very similar, especially on the business side.”
Newman, Olson’s former president, E. Carroll “Ted” Thornton Jr., said the idea was in the works for almost two years.
“Their firm has a great reputation as does ours,” said Thornton, now vice president of Manchester, Newman & Bennett. “Rather than hire new people we agreed it was a better fit for us to work together.”
His former firm included six attorneys, all who are part of the new operation. Another lawyer is being brought on as of counsel, bringing the attorney count to 21 but Thornton declined to release the person’s name.
The firm will handle a wide range of matters, including litigation, bankruptcy, real estate, business, healthcare and oil and gas representing name clients such as Humility of Mary Health Partners, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown and Youngstown State University.
Both firms were well entrenched in downtown Youngstown, with Manchester, Bennett, Powers & Ullman having its office there since its founding in 1872 and Newman, Olson & Kerr’s history in the city dating back to the 1930s.
Remaining in Youngstown was important to both entities, said Thornton. He said they feel “committed to the city,” and “with our clients throughout northeast Ohio we wanted to maintain a centralized location.”
Attorneys at Newman, Olson will be leaving their former headquarters in the First National Bank Building in Central Square to move into Manchester, Bennett’s suite on the second floor of the Commerce Building at 201 E. Federal St.
In addition, the new firm will open an office at 3635 Boardman-Canfield Rd. on March 1. Newman, Olson’s current office on Broad Street in Canfield will remain active until that time.
With the merger behind them, Bolton said the goal is “moderate expansion” in terms of business and personnel.
“We should be able to serve more clients now,” Bolton said.