Best Places to Work: Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.

by CoVaBizMag

By Eric J. Wallace


150 W. Main St., Suite 2100, Norfolk | 757-624-3000 | KaufCan.com
Founded: 1919
Employees: 220

Kaufman & Canoles Chairman William Van Buren III says he can’t think of a better way to honor the law firm’s centennial than being named one of Coastal Virginia’s top employers.

“One hundred years of hard work and persistence have led us to become the leading business law firm in Hampton Roads,” says Van Buren. Generation after generation of hardworking and ambitious associates have made expansions into eight regional offices possible. Van Buren attributes the success to building a team that, on the whole, exemplifies the company’s core values: “These are forward-thinking, hardworking, progressive, entrepreneurial people with a good moral compass and a can-do spirit.” Talented enough to stand alone, employees recognize they’re even stronger as a team. The unity “creates an energizing, motivating and highly professional work environment. When people are excited to go to work and face new challenges, that keeps turnover rates low and satisfaction high.”

Top-tier benefits and compensation packages, frequent social events—including jeans days, pop-up happy hours, birthday clubs and more—combine with wellness programming, generous bonuses and internal awards and recognition ceremonies to boost the effect. A longstanding commitment to supporting surrounding communities puts the icing on the cake.

Philanthropy was central to the company’s founding and remains so today. To date, Kaufman & Canoles has made donations and/or offered a variety of pro bono aid to more than 100 local and regional causes and nonprofit organizations. The company is celebrating its centennial by making weekly donations throughout 2019 to employee-selected charities.

“These are the communities where we live, work and raise our families,” says Van Buren. As the largest law firm in Hampton Roads, the company aims to spread its success. “We feel an obligation to contribute time, money and effort to create a richer life for all of us.” To that effect, “we actively encourage community involvement—and all of our employees, including management, respond most generously. Whether it’s a children’s organization, support for individuals in need, the arts or another worthwhile endeavor, we’re happy to step up.”

Human Resources Specialist Tiffany Hare says the focus makes her proud to be a Kaufman & Canoles associate. “We already have such a healthy, productive, team-oriented environment,” she says. The collaborations and business successes are rewarding enough. But adding community service to the mix? “That makes me feel like I’m part of something even bigger. I go home feeling so great about my job and what this company stands for. And that’s very refreshing, very unique.”

Kaufman & Canoles Best Places to Work

Kaufman & Canoles employees

Kaufman & Canoles hats

Work Perks

  • Milestone, anniversary, birthday and holiday gifts
  • Year-end discretionary bonuses
  • Profit-sharing plan
  • 25 percent company matching on 401(k) plans up to IRS limits
  • Staff appreciation week
  • Monthly and quarterly team luncheons
  • Staff parties including wine, beer and ice cream socials
  • Casual Fridays in the summer
  • Access to corporate box seats at Tides baseball and Admirals hockey games
  • Wellness programming including Weight Watchers and weight-loss challenges
  • Monthly credit for self-only medical, dental and basic life insurance
  • Health savings and medical reimbursement accounts
  • Dependent care reimbursement
  • Tuition reimbursement

Why I Love My Job:

“Kaufman & Canoles is managed compassionately from the top down. We all know each other and care about one another’s wellbeing. That friendliness and camaraderie creates a real ‘home’ feeling. Regardless of rank or position, your opinions, questions and concerns are going to be heard and respected and responded to promptly and constructively. Working with talented professionals that respect and care about you makes going to work both enjoyable and incredibly rewarding.” —Tiffany Hare, Human Resources Specialist, one year with Kaufman & Canoles

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