We are pleased to announce that, effective July 1, we have integrated the attorneys of Walk Law Firm into AEGIS Law. We are thrilled because this change will allow us to show up for our clients in more powerful ways than we already do, offering them even more resources, tools and expertise to serve their legal needs.
What Is Happening?
Walk Law Firm (WLF) is integrating its practice with AEGIS Law. All lawyers and staff will continue operating from their current locations and serving the same client base, except under the AEGIS Law name and with more resources. Rochelle Friedman Walk will continue to be the managing attorney in Florida.
Why Is This Happening?
AEGIS Law and WLF both provide high-quality legal services for businesses and entrepreneurs, and both have a similar underlying philosophy in their approach—albeit with different concentrations and areas of strength. This combination offers the WLF lawyers access to a wider range of services and attorneys licensed to serve its national and international client base while offering AEGIS Law a qualified team in Tampa, Florida to serve its growing Florida based clients. Tampa is a growing business hub—attracting ambitious ventures in tech, maritime, finance, insurance and beyond. WLF joins AEGIS Law attorney Lori DaCosse who has been practicing from South Florida for the past few years.
What Does This Mean for WLF Clients?
WLF clients can rest easy: their attorneys will continue to serve their needs, at the same location. The primary difference will be that WLF attorneys now have access to AEGIS Law’s broad resources and practice areas. WLF and AEGIS are very compatible, in that they both offer high quality professional services using very similar fee structures and alternative fee offerings, such as flat fees, phased fees and capped fees. Hourly rates are also consistent. Clients can be assured that their cost of service will not change as a result of the combination.
What Does This Mean for AEGIS Law Clients?
AEGIS will continue to serve its existing clients from its locations in St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago and O’Fallon, IL, while offering its services to WLF’s current location in Tampa, Florida. AEGIS Law’s clients will also see additional service offerings based on WLF’s areas of expertise.
What Does This Mean for the Lawyers of Both Firms?
The attorneys at both companies can lean on one another for capacity, problem-solving and new ideas. Thanks to AEGIS Law’s contemporary model and culture, experienced business lawyers can act essentially like each other’s associates- delivering partner-level support. It also means that new services and skills are available for clients as needs arise.
Advantages and Benefits
- Larger array of service offerings across more verticals. Serving a more diverse clientele while providing more resources to serve our existing clients.
- Innovative approaches to common problems. Our business model represents the future of professional legal services, enabling creative solutions for our clients in ways other firms can’t.
- Customized solutions. Greater access to resources means more flexibility to address each client and case individually.
Stronger Together
Here’s why this merger makes sense for all involved:
A Natural Cultural Fit
The attorneys of WLF and AEGIS Law share a similar philosophy. We serve entrepreneurs. Both firms’ founders are entrepreneurs. We understand cash flow, recruiting, strategy, the need for action, and the reality of uncertainty in the business world. We identify closely with our clients and focus on what’s practical for them, not theoretical.
Both firms strongly believe in taking care of our attorneys’ needs. Happy lawyers make for ecstatic clients. The AEGIS Law culture supports innovation, sensible risk taking, collegiality, an all-hands-on-deck attitude and an absence of petty organizational politics. Like our clients, we are disruptors. We threw out the sclerotic, traditional model of delivering legal services in order to make everyone’s lives better: our lawyers, our clients and our strategic partners.
Filling in the Gaps
WLF and AEGIS Law complement each other naturally. WLF brings to the table a strong practice in the areas of General Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions and Intellectual Property. They also have extensive experience serving the e-commerce and technology sectors, especially with regard to accelerating and emerging businesses as well as long-established multi-billion dollar public enterprises. Both firms can bring big company experiences to emerging and growing businesses at a fee structure and with access that other firms cannot offer. AEGIS Law is also widely regarded for its work with accelerating and emerging businesses, but it also offers a broader business practice that includes Venture Capital, Securities, Real Estate, Litigation, Estate Planning, Tax Law and other services. By combining these strengths, we provide each other with increased levels of support for our growing clients.
A Contemporary Business Model
AEGIS Law has developed an innovative disruptive business model that flies in the face of the politics and limitations of traditional firms—and this model will greatly enhance WLF’s ability to serve its clients. Some key characteristics of the AEGIS approach:
- A collegial approach to serving clients. Our model enables partner-level attorneys to support other attorneys’ clients efficiently and effectively.
- Beginning with the end in mind. We put our clients’ needs and business goals first, which allows us to approach each case with a fresh set of eyes.
- Unmatched responsiveness. Our streamlined structure allows us to respond to client concerns and questions with exceptional speed.
- Results-oriented. In our view, the right solution is the one that works. We take a practical yet creative approach to solving our clients’ problems.
A Unique Worldview
WLF client Andrew Meyer, President of Continental Wholesale Diamonds, calls Shelly Walk “a businessperson who happens to be a lawyer.” Her skills were forged in the crucible of decades of hard work in corporate America. She served as corporate counsel for Sherwin Williams and then ran their marketing communications program, before becoming their Director of the Licensed Brand Group. After that, she worked as general counsel for another 150-year old, large, multinational public company in the logistics and mining industry. She was brought to Tampa by a private equity firm that was leading the effort to restructure another consumer products company. She navigated it through cultural change and the recapitalization of its business in anticipation of sale. Over the course of her travels, she’s worn many hats—gracefully dealing with issues related to mergers and acquisitions, environmental health and safety, internal audit, compliance, legal, human resources, marketing, IT and facilities management. Shelly drew on these successes to establish WLF, which represents a gamut of companies in dozens of industries. Recently, Law Firm 500 named WLF the 74th fastest growing law firm in 2017.
Fifteen years ago, AEGIS Law launched with a revolutionary idea: if you create a law firm culture that prioritizes the needs of attorneys, clients will reap the benefits, and everyone will win. That vision is enshrined in our name, which is derived from the Greek mythological symbol for sponsorship and protection. Founder Scott Levine, “AEGIS attorneys are flexible and curious—not traits you typically think of when someone says ‘lawyer’.” Our modern model for delivering legal services has, indeed, disrupted the game. We’ve become influential players in venture, banking, securities, real estate, construction and general corporate law markets; and AEGIS Law was just ranked among the top 50 fastest growing companies in its region.
Next Steps
As a client of WLF or AEGIS Law, or as a friend to either firm, here’s what you can expect in the coming weeks and months:
- Communications from WLF regarding Transition: WLF clients will receive information regarding new engagement letters with AEGIS Law and transfer of trust funds, if any.
- Additional communications will highlight new services and features as they become available;
- A revamped web presence will reflect these changes and clarify the expanded range of services we offer our collective clients;
- Watch for announcements of networking and get-to-know-you events in several of our locations to introduce these communities to our expanded offerings.
We are excited about this new collaboration and integration, and we hope you are, too! If you have any questions or concerns, we are available to answer them personally. Give our offices a call for more information. Or email Scott Levine at [email protected].
Scott’s practice is dedicated to assisting entrepreneurs, investors, emerging and established businesses with the unique and often challenging issues they meet throughout the formation and growth process: from entity formation, to the management of founder relationships and economics, to the protection of intellectual property, to the financing of growth and navigating securities law compliance. He assists clients as they continue to grow and develop, whether this involves merger and acquisition activities, international licensing and distribution arrangements or counseling of directors and officers.
Scott is chair of the firm’s Securities practice. His practice is focused on advising a wide range of clients on SEC matters, securities transactions and corporate governance. He represents issuers, investment banks / financial intermediaries and investors in financing transactions, including public offerings and private placements of equity and debt securities.
You can reach Scott at [email protected].
