by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
While a slouching economy and a fiercely competitive job market have left many Americans riffling through the want ads, both larger and specialized, boutique law firms in Jacksonville continue to grow while searching for new blood in the legal community.
“Many of my colleagues are busier than ever,” said Gerald Weedon, a litigator at Marks Gray who specializes in, among other areas, insurance, business torts and real estate. “We currently have two offers out right now.”
Marks Gray, which has been in Jacksonville since 1899, usually operates with approximately 25 attorneys on staff.
Weedon attributed a higher turn around rate for younger associates as one of the primary impetuses behind the healthy hiring period.
“Associates are moving around a lot more than they used to,” said Weedon. “It used to be that if an attorney worked for several different firms, something was wrong. That isn’t necessarily true now. As larger firms move into the area with better offers, attorneys are taking them.”
Weedon stressed that while his firm looks towards recruiting new associates, they also recognize the importance of retaining the attorneys they have now.
“As an attorney gains experience, he or she will become that much more appealing to other practices,” he said.
“Larger firms simply can and do offer more niche opportunities,” said Tim McDermott, a managing partner at Akerman Senterfitt. “In the Southeast, and Florida in particular, there are lots of lateral moves. While a smaller firm may focus on one particular area of practice, a larger one will be able to develop cost effective programs to train attorneys in several different areas.”
Akerman Senterfitt, a general practice firm, operates out of seven cities in Florida, including Jacksonville. Although relatively new to the city — the firm opened its doors in 1999 — the Jacksonville branch has more than doubled the number of attorneys on staff. Currently, 32 are employed at the firm.
McDermott said that the firm’s continued growth is a product of two primary factors.
“Natural growth plays a big part in our expansion,” said McDermott. “We also have to look at marriages with other previously existing practice groups.”
McDermott speculated that, although long term, a legal trend of the future may find fewer smaller firms in existence while larger partnerships grow increasingly more diversified.
“That may be a possibility pretty far down the line,” said McDermott. “However, there will always be a need for boutique firms. Mom-and-pop shops looking for representation in one area can go with a smaller firm and they should.”
“That’s one of the great things about Jacksonville,” said Jason Gabriel, an attorney for Edwards & Cohen. “We’re in a great spot. Even though we’re a smaller, more specialized firm, we’re still looking towards a calculated growth in the near future.” Currently, Edwards & Cohen, which specializes in commercial real estate and financial transfers, retains five attorneys.
“While we’re not looking to bring anyone else on at the moment, it’s still a possibility,” said Gabriel.
He expressed that, although in a national recession, Jacksonville’s continued maturity has played an instrumental role in the thriving legal community here.
“The growth of legal firms essentially reflects what’s happening around them. Thankfully, we still have room to get bigger,” said Gabriel.