Firm History

Founding and Early Years

Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP traces its roots to 1938, when three prominent Cleveland attorneys and civic leaders — Alfred A. Benesch, Jerome M. Friedlander and I. Robert Morris — established the firm under the name Benesch, Friedlander & Morris.

From the beginning, the founders shared a commitment to exceptional legal counsel, civic leadership and improving their community, which are values that continue to define Benesch today.

The Founders

Alfred A. Benesch (1879–1973)

A respected attorney and civic leader, Alfred Benesch dedicated his life to both the law and public service. After graduating from law school in 1903, he quickly became a fixture in Cleveland’s civic life, starting with his appointment as acting judge of Cleveland’s police court.

• Public Service & Leadership:
  • • Elected to City Council (1911)
    • Became Cleveland’s safety director under Mayor Newton D. Baker (1914)
    • Appointed by governor as Ohio’s director of commerce, where he oversaw the restructuring of many struggling financial institutions during the Great Depression (1935)
    • Named director of rent control for the Cleveland area during World War II by the Office of Price Administration (1942)
    • Elected to Cleveland Board of Education, including three terms serving as president (1925 to 1962). In recognition of his lifelong dedication, the board renamed his alma mater, Outhwaite School, from which he graduated in 1891, as the Alfred A. Benesch Elementary School.

Jerome M. Friedlander (1900-1993)

Jerome Friedlander was known for his sharp dealmaking and entrepreneurial spirit. Widely respected across the Cleveland area as a successful and innovative real estate lawyer, he generated much of the firm’s early business and helped establish Benesch’s strong transactional foundation.

I. Robert Morris

Robert Morris was a trial lawyer, handling all of the firm’s litigation. He was deeply involved in civic causes, holding leadership roles in several social service agencies. He left the practice of law in the 1940s to pursue business interests and, after World War II, administered the Marshall Plan in Italy for several years before returning to the firm in the 1960s as of counsel.

A New Era of Growth

Robert C. Coplan Joins the Firm

In 1945, Robert C. Coplan, Alfred Benesch’s nephew and a former naval aviator during WWII, joined the firm upon his discharge from the military. At the time, the firm had only four lawyers, none of whom had tax expertise. Though newly graduated from law school, Coplan quickly distinguished himself by mastering tax and corporate law, taking accounting courses at night at Cleveland College (the predecessor of Cleveland State University) and a tax correspondence course from the Practising Law Institute.

Coplan’s philosophy reshaped Benesch’s direction. His client-first mindset and focus on practical problem-solving became hallmarks of the firm. He mentored younger lawyers and taught them to:

• Put the client’s needs first. Understand their problems are paramount and communicate effectively to get to the root of their needs.
• Understand the client’s business from the inside out. If the client is in real estate, for example, go out and look at the property; if the client is in manufacturing, go through the plant and learn how the product is made; you cannot get the feel for advising without seeing.
• Offer advice that is both technically sound and commercially practical.
• Get the deal done; make it happen.

These tenets remain the foundation of Benesch’s practice today.

A Legacy of Education and Community

Like Alfred Benesch, Coplan believed passionately in the power of education. In 1967, he founded Cleveland Scholarship Programs, now known as College Now Greater Cleveland (CNGC), to help “B and C students” — those often overlooked for traditional scholarships — attend and succeed in college. It was Coplan’s proudest professional achievement.

Believed to be the first organization of its kind in the nation, CNGC has an extensive staff of employees who function in the majority of high schools in Greater Cleveland, assisting students with the college application process, providing financial aid and counseling students all the way through their college careers. 

Since its founding, CNGC has helped more than 240,000 students and awarded over $48 million in scholarships. It remains a national model for college access programs. Benesch and its partners continue to support CNGC through board representation and financial contributions, honoring Coplan’s vision and legacy.

Passing the Torch

In 1958, George N. Aronoff became the first of Coplan’s protégés to join the firm. As Coplan began to transition out of active practice in the 1970s, Aronoff seamlessly took the reins. In recognition of this next chapter, the firm adopted its current name, Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP, in 1975.

Looking Ahead

From a three-attorney partnership in 1938 to a national law firm serving clients across industries and geographies, Benesch continues to honor the spirit of its founders, blending legal excellence with civic engagement and an unwavering commitment to clients.

 

To view Benesch's 50th Anniversary (1988) brochure, please click here.