Pinkston and Pinkston is a small law firm with offices in Riverside.
MEET THE OFFICE
The firm has three attorneys — David Pinkston, Eileen Dolaghan and Jerrett McConnell — and four staff members — receptionist Darleen Solomon and paralegals, Aaron Loudermilk, Venita King and Jennifer Bondgren.
ARE THEY LOOKING
TO EXPAND?
“At this point, we have no plans to do so,” said Pinkston. “We’d like to keep it a boutique-type practice.”
WHAT IS THEIR AREA
OF PRACTICE?
“We specialize in bankruptcy matters, corporate and consumer, mostly on the debtor side,” he said. “Everybody’s focus is very narrow, strictly on bankruptcy matters. There are many issues inside that broad heading.”
WHY THOSE AREAS?
“It’s all I’ve ever known,” said Pinkston. “The firm, as we know it, has been around since the mid-1980s. My father started the firm, specializing in bankruptcy. He had been practicing for some time before. About 10 years ago, I decided to go into practice with him. He passed away in March. It’s a nice area; it helps people.”
ATTORNEY EXPERIENCE?
“I had a varied career before I ended up here,” said Dolaghan. “I taught school [elementary education] for 10 years in Duval County. I graduated from the University of Florida with a microbiology degree. At night, I went to Florida Coastal [School of Law]. The only other legal experience I’ve had was interning with a magistrate judge. As soon as I passed the bar, I started here. I’ve been here three years.”
WHY MAJOR IN MICROBIOLOGY?
“My father pushed for me to go to medical school. It was never my heart’s desire.”
WHY GO FROM
EDUCATION TO LAW?
“It was something I always wanted to do. At the time, it wasn’t a possibility to go to law school but then the opportunity opened up. My situation had changed. I enjoyed teaching but I love what I do now.”
THEIR MAIN GOAL?
“To be on top of things and adapt to bankruptcy reform or changes in the law and still provide service and quality representation,” said Dolaghan.
“I’ve been hearing for years about reforming the bankruptcy code,” said Pinkston. “It, and how to adapt, continues to be the biggest thing on the horizon. But it hasn’t happened yet.”
WHERE DID PINKSTON GO TO LAW SCHOOL AND WHY?
The University of Miami. “This is all I’ve ever known and all I’d ever wanted to do. My father has been in law for as long as I’ve been alive. I used to go to work with him a lot, just as my daughter does with me now. I saw the way he made a difference and it was appealing to me.”
WHAT ABOUT MCCONNELL’S BACKGROUND?
“Jerrett graduated from the University of South Carolina,” said Dolaghan. “He got a biology degree and taught for a little while. He went to law school at the University of South Carolina, worked at CSX and then started practicing as an attorney at Bray & Singletary for about six months. He’s been with us a little over a year.”
HAVE THEY ALWAYS BEEN AT THIS LOCATION?
“No,” said Pinkston. “We were downtown next to the federal courthouse for a number of years to benefit from the proximity. We’ve been here since 2000.”
WHY MOVE TO RIVERSIDE?
“Downtown was undergoing a makeover. Where we were, we knew it was going to be made into a parking lot so we got out of downtown. Plus, we like the area a little better.”
HOW HIGH TECH IS BANKRUPTCY LAW?
“The last couple of years we’ve converted to a new technology,” said Pinkston.
“The court has now transitioned to the electronic filing,” said Dolaghan. “We’ve implemented all the technology that is necessary and we’ll operate that way
once the court is ready to accept electronic filing from attorneys. We’re looking at August to September for that to start. The firm is very progressive in keeping up with technology. It makes us more efficient.”
“We can do more with less,” added Pinkston.
DO THEY PROVIDE FINANCIAL COUNSELING FOR NON-CLIENTS?
“Mostly, it’s education when they’re here on what to do instead of what’s been done,” said Pinkston. “As far as credit [counseling], in reality, that doesn’t work very well for the people that come in here. Their funds are so tight. Bankruptcy can help modify their debt so it’s affordable and get them back on their feet without losing everything.”
“When people come in here, it’s not a foregone conclusion that they need to file bankruptcy,” said Dolaghan. “If other options are available, we will give that to them.”
DOES A PERSON HAVE TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY TO FILE?
“No,” said Pinkston. “Should they? Yes. It’s almost financially irresponsible not to have one. We can get involved for a fairly small amount to help them navigate the bankruptcy. The success rate is a lot higher.”
HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM THE COMPETITION?
“We provide a high level of customer service,” said Pinkston. “The attorney-to-client exposure is really maximized. They deal almost exclusively with attorneys as opposed to being pushed off on paralegals.”
“Working here is not like a regular old law office,” said Dolaghan. “We have genuine concern for each other and that translates into how we deal with our clients.”
“We work normal hours and are very family-oriented,” added Pinkston. “It’s a very balanced week for everybody. They have a personal life outside of the office. We try to keep people sane.”
A great stress reliever for him is the antics of his miniature Italian Greyhound, Che-Che. She goes to work with him every day. “The clients love her,” he said.
— by Monica Chamness