Started in 1998 by Timothy Volpe, Michael Bajalia and Leslie Wickes, the firm was originally named Volpe, Bajalia & Wickes. John Rogerson joined the firm a few months later and the name was changed. Daily Record staff writer Michele Newbern Gillis met recently with Volpe, Bajalia and Rogerson to discuss the firm.
WHAT DOES THE FIRM DO?
Insurance law, commercial litigation, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, business and commercial law and personal injury/wrongful death. “We practice primarily complex commercial litigation with a specialty in insurance regulatory matters,” said Bajalia.
WHY OPEN A FIRM?
“Our thought was that there was a need for a litigation boutique-type firm that was small to medium size, but capable of handling the big complex cases against the major law firms,” said Bajalia.”Through the use of technology and expert resources, we are able to compete with the large firms on the complex cases.”
NEW OFFICE?
The firm has opened an office in Tallahassee that will specialize in insurance regulatory cases. “Belinda Miller, who has held a number of positions with the Florida Department of Insurance, is currently the resident partner at our new office,” said Rogerson.
WHO WORKS IN THE FIRM?
Volpe, Bajalia, Wickes, Rogerson, Miller and Clyde W. “Billy” Galloway Jr. are partners. M. Mark Bajalia, Amy Croft, Matthew Lines, W. Gary Yeldell, Bethany Ray and Michael Lee are associates. There are six secretaries, four paralegals, two accounting personnel, one administrator, one receptionist and one messenger.
LOCATION
The firm originally opened in the 121 Atlantic Place building downtown, but moved to the 17th floor of the SouthTrust building on the Southbank about a year and a half ago.
WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS?
The Florida Department of Insurance, American Heritage Life, Sunshine State Insurance Company, Parker Vision and Encore Development Company.
WHY SPECIALIZED?
“We all believe that a specialized practice was the way to go,” said Volpe. “There seem to be two models of law firms, where you either go big, go national and go multi-specialty practice or go focused, small and boutique.”
WILL YOU GROW?
“We really don’t have the desire to get large, we want to stay small and focused,” said Volpe. “The perception has always been that 15-20 attorneys is the biggest we would get.”
NEW OR LATERAL ATTORNEYS?
“We are a young firm,” said Volpe. “We have done both; we’ve hired straight out of law school and we have hired laterally. We tend to lean toward people that have some experience before they get here and who have a desire to do something that we do. That is sometimes hard to know when you come right out of law school.”
WHAT DO YOU
OFFER YOUR CLIENTS?
“The experience and reputation of the people we have working here,” said Volpe. “Even though we are a relatively young firm, all of the partners have been involved in complex business litigation basically their entire careers. I think the primary point of service is being responsive. Some of our clients say that they would prefer to work with a smaller firm where they feel they can get more personalized attention.”
WHAT MAKES
YOUR FIRM UNIQUE?
“The people,” said Volpe. “We have a great group with very little turnover. I think people enjoying what they do makes the difference in how they do it and how well they do it. Our folks here work hard and play hard. They are dedicated to doing the best that they can for our clients.”
WHERE DOES YOUR
WORK COME FROM?
“A lot of our work comes from other law firms here in the city or other law firms all over the country,” said Volpe. “Those kinds of referrals are an important source of our new business.”
CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
“We do ask our people to be involved with civic affairs and we try to encourage that kind of involvement,” said Volpe. “I think all of us have had one or more kinds of civic involvement, either with our church or our local communities.”
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
The women attorneys in the firm are members of the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association. The firm is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Jacksonville Bar Association.
WEBSITE
www.vbwr.com/vbwrwsite.htm