Cooper & Kowalski, which ran to 45 lawyers in the late 2000s, closed for business at the end of July with some lawyers and staff joining other firms. Co-founder Cary Cooper said: ‘We got to the point where the numbers [of lawyers] were such and the structure was in place for a larger organization. It got to the point for professional reasons that it was best for the future, particularly for the younger lawyers. It takes a long time to grow a professional business these days, and we came to the conclusion this was the best thing to do. It is a sad outcome but these things happen.’

Top of the class

The firm was down to 13 lawyers when it closed. Just over half of them went to two other firms, Spengler Nathanson and Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick. The firm had particularly looked to recruit women because, it said, they typically graduated at the top of their law school classes. Source: Toledo Blade