Press Releases

Offit Kurman Welcomes New Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Operating Officer

April 21, 2026
Offit Kurman Welcomes New Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Operating Officer

Am Law 200 firm Offit Kurman is excited to announce the addition of Alex Finkel as Chief Innovation Officer and Christy Walsh as Chief Operating Officer, strengthening the firm’s executive leadership team and reinforcing its commitment to operational excellence, innovation, and long‑term growth.

In his role as Chief Innovation Officer, Finkel will lead firmwide innovation initiatives focused on technology, AI, and operational transformation. He brings more than 20 years of experience building and scaling complex businesses at the intersection of technology, government, and regulated enterprise. A seasoned operator and transformation leader, Finkel has driven enterprise value across product development, engineering, and multi‑site operations in public, private, and private equity–backed environments.

“As the legal industry continues to evolve, innovation must be intentional, practical, and aligned with business outcomes,” Finkel said. “I’m excited to work alongside firm leadership to strengthen our platforms, enhance attorney and client support through technology, and build scalable systems that advance Offit Kurman’s long‑term strategy.”

Christy Walsh will serve as Chief Operating Officer, leading the firm’s operations and driving strategic initiatives to advance growth, performance, and client service. With more than a decade of executive leadership experience in law firm management, Walsh is responsible for aligning the firm’s business and operational functions with its strategic priorities.

“I’m proud to support a firm that values collaboration, accountability, and thoughtful growth,” Walsh said. “My focus will be ensuring our operations effectively support our attorneys and professionals so they can continue delivering outstanding service to our clients.”

“Alex and Christy bring complementary strengths that align with Offit Kurman’s strategic priorities of continued growth, operational excellence, and improvement through innovation,” said Robert Skinner, CEO of Offit Kurman. “Their leadership, operational insight, and focus on execution will help ensure we continue to evolve as a firm while delivering exceptional attorney support and service to our clients.”

Firm Highlights

  • Podcasts
    Artful Donations: Exploring Museum Exchange
    In this episode of The Legal Canvas, host Caryn Keppler welcomes Robert Wainstein and Michael Darling, co-founders of Museum Exchange, the first digital platform dedicated to facilitating art donations to museums and nonprofit institutions across North America. Together, they explore how technology is transforming the way collectors, artists, estates, and cultural organizations connect through charitable giving. Robert and Michael explain the inspiration behind Museum Exchange, the challenges they set out to solve, and how the platform has grown into a network of more than 400 museums. They walk listeners through the donation process—from evaluating artwork and matching donors with institutions to handling logistics, documentation, and tax considerations. Along the way, they discuss the realities of museum collecting, why many donations are declined, and how thoughtful placements can help preserve artists' legacies while expanding access to important works of art. The conversation also explores Museum Exchange's work with living artists, artist estates, hospitals, universities, and smaller regional museums, as well as the launch of the Charis Foundation for the Arts, a nonprofit designed to steward significant collections before placing them with institutions that can best benefit from them. Robert and Michael conclude by sharing their vision for the future of charitable art transactions and how Museum Exchange is helping reshape philanthropy in the arts for generations to come.