Weston, Benshoof, Rochefort, Rubalcava & MacCuish LLP: celebrating 20 years of legal service in California.

The law firm of Weston Benshoof celebrates its 20th Anniversary in September 2004. In the following Q&A, managing partner Edward Casey reflects on the firm's past, present, and future.

How did Weston Benshoof get its start?

Our firm was started in 1984 by several of the premier business litigation and environmental attorneys in California. At a time before the growing importance of environmental law was generally recognized, our founders pioneered a practice that was at the leading edge of the myriad of environmental laws affecting business and our community. Since that time, we have grown strategically, adding practice areas to meet the needs of our clients in business counseling, intellectual property protection, real estate development, and other key areas.

Today, we're a firm of 65 attorneys with offices in downtown Los Angeles and Ventura County. Sophisticated litigation and environmental law remain as two of our core practice areas, and we're proud to have been recognized recently by Chambers USA as one of the top five firms for environmental law in California.

To what do you attribute Weston Benshoof's success?

First of all, the fundamental measure of our success has been the results we've been able to obtain for our clients through the years. Our clients wouldn't keep coming back if we didn't win. Also, we've taken a unique "partnering" approach to achieve these successes, through teamwork with our clients and through our emphasis on a collegial working atmosphere. Our clients tell us they feel as comfortable working in our offices as they do in their own offices. We think that's a great indication of successful teamwork.

In addition, successful representation requires timely communication with the client, and one of the hallmarks of our practice has been the accessibility and responsiveness of our attorneys. In a recent survey of our clients by Altman Well, a national consulting firm, our level of responsiveness was rated among the highest in the legal industry.

Finally, our success can be attributed to the expertise of our attorneys, who are some of the foremost practitioners in their fields, and who work in focused practice areas so that they develop the expertise needed to solve each client's problems in a comprehensive, integrated and cost-effective approach.

Who are Weston Benshoof's clients?

Our clients represent the full gamut of Fortune 500 corporations, emerging companies, family-owned businesses, trade organizations, and public agencies at various levels of government. We're dedicated to forming long-term relationships with each of our clients, taking the time to understand their businesses and actively participating in organizations that affect their industries. We often become part of a client's business team, participating in long-range planning and strategic decision-making.

How have you approached the specific challenge of prospering as a mid-sized law firm?

The experts on law firm management suggest that a mid-sized law firm cannot survive by trying to be "everything to everyone." Instead, these firms need to focus on a specific geographic region, client industry, or practice area--or some combination thereof. Generally speaking, Weston Benshoof has pursued a model that successfully incorporates each of these factors: We are a California law firm that concentrates on businesses and industries that are key to California's future by providing a package of integrated legal services that are essential to those clients.

We're also able to offer significant "added value" to the legal services we provide, which helps to set us apart as a mid-sized law firm. For example, our litigation practice is distinguished by the substantial trial experience of our attorneys, who have successfully resolved and tried to verdict hundred-million-dollar cases in a variety of business contexts. In addition, we've worked for years to develop excellent working relationships with regulatory and elected officials at all levels of government. These relationships enable efficient and effective advocacy in both administrative and legislative matters.

What are Weston Benshoof's plans for the future?

Our strategic plan envisions continued growth in the years ahead--not growth for its own sake, but specifically to provide an even greater depth of experience to serve the needs of our clients. We also anticipate the further development of key practice capabilities--in white collar enforcement, intellectual property, sophisticated transactions, regulatory matters, and high-profile litigation--in order to maintain our commitment to providing an integrated approach to achieving results. With respect to our geographic focus, we will remain committed to our identity as a California law firm, with anticipated growth in Ventura County and into Northern California.

Any additional reflections on the firm's anniversary?

On behalf of Weston Benshoof, I'd like to extend our sincere thanks to the many clients, colleagues, consultants and friends who have contributed to the success of our firm over the past 20 years. We are very excited about the future, and we certainly look forward to building upon these great relationships in the many years to come.

For more information about Weston Benshoof, please visit the firm's website at www.wbcounsel.com.