Lauren and Scott’s story started like many other lawyer couples, but they ultimately decided they wanted something different.
After meeting in law school and marrying after graduation, they each took positions at large law firms. Scott joined Akerman LLP’s litigation practice group and Lauren took a position with Shutts LLP in its real estate department. “We were both lucky to join top firms, work on high level matters, get great experience, and train under excellent lawyers,” Lauren said. They were each on a path to success at their firms, but they each felt like something was missing.
“We both loved the work, but we wanted more control over our personal and professional lives,” Scott said. Scott, who is an entrepreneur at heart, wanted the ability to make quick decisions on alternative and contingency fee structures, reduce exposure to client conflicts, and invest in the firm and its lawyers without any red tape. Establishing a boutique firm checked all those boxes. “Now, when we see a lawyer delivering great results for clients, we can immediately reward them. When we see business opportunities for the firm, we can immediately seize them. Being nimble enables us to stay ahead of the curve and ensure that our lawyers and clients continue to get what they need as markets, industries and business dynamics undergo rapid change.”
“We also wanted to create a workplace where we could better balance our work lives and personal lives,” Lauren said. The firm’s lawyers are dedicated to doing what it takes to deliver great results for clients, but they cut out many formalities and internal meetings which can take lawyers away from both serving clients and being with their families. “We all focus on making our time at work as productive as possible, so we can all preserve as much personal time as possible. Many of us have experienced lawyer burn out before. Burn out makes it very difficult to do solid and efficient work for clients, or to feel happy at work or at home. We have structured the firm to avoid those outcomes which we think fosters a better long-term proposition for everyone involved,” Scott said.
This structure has been very successful. The firm started with just Scott and Lauren in 2012 and has grown to nine lawyers, including prominent trial lawyers Martin Reeder, a former Greenberg Traurig LLP shareholder, and Joe Galardi, formerly of Steel Hector & Davis LLP. The firm now represents clients in multi-district litigation, class action cases, corporate control controversies, financial fraud claims, media law, executive employment disputes, and other complex business litigation. “While we do not have a headcount target in mind, we are always looking for talented, like-minded lawyers to join us. By keeping our overhead relatively low, we are able to pay our lawyers as much or more than many large firms while still maintaining the flexibility to offer clients lower rates. Many lawyers and clients find our platform attractive for these reasons,” Scott said. “In addition, many of our colleagues who are currently at big firms recognize our prior experience makes us a good fit to work side-by-side with them as co-counsel and represent their clients in conflict cases. We can also sharpen our pencils for referrals which require flexible rate structures which many big firms don’t typically allow,” Lauren added. “We work hard to get good results while remaining respectful of referring attorneys’ relationships.”
It doesn’t hurt that Lauren and Scott have been married for over 15 years and have had a long time to figure each other out. “We all agree on a lot and listen to each other when we have different views. We feel lucky to have built a firm where everyone’s voice can be heard,” Lauren said.