Underberg & Kessler LLP
Law firm with offices in Rochester and Buffalo providing legal services in business law, commercial real estate, litigation, estate planning, and employment law.
Overview
Underberg & Kessler LLP is a full-service law firm headquartered at 300 Bausch & Lomb Place in downtown Rochester, NY. Founded in 1926 by Joseph Goldstein and Manuel D. Goldman, the firm began as a two-attorney partnership in the Union Trust Building on West Main Street. Over the following decades it grew steadily — Irving L. Kessler joined as a real estate partner in 1957, and Alan J. Underberg, a corporate practitioner, came aboard in 1963. The firm formally adopted the Underberg & Kessler name in 1988 and now maintains four offices across Western New York, including locations in Buffalo, Canandaigua, and Geneseo.
What They Offer
The firm serves individuals, families, businesses, financial institutions, healthcare providers, and municipalities across thirteen practice areas:
- Banking & Commercial Lending
- Business & Corporate
- Cannabis
- Construction
- Creditors' Rights
- Environmental & Energy
- Estates & Trusts
- Family Law
- Health Care
- Labor & Employment
- Litigation
- Municipal Law
- Real Estate & Finance
- Tax
Clients range from startups and established companies to developers and local government entities. The Rochester office currently lists roughly two dozen attorneys.
Known For
Underberg & Kessler LLP has maintained a continuous presence in the Rochester legal community for a full century, marking its 100th anniversary in 2026. The firm has been ranked by U.S. News – Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" each year since 2013, and multiple attorneys have been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America. Several former attorneys have gone on to serve on the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, Federal Bankruptcy Court, Family Court, and the New York Court of Claims.
Location & Neighborhood
The Rochester headquarters occupies the third floor of Legacy Tower — the building still commonly referred to by its former name, Bausch & Lomb Place — at the corner of Court Street and Clinton Avenue in downtown Rochester. The office sits within walking distance of the Monroe County Courthouse and the Genesee River waterfront. Street and garage parking are available in the surrounding downtown core. The neighborhood is home to numerous professional-services firms, government offices, and dining options along East Main Street.
Sources used in compiling this entry
Last updated May 14, 2026