The firm opened its doors in 1998 when Ralph Merzbach left the mid-sized Rochester law firm where he had enjoyed a successful and rewarding business law practice for more than twenty years, to begin what was then a solo practice.

The mission, then as now, was to practice excellent business law, but with a sensible, problem-solving approach that aligns closely with clients' schedules, business processes and strategic goals. From the beginning, growth has been driven organically by accretion to our client base and volume, not by design; as such, our incentive remains serving the real needs of existing clients rather than finding new revenue sources. The firm's strategic goal continues to be to cover the legal territory that is of core interest to businesses and their owners, and to institutionalize skills, work habits and methods that support businesslike approaches to business law projects.