By Cynthia Price
Legal News
Forward-thinking attorneys all across the U.S. are realizing that there are ways that they can continue to deliver full value to their clients and not have to charge them as much as firms traditionally have.
The team at Gielow Groom Terpstra and McEvoy (Eric, Brad, Rachel and Keith respectively) are just such attorneys, and they have formed a smaller, leaner firm to reach that goal.
One of the ways they are able to do this, says Groom, is by smart and comprehensive use of technology. “We’re using and continuing to explore different ways in which technology can help us provide prompt real-time service at an affordable price,” he says.
This has the highly beneficial side effect of allowing clients direct access to their expertise. By simplifying staffing and not having associates in the firm, they guarantee that clients deal with the person who knows best how to handle their important legal matters.
The focus of the practice is business. Gielow specializes in environmental compliance, real estate including brownfield redevelopment, recovery of cleanup costs, and other related areas. Groom is a trial attorney for business, commercial, employment and real estate disputes, as well as concentrating in contracts and agreements. Terpstra is also a litigator, but she handles family law and divorce as well as business matters, and McEvoy concentrates on purchase and sale of businesses and/or real property. He also has agricultural clients, especially blueberry growers.
The firm chose their current location, on the second floor of the Muskegon Commerce Bank Building, Seminole near Seaway, because it was in move-in condition and did not require renovation. They still support the City of Muskegon and its revitalization, but they do find travel to their clients’ places of business easier from the current office. “Plus, we like it because it’s so close to the Coffee House,” Gielow jokes.
Both Groom and Gielow have children who went to or are going through Mona Shores schools — Gielow’s daughter is currently doing very well on the high school golf team, as did his son. Terpstra lives in Spring Lake, but McEvoy still lives in the City of Muskegon.
The lawyers’ commitment to the efficiency of up-to-the-minute technology will continue to offer opportunities for clients to save money. “I keep up on the American Bar and State Bar technology committees, and often find that I’m already using what they recommend,” Groom says, noting that this happened also when he attended the recent ICLE iPad seminar.
Gielow adds, “I really think this is the direction the legal profession is moving in.”
The firm’s website is www.ggtmlaw.com.
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