by Kent Jennings Brockwell
Staff Writer
Having just moved in last week, their offices are still cluttered with packed boxes and unshelved books but attorneys Geddes Anderson and Niels Murphy say they are ready for business at their newly created law firm, Murphy and Anderson P.A.
From the 13th floor of the 550 Building on Water Street, Murphy and Anderson have a thrilling view of Jacksonville but their new venture is what has them really excited.
“Basically, Geddes and I decided to try it on our own,” Murphy said. “It was a goal of ours to do this in our careers and we are just trying to start out fresh.”
For the past five years, Murphy and Anderson have worked together at Liles, Gavin Constantino and Murphy. After working together for the extended period, the two realized that they had a lot of common work related habits, ideas and career goals, which helped make their decision to go out on their own a lot easier, they said.
“We worked closely together for five years at the Liles firm so we knew what we were getting into,” Anderson said. “I am confident in his abilities and he is confident in mine. We have a great working relationship.”
“We have a similar work ethic,” Murphy said, “and a similar outlook and methodology and that is very important. We are a similar age, we both have two kids and we have similar outlooks so it is a really good match for us to be partners.”
Murphy jokes that he and Anderson get along so well as business partners they have never had a bad word between themselves.
“I don’t think we have ever had an argument in five years which is pretty good,” Murphy said. “That would be pretty good to say about a marriage, if you didn’t get into an argument in five years, but in a business partnership it is even better.”
“We are in this together,” Anderson said. “That is for sure.”
The new firm will practice a variety of law including securities disputes, professional liability, personal injury and criminal defense, but Murphy said product liability will be one of the firm’s mainstays.
“Product liability will be a big part of our practice,” he said. “We are not just a plaintiff’s firm and we are not just a defense firm, so that puts us in a good position to have a better perspective on the litigation involved because we have done work on both sides.”
Right now the firm consists of Murphy, Anderson and Stephanie Cassidy, a multitasking paralegal/legal assistant who has “helped make the transition seamless for us,” Murphy said.
Though Murphy and Anderson are planning to hire one or two associates within the next year, their long term goal is to remain a small firm.
“There are benefits to large firms as well as small firms and at this point we are interested in keeping it a small firm,” Anderson said. “We would like to build our own independent practice that we can nourish and develop.”
Though the new firm is currently getting situated in its new office, Murphy and Anderson might not be there for long. Their current lease was signed for only six months so they could get established yet make some initial decisions about the long term plans for the firm.
“We need to make some decisions about how many lawyers and staff members we will need before we find a permanent space,” Murphy said. “But we have been impressed with the 550 Building and are seriously considering finding permanent space here in the building.”
Besides finding a building in which to plant their firm’s roots, Murphy said he and Anderson are glad they could start their firm in Jacksonville.
“Although Jacksonville is a big city, we really have a tight legal community,” he said. “We have received a lot of support and encouragement from others in the community and that has been great. It has given us the inspiration and made us feel more comfortable about our decision to o forward with this firm.
“Jacksonville is an up-and-coming city and there are a lot of small to mid-sized businesses here that need legal services. It is certainly an area of opportunity and we just enjoy doing the work.”