MANDEL, KATZ & BROSNAN CASE by ThEME

Background

Mandel, Katz & Brosnan (MK&B) is arguably the leading international law firm representing investment funds, hedge funds, and broker dealers in buying and selling distressed asset products. They are located in Valley Cottage, New York, London, and Singapore.

When you ask each of the partners what differentiates the firm, they all say it’s their focus on the community. That has nothing to do with the business they are in. The focus has fundamentally changed the way they work together and with clients.

Mission

MK&B's mission is to service clients with an integrated team and to invest in people by giving them both community and client-based experience. This mission grew from a gap Michael Mandel saw at a leading New York firm – caring about clients and a need to create a more favorable perception of the legal industry. As Kara Katz, the managing partner, explained, “Our success with our clients goes well beyond their needs of nickels and dimes.”

MK&B also takes on client-based causes. For example, when a sales person at Morgan Stanley lost 2 children to cardiomyopathy, the firm donated money and helped build awareness for the charity.

Lessons

When social responsibility is built into the fabric of the firm, it fundamentally changes the energy level of the people and the longevity of the client relationships.