Recently, I had a lengthy conversation with an individual who had been referred to the firm for a personal injury consultation in las vegas. During the course of our lengthy meeting, I learned that the individual had been referred to two different plaintiff personal injury firms by a local insurance defense attorney (an attorney hired by an insurance company to challenge the claims we file on behalf of our injured clients). In making the referral, the insurance defense attorney described our firm as both tough and ethical. The other firm was described as tough. As I sat there talking with this individual, it became apparent that ethics really mean something to this client when it came to choosing an attorney to handle her personal injury matter.
In a world where insurance companies challenge more and more claims while maintaining a “win at all costs” attitude, it is refreshing to learn that being tough and ethical really matters. Based on the referral from the insurance defense attorney, our adversaries clearly value and respect the fact that the firm is both tough and ethical.
Being tough and ethical matters to our colleagues, too. Through the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating process, local attorneys have rated many of the firm’s attorneys “AV Preeminent,” the highest possible rating. According to Martindale-Hubbell, “AV Preeminent is a testament to the fact that the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.” Given that many of the attorneys at the firm have received the “AV Preeminent” rating, being tough and ethical matters to our colleagues, too.
While it is certainly nice to have the respect of adversaries and colleagues, alike, that is not what drives the firm to be tough and ethical. The driving force behind the firm’s desire to be tough and ethical is our clients. When they come to us for help, being tough and ethical is what gets them the best possible results.