The growing appetite among BigLaw partners to abandon traditional firm structures and establish specialist practices has prompted London-based consultancy Kindleworth to open a New York office.
The expansion reflects a significant shift in the US legal market, where soaring partner compensation, increasing mobility and frustration with large-firm economics are creating opportunities for independent law firm launches.
Kindleworth, which has supported more than 50 law firm and office launches worldwide, has appointed former Clifford Chance litigator and boutique law firm executive Maryana Kodner (pictured) to lead its US operations. Veteran legal recruitment executive Anand David joins as strategic adviser.
The move also follows a strategic minority investment by litigation funder Burford Capital in 2025.
A major question for BigLaw firms is whether the escalating cost of retaining star partners is making independence an increasingly attractive commercial proposition.
For entrepreneurial lawyers, the appeal is clear: greater control, potentially better economics and fewer institutional constraints. For established firms, it presents another challenge to the traditional partnership model.
The media release from Kindleworth is below –
US expansion follows surging demand for specialist law firm launches
London-headquartered consultancy Kindleworth has today announced the opening of its New York office, extending its market-leading law firm launch expertise into the United States.
The launch is supported by two strategic hires, Maryana Kodner, Partner and Head of US Operations, and Anand David, Strategic Advisor, as Kindleworth continues to develop its ability to help BigLaw partners set up their own firms in the world’s largest legal market.
The expansion builds on Kindleworth’s pedigree of supporting more than 50 law firm and law firm office launches globally, including the US offices of Three Crowns and Wordstone in Washington, DC and Pallas Partners in New York.
Maryana Kodner joins as Partner and Head of US Operations to drive the launch. A former litigator and experienced specialist law firm COO, Maryana brings deep expertise across finance, technology, marketing, HR, and operations and has spent more than two decades as a senior operational leader helping to build and scale some of New York’s leading boutique law firms. She began her career as a litigator in Clifford Chance’s New York office.
Maryana Kodner, Partner and Head of US Operations commented:
“I have seen first-hand the opportunities created when talented lawyers choose to build something of their own. Kindleworth has established itself as the partner of choice for many of the market’s most entrepreneurial founding teams and the firm’s mission of enabling lawyers to launch and grow successful independent practices is one I am deeply passionate about. I am thrilled to be joining the business as it expands into the US.”
Kindleworth has also appointed Anand David, one of the legal sector’s most experienced talent leaders, as Strategic Advisor. Anand has led the recruitment and integration of more than 300 partners and partner-led teams globally during senior roles at Hogan Lovells, White & Case and Morrison Foerster.
Of his role supporting Kindleworth, Anand David said:
“More US partners than ever are choosing to build their own firms. I’m delighted to be working with Kindleworth during this exciting next chapter, as they support leading founder partners make the move.”
Opening in New York represents the next phase of Kindleworth’s mission to help ambitious lawyers build the pre-eminent specialist law firms of tomorrow. The business, which helps founder partner teams design, finance, build and run their new firms, is expanding as the talent market for star partners at leading US firms has seen unprecedented mobility and soaring compensation.
James Hacking, CEO of Kindleworth noted:
“Over the past decade we’ve had a front-row seat to one of the most significant shifts in the legal industry, as leading partners choose to build focused, entrepreneurial firms rather than remain within traditional structures. Increasing numbers of leading partners are leaving major law firms in search of greater autonomy, stronger economics and the freedom to build practices around a focused vision.”
“We see the same forces accelerating across the United States and believe New York is the natural next step for Kindleworth. Our ambition is to help the next generation of elite specialist law firms launch faster, grow stronger and achieve their full potential.”
In 2025, Kindleworth announced a strategic minority investment from Burford Capital, bringing together Burford’s global reach, legal expertise and capital with Kindleworth’s track record of helping entrepreneurial lawyers launch and grow successful firms.
