Haitian Law Firm Reopens Amid Uncertainty

Nearly two weeks after the massive earthquake that killed an estimated 100,000 people, Jean-Frédéric Salès reopened his law office, Cabinet Salès, located outside Port–au-Prince, Haiti. Salès counts himself lucky, as both his house and the law office, located in the suburb of Pétion-Ville, escaped major damage. The firm’s eight attorneys and its staff also survived.

“The impact of the earthquake on law firms in the near future will depend on their type of practice. Litigation will certainly be difficult, given the destruction of buildings housing services of the judiciary in Port-au-Prince, Léogane, Jacmel and Petit-Goave,” Salès wrote, referring to cities west of Port-au-Prince. “Corporate lawyers should also be impacted given the reduced demand for some of their services.”

Founded in 1907 to perform patent and trademark work, the firm now operates a broad base of practices including corporate law and general litigation.