Hartford law firm Day Pitney LLP, which has over 100 attorneys locally and is the third-largest firm in Greater Hartford, has been eyeing growth in another state lately: Florida.
Get Instant Access to This Article
Subscribe to Hartford Business Journal and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
- Critical Hartford and Connecticut business news updated daily.
- Immediate access to all subscriber-only content on our website.
- Bi-weekly print or digital editions of our award-winning publication.
- Special bonus issues like the Hartford Book of Lists.
- Exclusive ticket prize draws for our in-person events.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
Hartford law firm Day Pitney LLP, which has over 100 attorneys locally and is the third-largest firm in Greater Hartford, has been eyeing growth in another state lately: Florida.
Day Pitney recently completed a merger with South Florida law firm Richman Greer P.A. Financial, adding 15 attorneys to its roster, said Thomas Goldberg, Day Pitney's managing partner.
The firm first entered the Florida market in 2016, merging with Boca Raton's Chapin, Ballerano & Cheslack, with whom it had a 12-year correspondent relationship providing legal advice to Day Pitney clients located in the Sunshine State.
The continued expansion, Goldberg said, allows Day Pitney to serve existing Florida-based clients with additional resources and locations.
Day Pitney hasn't been the only local law firm opening or merging with practices in southern states. As more Nutmeg State small-business owners, part-time “snowbirds,'' retirees and corporate hedge funds relocate or spend more time in Florida, as well as Arizona, South Carolina and Texas, among other low-tax states, some Connecticut law firms have been eagerly following them there.
You were named managing partner at Day Pitney almost a year ago. Can you tell us about what your year-one priorities were?
To continue to grow our business by focusing intensely on client service. We emphasize a firmwide team approach to deliver tailored and sophisticated business advice. An additional priority was expanding our presence in Florida through our merger with Richman Greer, and focusing on other targeted lateral hiring of lawyers who fit well within our platform.
When expanding to a new area, what factors do you look for to judge whether it will be a fortuitous move?
We are focused on smart growth, both in terms of talent in key practice areas and geographic locations. Beyond that, the most important factor is cultural fit. It's essential that lawyers joining our firm share our commitment to high-quality work, and our focus on client service and teamwork.
Do you plan to expand to other states?
We do not have plans to expand beyond our current footprint. We intend to continue to focus on the Northeast and on Florida.
Can you tell us something about yourself most people don't know?
I've been involved with Connecticut Legal Services for many years. I previously served as chair of its board of directors and am currently on its advisory board. The staff of CLS are unsung heroes. They work selflessly and tirelessly on behalf of low-income people who must rely on the legal system to recover benefits, and for protection against domestic violence and unfair evictions.
