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Small law firm brings specialties to the table
Bill Wilson, The Wichita Eagle
April 4, 2009WICHITA - Bigger isn't necessarily better in the legal business, according to the attorneys at Depew Gillen Rathbun & McInteer.
The seven-member firm, which specialized in environmental, oil and gas and aviation law, practices controlled growth, according to Chris Steincamp, a licensed geologist and lawyer at the firm. It’s located in the Capitol Federal building, 8301 E 21st St., Suite 450.
"It's our intent to maintain our smaller size," Steincamp said. "The reason we haven’t grown is our interest in practicing in a very collegial environment. It’s a quality-of-life issue."
The firm's attorneys bring about 150 years of combined legal expertise on their specialties, along with other business- and energy-related issues. Co-founder Dennis Gillen also specializes in mediation.
The firm has its roots in a firm founded by Chester I. Long, a former Kansas senator, in Medicine Lodge in 1885.
Spencer Depew and Gillen left the original Long firm in 1979 to begin a boutique practice under the name of Depew and Gillen.
Its original specialties were energy and estate matters, and trial litigation.
Current attorneys include Gillen, Randy Rathbun, Jack McInteer, David Nickel, Steincamp, Tony Atterbury and Kimberly Green.
Out of that group has grown a business philosophy: broad-based experience in a handful of attorneys.
"We try to bring specialties to the table that are important to our clients," Steincamp said.
"We've got a big emphasis in environmental law, oil and gas and aviation. That allows us to bring more sophistication and expertise."
It's called "one-off" legal issues.
"We've got a lot of expertise so we've tried to deal with unique circumstances in our cases, instead of a lot of general, repeating circumstances," Steincamp said.
"The result is we're able to handle lots of different problems that come through the door." Steincamp joined the firm in 1993, Atterbury in 2001 and Green in 2005. All joined the firm through summer clerking internships.
"We try to develop people, hire outstanding people and let them come up through the internships," Steincamp said.
"There are lots of different personalities who can work together well in a big firm, but you know there also are different kinds of personalities that don't mesh. We've worked hard to make sure . . . we avoid those situations, and it benefits our clients as much as us."
The goal: Do what we do well, Steincamp said.
"It’s great having Randy down the hall to go ask a question if I need to," he said.
"It's a collaborative process, blending our experience and good personal relationships in the office."