Our History
A Century of Legal Excellence.
Our Origins
The firm began as a two-lawyer partnership when Joseph Goldstein and Manuel D. Goldman opened their practice in the Union Trust Building in downtown Rochester. For more than 25 years, Joe and Manny built a reputation for dedication to clients and deep community involvement. In 1952, the firm expanded with the addition of Harry D. Goldman, followed by Irving L. Kessler, a respected real estate practitioner who became a partner in 1957.
Growth, Leadership, and a Changing Firm
As additional attorneys joined, including corporate practitioner Alan J. Underberg in 1963, the firm evolved in name and scope, reflecting its steady growth and expanding capabilities. Continued development throughout the 1960s and 1970s led to the firm’s relocation to the Chase Lincoln First Tower, where it became the building’s first non-banking tenant. By 1988, with more than 30 attorneys, the firm adopted the name Underberg & Kessler LLP. In 2005, it relocated its headquarters to Legacy Tower (formerly Bausch & Lomb Place), where it remains today.
Over the decades, Underberg & Kessler has grown by attracting talented attorneys, expanding into new practice areas, and opening offices to better serve clients across the region. Today, the firm offers comprehensive legal services across a wide range of disciplines, including business and corporate, banking and commercial lending, cannabis, construction, creditors’ rights, environmental and energy, estates and trusts, family law, health care, labor and employment, litigation, municipal, real estate and finance, and tax law.
Throughout our history, the firm has advised individuals, families, and many of Rochester’s most prominent institutions, including banks, health care providers, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, and public and private companies. Our legacy also includes attorneys who went on to serve in distinguished judicial roles, including service on the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, Federal Bankruptcy Court, Family Court, and the New York Court of Claims.
A Commitment That Endures
Despite a century of change, the firm’s mission has remained constant: to build trusted, long-standing relationships and deliver practical, effective legal guidance that helps clients navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and move forward with confidence.
As the firm enters its second century, our focus remains firmly on what comes next—delivering strategic, results-driven counsel in an evolving legal and business landscape, embracing innovation where it adds value, and continuing to serve clients with the integrity, responsiveness, and partnership that have defined Underberg & Kessler for 100 years.
Read our press release about the anniversary.
What This Milestone Represents
- Client Commitment - Long-standing relationships built on trust, responsiveness, and results.
- Legal Excellence - Deep experience paired with innovative solutions across industries and practice areas.
- Community Leadership - A century of meaningful investment in the strength and vitality of the communities we serve.
- Collaboration & Culture - A firm defined by its people — past, present, and future — whose dedication and professionalism are the foundation of our strength.