{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-05/kaplan-kirsch-los-angeles-office","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-05/kaplan-kirsch-los-angeles-office.md","title":"Kaplan Kirsch Opens Los Angeles Office With Three Hires","headline":"Kaplan Kirsch Opens Fifth US Office in Los Angeles With Three-Person Team","description":"Kaplan Kirsch opened a Los Angeles office with three hires, bringing its platform to 65 attorneys across five cities.","section":"Expansion","published_at":"2026-11-05T19:12:17+00:00","modified_at":"2026-11-05T19:12:17+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["Kaplan Kirsch opened a Los Angeles office with partner Anna Hermelin, senior counsel Shmel Graham and junior team member Rosie Rios.","The office is the firm's fifth in the United States and brings its platform to 65 attorneys across five cities.","LA Metro is delivering a capital program exceeding $35 billion, and Los Angeles County is accelerating infrastructure work ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games."],"companies":[{"name":"Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell LLP","is_primary":true,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/000fkk4/kaplan-kirsch-rockwell-llp","website":"https://www.kaplankirsch.com"}],"source":{"publisher":"Pulse 2.0","title":"Kaplan Kirsch Expands National Infrastructure Practice With New Los Angeles Office And Three-Person Team","url":"https://pulse2.com/kaplan-kirsch-expands-national-infrastructure-practice-with-new-los-angeles-office-and-three-person-team/"},"other_sources":[{"publisher":"EIN Presswire","url":"https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/953973047/steptoe-s-expanded-new-york-office-opens-at-1133-avenue-of-the-americas"},{"publisher":"The UK","url":"https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/2181263-people-napthens-gm-chamber-lowick-hedry-weareninety-sherwen-studios"}],"tags":["Expansion","Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell LLP"],"body_markdown":"Kaplan Kirsch LLP has opened a Los Angeles office with partner Anna Hermelin, senior counsel Shmel Graham and junior team member Rosie Rios, its fifth U.S. office and a platform of 65 attorneys across five cities. [Pulse 2.0](https://pulse2.com/kaplan-kirsch-expands-national-infrastructure-practice-with-new-los-angeles-office-and-three-person-team/) reported the expansion on November 5, 2026.\n\n## Inside Kaplan Kirsch's Los Angeles Launch\n\n[Kaplan Kirsch](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/000fkk4/kaplan-kirsch-rockwell-llp) is a national law firm focused on infrastructure, transportation, energy and related sectors, founded in 2003, that advises public agencies and other stakeholders on major infrastructure development. The new office adds capabilities in complex project delivery, alternative procurement models, transportation and public policy, and brings the firm's attorneys to Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.\n\nHermelin joins from Ashurst with 18 years of experience advising on infrastructure projects across the United States, Europe and Asia. Her practice covers project structuring, financing, procurement and delivery across rail and transit systems, airports, roadways, energy facilities and social infrastructure, including public-private partnerships, progressive design-build, traditional design-build, and construction manager/general contractor and construction manager at risk arrangements. She has been individually recognized in the Projects: PPP category by Chambers Global and Chambers USA.\n\nGraham also joins from Ashurst with experience in transportation, government contracting, strategic agreements and public policy. A Los Angeles native, she will work across the firm's Projects Funding and Delivery, Rail and Transit, and Government and Public Policy practices.\n\n\"Anna and Shmel are significant additions because of what their experience allows us to offer our clients,\" said Bob Randall, managing partner at Kaplan Kirsch LLP. \"Anna brings a global perspective on project delivery, while Shmel understands how major projects move through the public-sector and policy environment in Los Angeles.\"\n\n## Kaplan Kirsch's Chambers Rankings and Government Bench\n\nAccording to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data), the firm secured Chambers and Partners 2026 Band 1 rankings in Colorado for Environment and Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use and in California for Native American Law, plus Band 3 national rankings in Projects: PPP, Native American Law, Transportation: Aviation: Regulatory and a new Band 3 in Transportation: Rail. The same records show the firm hired three senior attorneys from federal government roles in June 2025. Nearly half of Kaplan Kirsch's attorneys have previously worked in government, including senior positions across federal, state and local agencies, the firm said.\n\n## Steptoe and Napthens Office Moves\n\n[Steptoe LLP](https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/953973047/steptoe-s-expanded-new-york-office-opens-at-1133-avenue-of-the-americas) moved its New York office to 1133 Avenue of the Americas, a 1.1 million-square-foot Class A tower, EIN Presswire reported on November 2, 2026, after adding nearly three dozen lawyers in two years. Napthens marked its first year in Manchester with an expanding team and broader legal services, [The UK](https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/2181263-people-napthens-gm-chamber-lowick-hedry-weareninety-sherwen-studios) reported on October 22, 2026, with Krista Powell leading the office alongside partners Amy Harris and Sven Clarke.\n\n## Southern California Infrastructure Demand\n\nLA Metro is delivering a capital program exceeding $35 billion, and Los Angeles County is accelerating transportation and infrastructure development ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the firm said. Kaplan Kirsch's [own announcement](https://www.kaplankirsch.com) describes the office as strengthening its ability to advise clients nationally on complex project delivery.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}