Our firm approaches the law with an intellectual depth and thoroughness that I think is too uncommon these days. We take special pride in our level of preparation for every case. Our firm's attorneys are in court regularly. We don't sit behind a desk all day, or shy away from litigation. That's part of our make-up. We are zealous advocates.

That said, while we intensely prepare every case, we communicate to the other side that we are ready to reasonably settle, and mediation is very much a part of our practice today. But we regard litigation as a resource for our clients, and not something to necessarily avoid at all costs. What's more, we have regular conversations with our clients to review the costs and benefits of any potential litigation. That's an ongoing process.

Our firm brings all of its resources, all of its expertise, to every case. If I am not 100% sure on an issue, I am running it by my colleagues. Unlike some firms, we do not hand off a case to a less senior lawyer and just let them swim with it. It's a powerful brain trust - and it pays off for our clients.

When I meet clients for the first time, it's important for me to learn what their goals are. That understanding is as important as the process of educating clients about the law and how it impacts their case. A client's goals are an essential part of the basis for our work and our advocacy. It's important that a client and their attorney "think out loud" with one another, especially early on. However, it needs to be added that revenge is not an acceptable goal; revenge will never be a part of our clients' legal strategy.

A common misconception held by many new clients is that lawyers can entirely control an outcome. They need to understand that there are many variables, and often the decisions made by the other side will trigger litigation. No matter how reasonable our client's position is, we cannot force the other side to sign on to it.