BMO US Private Wealth is doubling down on a key market segment with a big, bold and bicoastal recruitment move.

The private wealth subsidiary of BMO Financial Group – one of Canada's six largest lenders and the eighth largest bank in North America, with a reported $1.4 trillion in assets as of July 31 – announced the expansion of its Law Firm Group with seasoned professionals in California and New York.

The 18 new hires bring over 150 years of combined experience to the wealth management division, specializing in providing comprehensive services to lawyers and law firms across the US.

"We are thrilled to welcome this extraordinary group of talented wealth professionals to our Law Firm Group at BMO,” Kevin Barnes, head of North American private wealth management at BMO said in a statement. “The law firm market segment continues to be a critical part of our wealth strategy, and we have assembled a dedicated and best-in-class team to serve it."

The new hires and their divisions include:

Legal Advisory Group Leadership team

• Joe Ryan – New York
• Owen Ellsworth – New York
• Lee Pelayo – California

Private Wealth Advisors

• Ben Carr – California
• Robyn Del Fierro – California
• Colette Law – California
• Adam Knott – California
• Tom McGuire – New York
• John Mitchell – California
• Michael Orans – New York
• Erica Palmer – New York

Investments

• Randy Lachman (Investments Leader) – California
• Kalpana Krishnan – New York
• Margaret Reid – California
• Kamran Sadr – New York

Planning

• Luke Hadzima (Planning Leader) – New York
• Matthew Adams – New York
• Melissa Mao – New York

They have served as trusted advisors to some of the largest law firms not only in the United States but also in the UK and Europe, which BMO said "[extends its] sight to seamless coverage globally."

The newly bolstered team includes private wealth advisors, private bankers, wealth planners, and portfolio managers who will work under Michele Havens, BMO's  newly appointed head of US Private Wealth. Havens most recently served as West Region president at Northern Trust Wealth Management, a position the firm has refilled as it announced two key leadership appointments on Tuesday afternoon. 

With a service history that stretches back over more than four decades, BMO's Law Firm Group offers an array of services, including banking, trust, deposit, treasury management, and investment solutions, tailored specifically to legal professionals.

BMO Financial Group, recognized as the eighth-largest bank in North America by assets, reported total assets of $1.4 trillion as of July 31, 2024.