FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CLEVELAND, OH & PITTSBURGH, PA – The partners of Walter Haverfield and Bernstein-Burkley have agreed to merge, effective February 1, 2026. The combined firm will operate under the name WH Burkley. Kirk Burkley has been elected Managing Partner of the firm.
The merger brings together two established, middle‑market, business‑focused law firms, principally dedicated to core areas of competency in real estate, bankruptcy and restructuring, creditors’ rights, corporate transactions, commercial litigation, labor and employment, tax, and private wealth. This focus, complemented by differentiated, sector-specific capabilities in cannabis, liquor control, hospitality, and oil and gas, carries forward a disciplined growth strategy independently articulated by both firms over the last few years, and perfectly aligns with the needs of our clients across sectors and geographies.
The combined firm will include more than 70+ lawyers across offices located in Ohio (Cleveland, Mayfield, Columbus), Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh), and West Virginia (Wheeling).
“Bernstein-Burkley has achieved substantial and sustained growth since I joined in 2002, including the strategic addition of the attorneys, practices, and offices needed to provide enhanced service to our clients,” said Burkley, Managing Partner of the Pittsburgh-based Bernstein-Burkley. “However, this merger is more than another expansion of our footprint and collective capabilities. It’s a progressive step toward the calculated development of a modern, midsized law firm with an unwavering commitment to our clients, culture, and people.”
Josh Hurtuk, Interim Managing Partner of Walter Haverfield, added, “Walter Haverfield has emphasized a deliberate focus on our principal practice groups, and an investment in the attorneys and leaders driving our vision forward. Our merger with Bernstein-Burkley, the most significant transaction in our 94-year history, reinforces this commitment to clarity, focus, and client-aligned growth.”
Leadership from both firms played a significant role in shaping the merger and will guide the combined organization going forward. Attorneys and executive staff will assume key management roles on firm committees, practice groups, and partner-in-charge positions across offices.
We feel the leading practices at Walter Haverfield and Bernstein-Burkley are counter-cyclical, yet complementary – an advantage that strengthens our ability to serve clients across changing market conditions and geographies. Together, we will continue to invest in the practices and people that define WH Burkley, deepening the impact and service that clients expect from their legal partners.
We are excited for what’s next.
Walter Haverfield is a leading business-focused law firm located in Cleveland, Mayfield, and Columbus with core areas of competency in real estate, corporate transactions, commercial litigation, labor and employment, tax, and private wealth, as well as differentiated, sector-specific capabilities in cannabis, liquor control, and hospitality. Founded in 1932, the firm is continually recognized for providing sophisticated transactional and litigation guidance to publicly traded companies and privately held businesses, as well as financial institutions, private equity sponsors, executives, and high-net-worth individuals. www.walterhav.com
Bernstein-Burkley is a leading Pittsburgh-based law firm, with additional offices in Cleveland, Ohio, and Wheeling, West Virginia. Founded in 1967, the firm has built a local and national reputation for delivering strategic, results-driven counsel in complex bankruptcy and restructuring, creditors’ rights, corporate, litigation, real estate, and oil and gas matters. www.bernsteinlaw.com
Media Inquiries:
Seth Apple | sapple@walterhav.com