A Bible and an Our Daily Bread devotional are two of the things visitors first notice when they arrive at the firm. “We are a Christian firm,” said Frank Keasler, founder and managing partner. “We don’t wear it on our sleeves, but it permeates everything we do. We believe that by being men and women that give regard to our creator, we will be better lawyers. We believe it makes us better lawyers, more enlightened lawyers and more envisioned lawyers.”
WHEN WAS THE
OFFICE FOUNDED?
In 1993, by Frank R. Keasler Jr., who started the firm after leaving the practice of law for a few years to run a golf company, ProQuip, which makes Gore-Tex rainwear. In 1999, Keasler teamed with long-time friend and colleague Alan Henderson to form Henderson Keasler Law Firm.
LOCATION
In 1996, Keasler moved to San Pablo office park from Southpoint. In 1998, he bought a lot in the same park and designed a new building. Keasler and a partner own the building. In 2000, they moved into the new facility, which is 10,000 square feet. The firm occupies 4,000 square feet and leases the rest.
WHAT DOES KEASLER DO?
“I run the firm, plan the firm’s future, guide the firm’s attention to the areas of practice and market that we want to be involved in.”
WHAT DOES THE FIRM DO?
“We are a business tax commercial firm. People come to us and say they want to start a business or buy a business and we show them how to do it. They also come to us with various real property, development issues, purchase or sales issues and we show them how to transact their affairs. We tend to be project oriented lawyers.”
WHO WORKS IN THE FIRM?
Keasler and Curtis Stodghill are partners and handle the business and corporate development. Alan Henderson and Robert Sturgess are partners and handle the litigation department. Michelle Zerza is the director of business and finance and Jessica Walker is the office administrator. They also have two paralegals and two secretaries.
NEW COMPANY?
Walker and Zerza are preparing to market a company the firm has formed, Business Books, an accounting company.
CLIENTS
The firm acts as counsel for a number of public and private companies and individuals, including those engaged in hospitality, construction, real estate development, technology and other operations. Other clients include restaurants, hotels, manufacturers, retailers, mom-and-pop businesses and individual entrepreneurs needing assistance in establishing initial legal and business models.
WHAT DO YOU OFFER
YOUR CLIENTS?
“Competence and trust, all at a very fair price. The full thrust of everything we do here is driven to enhance our client’s bottom line because our clients are all small and medium businesses, closely-held wealth and entrepreneurs. We want to be value-added lawyers.”
ARE YOU PLANNING ON GROWING THE FIRM?
“We are extending an offer to Doug Maxwell, who is the former general counsel for CSX Transportation. He is a 25-year practicing lawyer who wants to get back in the practice of law rather than run a 50-member legal department.” They are also currently interviewing associates and would like to grow the firm to be a seven to 12 member firm.
NEW OR LATERAL ATTORNEYS
Both. “We want to fill certain areas that we don’t have an expertise in that we need to have an expertise in and the laterals work better there. We’ve thought of having a land use lawyer, securities lawyer, commercial lending/real estate transaction lawyer come in full-time. On the embryonic side, we need some young blood. Young men dream dreams and old men have visions. We want some of the bright young minds to be in this firm.”
WHY OPEN AN OFFICE NEAR THE BEACH?
“We believed that this was a growth area. It was a landmark, good growth area and a good investment. Anybody can find their way here; we just say we are right next to the Mayo Clinic.”
WHAT MAKES YOUR
FIRM UNIQUE?
“What makes us different is that we have our head lifted up looking down the road for our clients and the money doesn’t matter to us. The fees are incidental to our existence; they are not the object of it. Our egos and persons are fulfilled as lawyers by dreaming the dream, creating the vision for the client and being a part of bringing that vision to fruition.”
WHERE DO YOUR CLIENTS COME FROM?
“The yellow pages. We have several ads that are very inconspicuous. We believe the Lord will continue to bless us as long as we are faithful stewards of the talents and the people’s lives that he brings across our plate.”
WHAT AREA DOES The FIRM SERVE?
Northeast Florida.
CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
The firm makes a major contribution to the Edward Halfacre Memorial Golf Tournament. The tournament supports the youth golf program at the James Weldon Johnson YMCA.
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
The firm is a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association and The Florida Bar. Each attorney is active in their own way in different sections of the Bar.
WEBSITE
www.hklf.com.
— by Michele Newbern Gillis