News

FMG’s Annual Holiday Message and Report

12/21/22

Dear Friends,
Each year, it is my privilege on behalf of our law firm to send this holiday message and brief report to our clients and friends. This year is particularly special as we are concluding our 25th anniversary celebration. On that note, please take the opportunity to view FMG’s history and also learn the story of the remarkable Bob Oliver, who was an instrumental part of our firm.

2022 was again another year of growth and success for our law firm. We grew our footprint with new offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, Nashville and Walnut Creek. We also will soon announce the opening of our Las Vegas office which will be our 30th office and 16th state. We will begin the new year with over 300 lawyers and a total headcount of over 500 members of the FMG team.

This year also saw another expansion of our Atlanta office to a third floor in our building at the Galleria. We now have room to grow to over 100 lawyers in Atlanta alone and additional room for 150 staff and administrative employees. We also expanded or moved to new offices in Newark, Cherry Hill, Hartford, Columbus, and Orange County, and we will soon be moving into larger office space in San Diego and Tampa.

I also want to continue the tradition in this message of recognizing important transitions. Chuck Horn, our partner and a great trial lawyer in San Francisco retired this summer. Also, Mike Athans, one of the leaders of our nationally recognized coverage practice, will be stepping back at the end of this year. Unfortunately, there also were moments that tempered our celebration this year. We remember the passing of our partner Joseph Colette in Atlanta. Joseph was a wonderful person and taken much too early in life. Likewise, we remember Mark DeBoben, a valued staff member and our Director of Revenue, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year.

Before closing, I would be remiss not to acknowledge that this year brought more national recognition to our firm as one of the leading litigation firms in America. Six of our Practice Sections were ranked nationally and 19 of FMG’s Practice Teams were ranked regionally by Best Lawyers in America. Nearly 100 of our attorneys also were honored by one or more of the four major national attorney recognition groups: Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Benchmark Litigation.

Finally, I want to repeat a message I share each year. In a world of change, one constant is our appreciation for our clients. Any success we have achieved is only because you continue to entrust us with your legal matters. We recognize and value that the relationship between lawyer and client is much more than a typical business arrangement. It is a partnership to confront the difficulties and risks of a legal system that can be challenging, and often is not fair. We strive every day to meet and exceed your expectations, and we are thankful for the opportunity to represent you.

These sentiments are particularly heartfelt by our entire law firm in this 25th year since our founding. We’ve come a long way and benefited by the addition of so many talented individuals. In the end, however, FMG prospers only because of the loyalty of our clients.

On behalf of the entire FMG family from all corners of our great nation, we wish you a happy holiday season and a safe and successful New Year.

Best regards,

Ben Mathis
Managing Partner