Severson ranked among San Francisco’s “elite” smaller firms; Mark J. Kenney speaks to the Daily Journal about the unique contributions of “mid-sized” law firms

(Last updated June 3, 2005)

One Size Does Not Fit All

Excerpted from the San Francisco Daily Journal, May 16, 2005, by Amy K. Spees.

Mark Kenney, the managing partner of Severson & Werson in San Francisco, says not much has changed since the 66-lawyer firm opened its doors in 1945. He remembers in the late 1980s when publishing mogul Steven Brill predicted the impending doom of the small firm.

"That was his prognostication in the mid-1980s, and it didn't come to pass. We knew that concept was wrong and there would always be a place for firms like us," Kenney says.

Kenney says many of the firm's lawyers have spent their entire careers at Severson & Werson.

"We haven't grown, and we haven't shrunk," Kenney says. "We jealously protect our style of law. Big firms come in and take swings at things; some of them stay, some of them go.

"By no means do I take larger firms for granted. But as opposed to posing a threat to us I think they help to outline in distinct relief the unique package of benefits we offer…."

* * *

Personal client relationships and historically deep practices are what small firms can offer above their larger counterparts, Kenney says.

"When we focus very keenly on certain practice areas, we have to compete routinely with firms 10 to 20 times our size. One of the ways to be able to do that is by not only having lawyers who do top-quality work but also the fact that our clients know we know them and we value them, and they trust us," Kenney says.

Kenney says Severson & Werson is well known nationally for its financial institutions practice. The firm also has thriving practices in class-action litigation, insurance and construction design. He says large firms are trying to create practice areas in which Severson has traditionally practiced.

"No matter how bright a lawyer is, you can't go to the library and teach yourself a practice that we've grown up with for 40 years," Kenney says. "We've built an institutional memory for the industry itself, and you can't just cloak yourself in that expertise overnight…."

* * *

Kenney says Severson & Werson's class actions, financial institutions and insurance practices are national. The firm's financial clients include Wells Fargo & Co., Countrywide Funding, Ford Motor Credit Co. and General Motors Acceptance Corp., several of which had retained the firm to work as their class action counsel.

For more information about this article, please contact Mark J. Kenney at mjk@severson.com.