Steve Long, founder and managing partner of Polsinelli Shughart PC’s Denver office
Q: Your firm, Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, merged with Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus in February amid one of the legal industry’s worst downturns. Was it more for survival than growth?
A: Our merger was very much about taking advantage of an opportunity to grow and to position ourselves strategically for the long term.
The trial strength of the Shughart firm that I came from was one of the things that attracted Polsinelli as it looked to expand its presence in the West. Combining that with Polsinelli’s business capabilities and geographic footprint, including a presence in Washington, D.C., made sense for a lot of reasons.
Q: How badly was Denver hit by the downturn, and what will be or is driving the rebound for the industry?
A: The Denver legal community was hit worse than some but not as bad as others.
Law firms around the country, particularly along the coasts, saw significant layoffs and reduced salaries. Some of this happened in Denver, but on a very limited basis and not at our firm.
As in most industries, clients are watching their budgets closely. This makes some less likely to resolve disputes through litigation than maybe happened in years past. Denver firms have a great opportunity to draw clients from other areas of the country, particularly on the East and West coasts, where overhead costs and hourly rates tend to be significantly higher.
I think we’ll continue to see contraction in the industry for the foreseeable future, but there will be opportunities for firms smart and nimble enough to anticipate evolving client needs and identify innovative ways to meet them.
Q: What do you enjoy most about piloting a plane?
A: The challenge of creating the perfect flight every time I’m in the cockpit — from the planning to the execution and in-flight decision-making — makes me feel alive. It’s a real test of one’s ability. I also like that flights have a defined beginning and end. You can only go as far as your fuel will take you. It’s a nice contrast to trial work.
Edited for length and clarity by Andy Vuong.
