In 1932, at the height of the Great Depression, Irving “Bob” Coopersmith graduated from New York University Law School. His only job offer was clerking for $5 a week, the going rate for law school graduates during the depression. Irving, who was never known for risk taking, believed he could do better. He “hung out a shingle” and founded Coopersmith & Coopersmith, which has continued to serve clients for over 80 years.

Irving’s primary goal was to provide excellent legal service to his clients at affordable prices.

Starting with absolutely nothing, Irving built the practice through hard work and dedication to his clients. The mental toughness required to start a law firm at the height of the Great Depression continues within the offices of Coopersmith & Coopersmith today.

One of Irving’s very first cases made history and proved to be a landmark case, influencing future court rulings. In that case, a trademark case, Irving led his client to victory over the American Tobacco Company which argued that the use of logo “LS/MFT” (“Leef-Shniebolk Means Fine Tomatoes”) infringed on its use of that logo by its Lucky Strike brand of cigarettes (Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco).

Irving subsequently built a successful real estate practice with many transactions noted in the New York Times.

Because of the ongoing success of the practice and his close relationship with his son, Irving invited Richard to join the firm. Richard previously spent twelve years at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the firm when he joined in 1977.

In 2012, the third Coopersmith, Hal Coopersmith, joined the firm 80 years after Irving first “hung out his shingle” thus ensuring continuing quality representation for many decades to come.