Law firm splits, partners leave after failed merger

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 | 2:11 p.m.

A founding partner and the managing partner of one of the state's largest law firms are stepping down as the firm splits after a failed merger.

Thomas Kummer, founding partner of Kummer Kaempfer Bonner Renshaw & Ferrario, is resigning and taking a job at a competing firm. Michael Bonner, managing partner of the firm, is also leaving.

Kummer Kaempfer partner Bob Gronauer will take Bonner’s place as managing partner.

“The firm will continue its longstanding tradition of serving our clients with the highest levels of excellence,” Gronauer said in a statement. “During the transition, our clients we serve can rest assured that our collective commitment to seamless service and client delivery stands above all else.”

The change signals a drastic decrease in the number of employees at Kummer Kaempfer, the fifth-largest Las Vegas-area law firm, according to the 2009 In Business Las Vegas Book of Business Lists. Several staffers, lawyers and partners, including Bonner, will leave the firm in June to join international firm Greenberg Traurig, which already had about 30 lawyers in Nevada.

Earlier this year, Kummer Kaempfer laid off about 10 lawyers and associated staff, some of whom said their jobs were eliminated because of an expected merger with Greenberg Traurig.

That merger never materialized, causing the current split among the firm's top partners.

Founding partner Chris Kaempfer will remain with Kummer Kaempfer.

“This is a difficult, but cordial decision that reflects the desires of certain practice groups in our firm to practice in an international firm,” Bonner said in a statement. “We will continue to work together with our Kummer Kaempfer colleagues as co-counsel on many matters now and in the future. More importantly, we will remain good friends.”

Discussion: 8 comments so far…

By AngryReader

5/20/09 at 3:59 p.m.

Suggest removal

Greedy lawyers; go figure.

He you guys, when you graduate law school and they put that vacuum to your ear and suck out your soul and half your brains, does it hurt?
By neiman1

5/20/09 at 4:15 p.m.

Suggest removal

Watching lawyers eat each other is more fun than watching the unions eat each other. There is some poetic justice here. I hope it ends in law suits.
By its2hot

5/20/09 at 6:29 p.m.

Suggest removal

We feel so sorry for the law firm. A typical law firm does drain you dry, feed us a line of bull, talk on the phone taling about family and bill for this and they're done. It is about time, be broke and poor!

It is like God say's when they come to gate, Your are the oldest ever, no I am 53, God say, based on your billable hours you are 620 years of age.
By bdover

5/20/09 at 6:40 p.m.

Suggest removal

God, I was hoping it was Glen Lerner, that obnoxious ambulance chaser with the Boston accent. Can't we all just have a fund raiser, and send him back there via the 'Hound? I was born there, and I apologize for his presence here.
By homer

5/21/09 at 9:12 a.m.

Suggest removal

neiman1 has once agiain proven he has mental health issues as well as not maturing yet. Anyone who wishes others ill will in the end suffer themselves. The facts are this is a business decision and the parties concerned are all in agreement about the steps they have taken here and will remain close friends.
Of course neiman has no idea what the costs are to support a law firm let alone any business, his main function in life is riding his skateboard and displaying his stupidity. It is remarkable the very people who curse attorneys are the ones who will need an attorney in the near furture, and now they become very respectful of their attorney.
By 2zero

5/21/09 at 12:26 p.m.

Suggest removal

Politicians all over Nevada are caught not knowing which firm to kowtow to.....
By mikegino

5/22/09 at 12:48 p.m.

Suggest removal

Lawyers are like liberals, 98% give the other 2% a bad name.

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