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Firm Creates Succession Plan Vision
PICTURED ABOVE
Seated: Founder - Jesse H. Oppenheimer.
Standing (Left to right): Chief Executive Officer - Bruce M. Mitchell, along with associates Shelley P. Morkovsky, Edward A. Niland, Molly Neck-Borshard, Casey A. Rench, Debra L. Innocenti, Lindsay A. Martin, Katherine E. David, Robert K. “Chip” Sugg, Lauren P. McLaughlin. Not pictured: Mark R. Murphy.
In 1969, Richard Nixon was president, Americans landed on the moon, and Jesse H. Oppenheimer started a San Antonio law firm.
At the time, most lawyers and law firms were simply general practitioners. Oppenheimer started his firm with a vision of providing legal expertise in certain practice areas, and to achieve its client goals in an efficient and innovative fashion. Forty years later, Oppenheimer, Blend, Harrison and Tate, Inc. continues that vision.
“Unlike other businesses, a law firm consists almost solely of the people who work there,” said Bruce Mitchell, the firm’s Chief Executive Officer. “If you want your firm to be one that your clients can look to for trusted advice through different generations, you need to make it a priority to hire and promote outstanding talent. For our firm…it is a priority.”
We have established a succession plan that demands its associates take responsibility for the ongoing success of the firm. “At some firms, young associates are evaluated solely by billable hours,” said Mitchell. “We highly encourage our associates to act like junior partners – to not only produce the highest quality work, but also to build relationships with the local business community.”
The plan also aligns the firm’s practice group skills with its long-term goals. “We have expertise in certain areas of law, and we want our associates to not only support that expertise but to develop it,” Mitchell added.
“We certainly want to grow our practice and our client base but we are not willing to jeopardize the time investment it takes to build a quality relationship” stated Mitchell. He says the firm’s succession plan dovetails neatly its goals by encouraging associates to not only provide expert and efficient service to current clients, but also to develop their own client relationships.
David Oppenheimer, a Shareholder in the firm and the son of founder - Jesse H. Oppenheimer, says it is vital to anticipate the firm’s future needs in its succession planning. “It’s not a matter of handling current needs,” he says. “It’s a matter of determining where the firm wants to be 10 and 20 years from now, and planning for that growth.”
The firm has been unusually successful at developing and retaining associates – over 90 percent of shareholders rose up through the firm’s associate ranks. “We take a lot of pride in that. If you want to have a long-term relationship with your clients, you should also have a long-term relationship with your lawyers,” said Mitchell.
For further information please contact the firm’s Marketing Department at 210.224.2000.
