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Brennan Manna Diamond to open another office
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: July 9, 2020
As Ohio businesses continue to gear back up, leaders at one Akron law firm are announcing some good news.
Brennan Manna Diamond President Matthew Heinle says not only was the firm able to avoid layoffs during the state’s stay-at-home order, it’s also preparing to open a new office in Orlando, Florida on Sept. 1.
“We have always made a point to run the firm in an efficient and cost-effective manner,” said Heinle. “When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we were in a very strong position because we did not have any debt.
“We moved everyone to remote working about two weeks before the governor’s stay-at-home order took effect in late March,” said Heinle. “We bought home offices for everyone at the firm and our IT group worked very hard to make sure things ran smoothly.
“We implemented regular video calls to keep everyone updated, with a focus on positive communication. These measures put us ahead of the curve.”
Heinle said Brennan Manna Diamond’s proactive approach eliminated the need to lay off or furlough any of its more than 140 employees and allowed the firm’s summer associate program to remain intact.
“Many law firms canceled their summer associate program due to COVID-19 and the economy,” he said. “We have always used our program to fuel our growth and our six summer associates started on schedule in May.
“Many law firms have delayed the start of their incoming associates or rescinded offers; our newest attorneys will start in late summer as scheduled. We are busy, and we look forward to them joining our team.”
The firm currently has four offices in Ohio, including in Akron, Canton, Cleveland and Columbus. It also has locations in Jacksonville and Bonita Springs, Florida, as well as in Shanghai, China through a joint venture with the law firm Jade & Fountain.
“We decided to expand our presence in Florida because it is a growing state and many of our existing clients are now doing business in Orlando,” said Heinle. “We can now accommodate their needs better.”
As of the publication of this story, the attorney selection process for Orlando was continuing.
While the law firm is fully operational, Heinle said the goal is to bring all employees back to their respective offices in the near future.
“On May 4, we began a rotational process, with half of our workforce in the office one week and the other half working from home,” he said. “Our team has appreciated the rotation, but they are eager to return to ‘normal.’ We plan to have the full team back in our offices on July 6 as we continue to take necessary safety measures.”