Sacramento’s largest law firm Downey Brand LLP has lost two experienced attorneys close on the heels of another group of lawyers leaving the law firm to start on their own. The trend of groups of lawyers leaving large law firms to launch their own boutique practices has picked up in the Sacramento area as a testimony to the economy picking up, as also to changes in legal market. Recently, another group of five lawyers had left Wilke, Fleury, Hoeffelt, Gould & Birney LLP to launch their own firm.
Smaller law firms have lesser overhead than large firms and obviously can afford a greater amount of personal attention to the work of clients – at the same time being more open to negotiations when it comes to fees.
So, instead of leaving in groups to join other large law firms, experienced attorneys are going where the money is or where the client business is – and that means small, client-focused boutique law services. And of course, launching small law firms also allow experienced attorneys experiment with their entrepreneurial desires. For that, the situation has never been better.
The earlier group that had left Downey Brand included two partners and four associates specializing in mining, land use and gas practice. They were joined by a fifth associate who had formerly worked for Downey Brand. The group launched Mitchell Chadwick LLP
Last week, two more lawyers left Downey Brand and teamed up with five lawyers from Cota Cole LLP. The two lawyers who left Downey Brand, Nicole Gleason and Danielle Stephens claimed their new law firm already lists clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to local “mom and pop” setups. The new law firm launched by the group, King Williams & Gleason LLP, is a boutique firm specializing in environmental, real estate and business law.