August 3, 2020 from the Albany Business Review
Robin K. Cooper – Reporter
Months after leaving larger practices to start their own firm, the founders of Monaco Cooper Lamme & Carr have doubled the size of their team, growing to nine attorneys, plus seven legal assistants and support staff.
Their newest addition is Claudia Ryan, a trial lawyer with 40 years experience representing schools, cities, towns, auto dealers and other businesses in labor, employment, insurance defense and product liability cases.
Ryan, who spent the past decade as founding principal of Towne Ryan & Partners, joined MCLC today as senior counsel. She brings with her Caitlin Goetz, an associate attorney who represents schools and municipalities in insurance defense, labor and employment issues.
“Bringing in someone with Claudia’s experience lends us another level of credibility in the legal and business community,” said MCLC founding partner Adam Cooper.
The most recent breakup occurred last month when a dozen attorneys from McNamee Lochner joined Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, the region’s largest firm. That came three months after O’Connell & Aronowitz picked up five lawyers from McNamee Lochner.
“We don’t know what the near term effects of the pandemic are going to be six months or a year from now, but we have been able to grow our practice and we are small and nimble enough to make moves when someone with Claudia’s experience comes along,” Cooper said. “I also think we are fortunate that we do not have to worry about having a big payroll or high occupancy overhead costs.”
Ryan decided to join MCLC in part because of the experience the founding partners have in court rooms.
“They are highly respected and regarded and very motivated,” Ryan said.
Three of MCLC’s four founding partners worked together at Carter Conboy until shareholders announced late last year that they planned to dissolve the century-old firm. The fourth founding member, Jacob Lamme, left McNamee Lochner to join Monaco, Cooper and Carr.
MCLC is located on Western Avenue in Guilderland. The firm is doubling its office space to about 5,500 square feet, which Cooper said will give them room to accommodate a few more attorneys and support staff.
“We are still trying to figure out how much we want to grow,” Cooper said. “We want to remain nimble, but we also know we wouldn’t say no to the right opportunity.”