Kleinberg Kaplan Appoints Chief Operating Officer, Completing Evolution of Its Business Leadership Team

Elevation of Jason Mulgrew to COO and Noelle Obermueller to Chief HR/Talent Officer rounds out bench of professional leaders at law firm, including new business development head and operations director

New York (July 23, 2025) – Top private investment funds law firm Kleinberg Kaplan has made several new senior appointments, expanding the firm’s business leadership team and reflecting its forward-thinking approach to the evolving opportunities and demands in the legal market.

Legal industry veteran Jason Mulgrew has been elevated to the firm’s chief operating officer, a new firmwide role. He was most recently the firm’s chief business development and strategy officer.

Mr. Mulgrew joined Kleinberg Kaplan in 2019 following a nearly 20-year stint in Big Law, including leadership posts in business development and marketing groups at Sullivan & Cromwell, Morgan Lewis, and Cadwalader. In his prior role at Kleinberg Kaplan, Mr. Mulgrew established and strengthened the firm’s business development and marketing functions, and played a key role in firmwide strategic planning. In his new position as COO, he will oversee business operations and focus on enhancements to client service in order to provide even greater value to firm clients.

At the same time, Noelle Obermueller, formerly director of human resources, was promoted to chief human resources and talent officer. She joined Kleinberg Kaplan in 2022, having previously served as head of HR for seventeen years at the firm formerly known as Richards Kibbe & Orbe. As HR and talent chief, she will be responsible for leading professional development and recruitment efforts, as well as for oversight of all human resources-related functions.

A new addition to the senior team, Alex Patterson, arrived in May as director of operations, after holding similar roles at Goldman Sachs and Wachtell Lipton. He brings particular expertise in real estate and risk management, in addition to operations.

The firm also recently welcomed Amy Goldman as business development director. Ms. Goldman previously was BD director at leading white-collar litigation firm Morvillo Abramowitz; like Mr. Mulgrew, she brings many years of Big Law business development experience to Kleinberg Kaplan.

Rounding out the firm’s business team are chief financial officer Joseph Messina and chief information officer Jamie Krempa, both Kleinberg Kaplan veterans.

“We’re delighted at how seamlessly our senior business team has come together with a talented set of professionals, who each have shown that they are able to deliver value to our clients,” said managing partner Andrew Chonoles. “We will continue to prioritize client service and client relationships in our next phase of growth, and believe that our culture of collaboration, excellence and respect, along with the leaders now in place, will keep us moving forward across all phases of our business.”

Noting Mr. Mulgrew’s appointment as operations chief, Mr. Chonoles added, “We’re especially pleased to elevate Jason as our COO, giving him oversight of day-to-day operations. Jason is a strategic, highly creative thinker with a proven track record of making a positive impact not only at our firm but throughout his career. His ‘clients-first’ attitude resonates with our approach to the practice of law, and we look to him to help drive continued innovation and market excellence.”

“Kleinberg Kaplan holds a unique position in the legal space as a boutique-sized firm with all the talent, assets and depth of sophistication of Big Law,” Mr. Mulgrew said. “Every day, we are seeing how our offering, along with our creativity in pricing and lean staffing models with significant partner-level attention, resonates with both long-time and new clients. Kleinberg Kaplan is a special place to work, and I’m excited about my new role as COO and for the future of the firm.”

About Kleinberg Kaplan

Described as “Wall Street’s best-kept secret” (The Legal 500: United States), Kleinberg Kaplan is a premier, award-winning boutique law firm that provides practical, business-minded legal counsel to investors, entrepreneurs and other industry leaders. With a national and international reputation for representation of private funds, the firm serves an impressive roster of clients, including investment funds and companies at all stages of their life cycles, as well as a wide variety of real estate investors, family offices and high-net-worth individuals. Kleinberg Kaplan provides a full-service platform that combines extensive Big Law experience with the personalized attention of a boutique firm, true teamwork and an entrepreneurial culture attuned to investments, building businesses and transforming ideas into successful companies. To learn more please visit www.kkwc.com.