How to Launch and Grow a Successful Litigation Firm

In January 2010, after nearly 30 years in practice, I launched my own firm with two colleagues. We have since grown in size and strength, and we are now a collaborative team of five lawyers. As we celebrated our firm’s second anniversary, I was asked to share my perspective on how to start and build a boutique law firm. In many ways, the challenges of doing so as a litigator can be particularly daunting—clients are often reluctant to select a sole practitioner or small group to handle significant matters. By facing and conquering this and other challenges, our group has managed to build a thriving practice in which each of us plays a vital role in our growth and success. We hope the lessons we have learned will help others take on this challenge and surpass their goals, as we have.