A.Y. Strauss Appoints John J. Bono as COO Amid 2026 Hiring of 15 Attorneys

A.Y. Strauss has appointed John J. Bono as Chief Operating Officer, the firm said in an announcement covered by Pulse 2.0 on October 28, 2026. Bono brings more than 25 years of experience in law firm management, financial performance, technology, operations and strategic growth. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer and senior business executive at Barry McTiernan & Moore.

Bono's Prior Roles at Barry McTiernan and A&O Shearman

At Barry McTiernan & Moore, Bono led finance, human resources, information technology, marketing, facilities, administration and firm operations. Before that, he was Global Director of Management Reporting & Analysis and Financial Systems at A&O Shearman, where he worked with executive leadership on enterprise reporting, financial planning, business intelligence, technology modernization and strategic initiatives. Earlier in his career, Bono held finance leadership positions at JPMorgan Chase and other global financial institutions.

In his new role, Bono will work with A.Y. Strauss leadership to oversee business operations and support the firm's expansion. Aaron Y. Strauss, Managing Partner at A.Y. Strauss, said: "John has spent his career helping major law firms and financial institutions operate at the highest level. His experience and judgment will be invaluable as we continue to expand our practices and our footprint, and we're delighted to have him as part of our leadership team."

The appointment comes as the firm adds 15 attorneys and 12 business professionals in 2026. A.Y. Strauss operates offices in Livingston and Hackensack, New Jersey, as well as New York City, and advises clients on commercial transactions and litigation, including real estate, construction, employment, cannabis, family law, environmental matters, corporate law and bankruptcy. Bono holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the City University of New York. The firm's announcement describes his addition as bringing experience across law firm operations, financial management, technology systems and large-scale organizational strategy.

Legal Leadership Changes at Fox and Landmark Group

Other organizations have announced senior legal leadership changes in recent days. Yahoo reported on October 27, 2026, that Fox Corporation will have Adam Ciongoli step down as Chief Legal and Policy Officer on December 1, 2026, with Nicholas Trutanich becoming General Counsel. Hrtoday reported on October 26, 2026, that Landmark Group appointed Manish Yadav as Chief Legal Officer, bringing nearly 30 years of legal and corporate leadership experience, after he served as General Counsel at Terra Firma Capital Partners and held senior roles at McDonald's and Johnson & Johnson.

Fox Sets December 1 Transition Date

Fox Corporation's change takes effect on December 1, 2026, when Ciongoli steps down and Trutanich becomes General Counsel, according to Yahoo.