One Hundred Years of History
In 1919, a new law firm opened in Norfolk. And while the Kaufman firm was small, it was committed to achieving big goals—to serve the community, to provide legal excellence and to give clients the responsive service they deserved.
One hundred-plus years later, Kaufman & Canoles is a proud testament to this legacy. Our roots can be found in two well-respected Norfolk law firms: Kaufman & Oberndorfer and Canoles, Mastracco, Martone, Barr and Russell (which was founded by Leroy T. Canoles in 1951). Kaufman & Canoles was created on January 1, 1982 through the merger of these two distinguished firms.
Our rich history and our deep roots speak to our experience, relationships and ability to adapt to a changing world. At Kaufman & Canoles "We can. And we will." is more than a tagline. It is a mindset that guides our work every day. It reflects our confidence in our capabilities, our commitment to our clients, and our determination to find solutions even in the most complex matters. It is the promise to show up, lean in and deliver results through hard work, collaboration and excellence. This unwavering believe in what we can achieve together has carried us through more than century and continues to shape the way to serve our clients and our communities today.
- 1919
Charles L. Kaufman begins practicing law in Norfolk, Virginia
- 1951
Leroy T. Canoles, Jr., begins practicing law in Norfolk, Virginia
- 1962
Kaufman, Oberndorfer, Spainhour & Hall law firm forms and establishes an office at the 515 National Bank of Commerce Building
- 1966
Canoles, Mastracco & Martone law firm forms and establishes an office at the 420 Royster Building
- 1982
Kaufman & Oberndorfer merges with Canoles, Mastracco, Martone, Barr & Russell to form Kaufman & Canoles
- 1985
The Virginia Beach, Virginia, office opens with the addition of Thomas C. Broyles
- 1985
Charles L. Kaufman dies, leaving a lasting legacy of civic leadership that helped shape and modernize Norfolk through redevelopment, housing, and key civic institutions
- 1987
The Newport News, Virginia, office opens with the acquisition of Kamp and Kamp
- 1998
The Chesapeake, Virginia, office opens under the leadership of J. Randy Forbes
- 1999
The Williamsburg, Virginia, office opens with the addition of Alvin P. Anderson and several associates
- 2000
The Hampton office opens with the addition of Lawrence G. Cumming and Philip L. Hatchett
- 2002
The Richmond, Virginia, office opens in the James Center building in downtown Richmond
- 2002
The Firm's headquarters moves to the newly built 150 W. Main Street in Norfolk, Virginia
- 2007
Leroy T. Canoles, Jr., retires after a distinguished legal career marked by trusted counsel to businesses and deep civic engagement at the highest levels
- 2009
Leroy T. Canoles, Jr., dies, leaving a legacy of integrity, leadership, and community involvement that helped shape the region for decades
- 2013
The firm is the recipient of the Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Award for collecting the largest per capita donation of food during Virginia’s 7th Annual Legal Food Frenzy
- 2014
The Tysons Corner, Virginia, office opens, expanding the firm's footprint to Northern Virginia
- 2019
The Firm celebrates its 100th anniversary and is awarded the prestigious Corporate Darden Award by the CIVIC Leadership Institute
- 2021
The Raleigh, North Carolina, office opens to better serve clients in the Research Triangle with on-the-ground legal support
- The Future
As Kaufman & Canoles continues to evolve, our focus remains constant—delivering exceptional client service, building trusted relationships, and maintaining a lasting commitment to the communities we serve across the Mid-Atlantic
