The door to LeClairRyan’s Richmond office was padlocked after her landlord evicted her from the property. (BizSense file photo)
In one of the busiest years for the Richmond Law Firm’s news in recent years, there was the story of LeClairRyan – and then there was everything else.
The year started with a steady, steady stream of lawyers dropping out of LeClairRyan offices nationwide. Then came the rumors and reports of the impending demise and departure of the founder of the same name. The downfall finally came when the company collapsed and went bankrupt.
It was a fascinating saga that will continue to play out in a bankruptcy court in 2020, while lawyers keep shuffling around trying to find the right home after the eviction.
LandAmerica… It’s back
The LandAmerica Financial Group went bankrupt in November 2008. (BizSense file photo)
In an odd twist tangentially touched by the LeClair collapse, the complex LandAmerica bankruptcy case was brought back from the dead after it was discovered that millions of dollars had been transferred from its escrow account to the personal account of its trustee and wife. The trustee was longtime LeClairRyan attorney Bruce Matson. The money was eventually settled while Matson was removed from oversight of the LandAmerica property.
Traveling
Speaking of mixing: there was no shortage of local law firms relocating in and around the region.
The location of the new Kerns & Kastenbaum office is right next to the current company headquarters. (BizSense file photo)
Kerns & Kastenbaum has started construction of its new office in the Willow Lawn area.
Ford Richardson, founded in Richmond in 2018 by former McCandlish Holton attorneys, expanded to Hampton Roads in 2019.
Phelan Petty, a 9 year old personal injury, malpractice and product liability company, bought a building from another company across the street from Scott’s Addition for their new home.
Another local personal injury company, Cantor Stoneburner Ford Grana & Buckner, based in the West End, merged with Breit Drescher Imprevento of Virginia Beach in the spring. The result is Breit Cantor.
Jeffrey Breit (left) and Irvin Cantor. (Courtesy Breit Cantor)
Two Chicago-based companies, O’Hagan Meyer and Freeborn & Peters, expanded their presence in downtown Richmond.
Newcomers
As a sign of strength in the area’s legal market, a handful of foreign firms have settled in Richmond for the first time this year.
Miles & Stockbridge, a 93-year-old Baltimore-based law firm, opened an office in downtown Richmond, staffed by 10 attorneys, most of whom were formerly with LeClairRyan.
Former LCR attorney Tom Wolf will lead Miles & Stockbridge’s new Richmond office.
Sean Byrne and four others left Hancock Daniel in Henrico to form the Byrne Legal Group.
Via Roanoke, Frith Anderson + Peake opened an outpost in Innsbrook, manned by a lawyer lured over by a rival.
Also in Innsbrook, Columbia, South Carolina, McAngus Goudelock & Courie opened its first Virginia office with three attorneys.
Two attorneys who met while working in the prosecution were born in the government sector and dared to open a law firm in Shockoe Slip on their own.
Attorney palooza
Lawyerpalooza was revived. (BizSense file photos)
The year 2019 ended on something funny and brought the revival of Lawyerpalooza, a clash of bands made up of members of the local legal community. On the bill, Soul Providers, a local soul band led by Steve Webb of Henrico-based law firm Parcell, Webb & Baruch; The Harpoondodgers, a rock and alternative country outfit starring Jon Hubbard and Troutman Sanders; and Max Power, a pop-focused group that includes Steve Mutnick with downtown Blackburn, Conte, Schilling & Click, and Brad Goodwin with personal injury company ReidGoodwin.
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