Bowen Ten Cardani attorneys Russell Stone and Brittany Auberger. Photos by Mike Shaw.
In a bid to appeal to clients outside its home county of Henrico, a local law firm has opened a branch in Hanover.
Bowen Ten Cardani, a two-year-old firm specializing in bankruptcy and family law, recently leased and opened 2,080 square feet at 9410 Atlee Commerce Blvd. The firm’s main branch is located at 3957 Westerre Parkway in Henrico.
“We do a lot of business in Hanover, and the county is growing rapidly,” said Sandy Bowen, the firm’s managing partner. “Because what we do is very personal, it’s important to have legal representation close by.”
While Hanover isn’t considered a hotbed for law offices, Bowen Ten Cardani had been looking to expand there for the past year. The 12-attorney firm poached three attorneys to work in the new office beginning May 9: Russell Stone, Aileen Lang and Brittany Auberger.
The firm’s new office.
Bowen hired all three from Bowen Champlin Foreman and Rockecharlie, a Chesterfield County firm founded by Bowen’s ex-husband, Cary Bowen. Sandy Bowen was a founding partner of that firm, managing it from 1997 to 2006.
Stone has tried more than 120 criminal cases. Bowen said she wanted to hire Stone because of his eagerness to teach younger attorneys.
Lang, a Hanover County resident, has practiced family law for more than 20 years and also serves as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem in parental rights cases.
Auberger, who has practiced for eight years, handles custody and divorce cases for the firm. Bowen said she serves as a court-appointed attorney for those who can’t afford to hire a lawyer, as well as a Guardian ad Litem.
Jackie Sharnan, a Bowen Ten Cardani attorney who has lived in Hanover for 10 years, will also hold office hours in the new office to meet with bankruptcy and family affairs clients. The office has space for two additional attorneys, but Bowen said the firm has no immediate plans to increase its staffing there.
Broker Scott White of Colliers International handled the lease transaction on behalf of the landlord, Barry Strickland. Bowen declined to disclose the financial terms and length of the lease, but said she was looking for a full-service office space near Interstate 95.
Bowen says her firm did not work with the county to secure the office, and that Strickland had enough knowledge of the area to facilitate an attractive deal. The Hanover County Department of Economic Development doesn’t keep a list of law firms located in its jurisdiction, but a spokeswoman said the county works to incentivize professionals into locating there.
“We are very happy to welcome Bowen Ten Cardani into the Hanover County business community and are particularly pleased with their decision to locate here as they represent an important target sector, professional services, that we are continuing to grow and retain,” Edwin Gaskin, the department’s director, said in an email to BizSense. “Companies like Bowen Ten Cardani can thrive and prosper here as Hanover does not impose a business license tax or tax on their gross receipts.”
Bowen says she sees Powhatan County as Bowen Ten Cardani’s next expansion opportunity, though she said the firm doesn’t have a timetable to locate an office there.
Bowen Ten Cardani attorneys Russell Stone and Brittany Auberger. Photos by Mike Shaw.
In a bid to appeal to clients outside its home county of Henrico, a local law firm has opened a branch in Hanover.
Bowen Ten Cardani, a two-year-old firm specializing in bankruptcy and family law, recently leased and opened 2,080 square feet at 9410 Atlee Commerce Blvd. The firm’s main branch is located at 3957 Westerre Parkway in Henrico.
“We do a lot of business in Hanover, and the county is growing rapidly,” said Sandy Bowen, the firm’s managing partner. “Because what we do is very personal, it’s important to have legal representation close by.”
While Hanover isn’t considered a hotbed for law offices, Bowen Ten Cardani had been looking to expand there for the past year. The 12-attorney firm poached three attorneys to work in the new office beginning May 9: Russell Stone, Aileen Lang and Brittany Auberger.
The firm’s new office.
Bowen hired all three from Bowen Champlin Foreman and Rockecharlie, a Chesterfield County firm founded by Bowen’s ex-husband, Cary Bowen. Sandy Bowen was a founding partner of that firm, managing it from 1997 to 2006.
Stone has tried more than 120 criminal cases. Bowen said she wanted to hire Stone because of his eagerness to teach younger attorneys.
Lang, a Hanover County resident, has practiced family law for more than 20 years and also serves as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem in parental rights cases.
Auberger, who has practiced for eight years, handles custody and divorce cases for the firm. Bowen said she serves as a court-appointed attorney for those who can’t afford to hire a lawyer, as well as a Guardian ad Litem.
Jackie Sharnan, a Bowen Ten Cardani attorney who has lived in Hanover for 10 years, will also hold office hours in the new office to meet with bankruptcy and family affairs clients. The office has space for two additional attorneys, but Bowen said the firm has no immediate plans to increase its staffing there.
Broker Scott White of Colliers International handled the lease transaction on behalf of the landlord, Barry Strickland. Bowen declined to disclose the financial terms and length of the lease, but said she was looking for a full-service office space near Interstate 95.
Bowen says her firm did not work with the county to secure the office, and that Strickland had enough knowledge of the area to facilitate an attractive deal. The Hanover County Department of Economic Development doesn’t keep a list of law firms located in its jurisdiction, but a spokeswoman said the county works to incentivize professionals into locating there.
“We are very happy to welcome Bowen Ten Cardani into the Hanover County business community and are particularly pleased with their decision to locate here as they represent an important target sector, professional services, that we are continuing to grow and retain,” Edwin Gaskin, the department’s director, said in an email to BizSense. “Companies like Bowen Ten Cardani can thrive and prosper here as Hanover does not impose a business license tax or tax on their gross receipts.”
Bowen says she sees Powhatan County as Bowen Ten Cardani’s next expansion opportunity, though she said the firm doesn’t have a timetable to locate an office there.
We are honored and privileged that these three fine attorneys approached us looking for an opportunity to grown their practices.
Just as clarification, the number of criminal trials is more likely in the thousands. Felony jury trials might be somewhere between 120 and 200. And please note that Brittany Auberger is also a skilled criminal and traffic lawyer as well. Finally, the notion of “poaching” is not accurate. Nothing more than good lawyers joining a good firm.