Jim Weinberg (left) and Wayne Travell
Two Richmond law firms are expanding north and west, while a pair of local attorneys has struck out on their own.
Hirschler Fleischer will open its third office Jan. 1 by merging with Tysons Corner-based law firm Leach Travell. The deal will bring the smaller firm’s seven lawyers under the Hirschler Fleischer banner.
The deal has been in the works since the end of this summer, Hirschler Fleischer President Jim Weinberg said.
“The leadership of the firm felt that this was the right group and the right time to make a meaningful move into Northern Virginia,” he said.
Leach Travell’s seven partners will expand several of Hirschler Fleischer’s practice areas, including business litigation, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights and real estate.
They’ll continue to operate out of Leach Travell’s office in Tysons Corner. Wayne Travell will be the managing partner in that office.
“We are what people in the legal industry call a boutique law firm, meaning we’re a small group of very sophisticated lawyers in our practice areas,” Travell said. “But because we are small, it does hamper our ability sometimes to work larger transactions.”
Many Leach Travell lawyers previously worked with large firms, he said.
Once the combination is official on Jan. 1, Hirschler Fleischer will have 80 lawyers in offices in Richmond, Fredericksburg and Tysons.
“Our growth in the past has been client-driven. When we moved into the Fredericksburg market, we were doing so to support the needs of several clients in the area,” Weinberg said. “This expansion continues along the same theme, but is also driven by the opportunity that these are seven excellent lawyers that will immediately add to our expertise, depth and breadth.”
As Hirschler Fleischer reaches north, one of its former attorneys, David Spiro, has started a new firm with fellow local lawyer David Browne. Dubbed Spiro & Browne, the practice opened Dec. 1, and the pair settled into space in Paragon Place off Glenside Drive.
“Hirschler Fleischer is a fantastic firm, just a tremendous firm, but I was looking for the ability to service smaller clients, more individuals,” said Spiro, who had been with Hirschler for nearly seven years.
He said he also hoped to offer his clients more flexible billing arrangements, which is more difficult to do in a big firm.
Browne was previously with local firm MeyerGorgen, also known as MG Law, and had worked as a solo practice for the last two years.
The pair have known each other for about 10 years. Spiro said he became interested when Browne started his own firm, then began talking with him a few months ago about starting a firm together.
“I wanted to have room to expand my bankruptcy practice, and Dave obviously has experience in that realm,” Browne said. “We thought our proficiencies really complemented each other well.”
Both lawyers practice bankruptcy law and commercial litigation, as well as local counsel services and medical provider reimbursement representation.
“I think clients are becoming more sophisticated with billing arrangements and more demanding, frankly, but at the same time they want expertise, they want really good lawyers,” Spiro said. “We offer both.”
Eric Yost
Heading west is local personal injury firm Marks & Harrison, which last week announced the pending opening of a new office in Harrisonburg, its ninth around the state. Attorney Eric Yost will lead that outpost at the helm.
“Harrisonburg is one of the fastest-growing cities in the state of Virginia right now. It’s a good market and a good location,” Yost said.
The office is set to open on Jan. 4. Yost previously worked in the firm’s Staunton office, which is located about 30 minutes from Harrisonburg. He will continue to do litigation work in the office as the firm attempts to bolster its ranks.
Marks & Harrison now has 19 attorneys and more than 60 employees on its staff. Its main office is in Richmond.
Jim Weinberg (left) and Wayne Travell
Two Richmond law firms are expanding north and west, while a pair of local attorneys has struck out on their own.
Hirschler Fleischer will open its third office Jan. 1 by merging with Tysons Corner-based law firm Leach Travell. The deal will bring the smaller firm’s seven lawyers under the Hirschler Fleischer banner.
The deal has been in the works since the end of this summer, Hirschler Fleischer President Jim Weinberg said.
“The leadership of the firm felt that this was the right group and the right time to make a meaningful move into Northern Virginia,” he said.
Leach Travell’s seven partners will expand several of Hirschler Fleischer’s practice areas, including business litigation, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights and real estate.
They’ll continue to operate out of Leach Travell’s office in Tysons Corner. Wayne Travell will be the managing partner in that office.
“We are what people in the legal industry call a boutique law firm, meaning we’re a small group of very sophisticated lawyers in our practice areas,” Travell said. “But because we are small, it does hamper our ability sometimes to work larger transactions.”
Many Leach Travell lawyers previously worked with large firms, he said.
Once the combination is official on Jan. 1, Hirschler Fleischer will have 80 lawyers in offices in Richmond, Fredericksburg and Tysons.
“Our growth in the past has been client-driven. When we moved into the Fredericksburg market, we were doing so to support the needs of several clients in the area,” Weinberg said. “This expansion continues along the same theme, but is also driven by the opportunity that these are seven excellent lawyers that will immediately add to our expertise, depth and breadth.”
As Hirschler Fleischer reaches north, one of its former attorneys, David Spiro, has started a new firm with fellow local lawyer David Browne. Dubbed Spiro & Browne, the practice opened Dec. 1, and the pair settled into space in Paragon Place off Glenside Drive.
“Hirschler Fleischer is a fantastic firm, just a tremendous firm, but I was looking for the ability to service smaller clients, more individuals,” said Spiro, who had been with Hirschler for nearly seven years.
He said he also hoped to offer his clients more flexible billing arrangements, which is more difficult to do in a big firm.
Browne was previously with local firm MeyerGorgen, also known as MG Law, and had worked as a solo practice for the last two years.
The pair have known each other for about 10 years. Spiro said he became interested when Browne started his own firm, then began talking with him a few months ago about starting a firm together.
“I wanted to have room to expand my bankruptcy practice, and Dave obviously has experience in that realm,” Browne said. “We thought our proficiencies really complemented each other well.”
Both lawyers practice bankruptcy law and commercial litigation, as well as local counsel services and medical provider reimbursement representation.
“I think clients are becoming more sophisticated with billing arrangements and more demanding, frankly, but at the same time they want expertise, they want really good lawyers,” Spiro said. “We offer both.”
Eric Yost
Heading west is local personal injury firm Marks & Harrison, which last week announced the pending opening of a new office in Harrisonburg, its ninth around the state. Attorney Eric Yost will lead that outpost at the helm.
“Harrisonburg is one of the fastest-growing cities in the state of Virginia right now. It’s a good market and a good location,” Yost said.
The office is set to open on Jan. 4. Yost previously worked in the firm’s Staunton office, which is located about 30 minutes from Harrisonburg. He will continue to do litigation work in the office as the firm attempts to bolster its ranks.
Marks & Harrison now has 19 attorneys and more than 60 employees on its staff. Its main office is in Richmond.