Rochester law firm Boylan Code LLP has closed

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After almost 51 years in operation, the Rochester law firm Boylan Code LLP has permanently closed, effective Saturday.

“This has been an amicable, strategic decision made by our leadership with the dedication to client service as the primary motivator,” Boylan Code officials wrote in a statement.

“Maintaining a mid-sized firm in today’s evolving legal landscape has come with its challenges, and we have intentionally waited for the right opportunity to make this decision,” they wrote.

In May, when Boylan Code celebrated its 50^th anniversary, the firm had 22 attorneys.

“We are pleased that our talented team of legal professionals have joined new firms that share our supportive, collaborative culture and have the resources for their practices to thrive,” they wrote.

According to Rebecca Maxwell, Boylan Code’s marketing and communications coordinator, the majority of the firm’s attorneys and staff will join the law firm of Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC.

Several other attorneys and staff joined the Rochester-based Evans Fox LLP, and the Rochester office of the Buffalo-based Lippes Mathias LLP.

The partners at Boylan Code’s Canandaigua and Newark offices will continue as solo practitioners. The remaining attorneys have joined other law firms and organizations, such as McConville Considine Cooman & Morin P.C., Stewart Title Insurance Co., ESL Federal Credit Union, and the Onondaga County Law Department.

Kathleen T. Hoppin and Jeremy P. Sedelmeyer joined Bond as members (partners). Michael F. Buckley, Ralph J. “Buz” Code III, a founding partner, Mark A. Costello, David K. Hou, and Alan S. Lockwood have joined as of counsel attorneys. Christine Decker joined Bond as an associate.

Three paralegals from Boylan Code have joined Bond, as well as two administrative assistants, and one office services team member, according to Edward Hourihan, managing member of Bond’s Rochester office.

“After 50 successful years at Boylan Code, we are eager for the next challenge at Bond and are excited to see what the future holds,” Code wrote in a news release.

“Bond is thrilled to welcome this group of esteemed attorneys from Boylan Code,” Brian J. Butler, chair of Bond’s management committee, said in the release.

“Their shared commitment to excellence will enhance our ability to serve our clients and strengthen the firm in the Rochester region and beyond,” he said.

“We are delighted to welcome the Boylan Code attorneys and staff and excited about the continued growth of the Rochester office,” Hourihan wrote.

“The culture we have created here is welcoming, collaborative and engaging, and I’m hopeful these eight new Bond attorneys will quickly feel at home here,” he said.

Boylan Code started on April 1, 1974, when six young lawyers left Wiser, Shaw, Freeman, Van Graafeiland, Harter & Secrest to form their own partnership.

The original law office was opened under the name Beyma, Brown, Code, Lumsden, Randall & Wilson (Michael J. Beyma, Robert E. Brown, Code, Dennis J. Lumsden, Robert G. Randall, and John M. Wilson II).

The firm had three locations — Newark, Canandaigua, and the main office on Culver Road in Rochester.

Bond’s Rochester office began in 2006 with five attorneys and has now grown to 52 attorneys and 28 staff, including the new additions from Boylan Code.

Bond has more than 300 lawyers in 15 offices, including 11 in New York state, as well as in Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Kansas.

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