Longtime Spokane law firm Randall & Danskin PS has added seven attorneys since the beginning of this year, giving it 19 lawyers in all, and says the expansion has broadened its business law expertise, its ability to provide clients with long-term strategic plans, and also its youthfulness.


Five of those new attorneysMike Bayley, Seanna Bodholt, Bill Buckholdt, Gair Petrie, and Stephanie Taylor, all formerly with Paine Hamblen LLP, one of Spokanes largest firmsjoined Randall & Danskin last month. Two others, Gage Stromberg and Todd Taylor, came aboard earlier this year.


With exception of Stephanie Taylor, who will work as an associate attorney in the firm, the attorneys from Paine Hamblen have joined Randall & Danskin as principals, says P.J. Grabicki, a principal and managing partner in the firm. He says these five lawyers bring experience in the fields of tax and business law, estate planning, employee benefits, and strategic business planning.


Associate attorney Gage Stromberg formerly had worked as in-house counsel for Spokane-based Wells & Co. and has considerable experience in securities law and business and corporate law issues, Grabicki says. Todd Taylor, who moved to Spokane from Florida recently, specializes in tax law, real estate planning, probate and trust, and business and corporate transactions.


Also earlier this year, Andy Hastings returned to Randall & Danskin, where he had served as an associate attorney for two years, after completing the masters of tax program at the University of Washington School of Law, Grabicki says.


The experience and expertise that the new attorneys bring will help Randall & Danskin to serve better its business clients, many of whom have long-term relationships with the firm, says Grabicki.


Kit Querna, another longtime principal at Randall & Danskin, says the addition of the attorneys, most of whom are under the age of 40, helps to ensure the future of the firm. None of the senior lawyers there plan to leave soon, but it is a tremendous sense of peace to know that your clients will continue to be served, he says.


Founded here in 1914 by business attorneys Claude Randall and Floyd Danskin, the firm has been located in the Bank of America Financial Center, at 601 W. Riverside, since that building was constructed in 1981 and occupies a 13,000-square-foot space on the buildings 15th floor. Along with the 19 attorneys, the firm employs a support staff of 18 people.


Grabicki, who has been with Randall & Danskin since 1977, says the firm provides legal services in the areas of business and commercial representation, tax law, retirement and estate planning, and broad litigation. He says the firm has the resources to practice all types of law and the focus of the firm is the mantra how best to serve the client.


Some of Randall & Danskins clients include Inland Power & Light Co., Washington Trust Bank, and Inland Northwest Health Services, and it represents a number of physician practices and automotive groups.


Grabicki and Querna believe the firm has the workload to warrant the number of attorneys it has added this year, but both say theyre focused on keeping the firm lean and efficient.


Clients are being much more careful with their dollars these days, says Querna. He says he believes that Randall & Danskin has the talent and resources to compete with larger law firms here, and with any satellite offices that national firms might open here in the future.


Grabicki estimates that 70 percent of the firms work is in the broad field of business representation, which can include work ranging from employee contracts and benefits to estate planning. He says the other 30 percent is principally litigation oriented. That type of work fluctuates, he says, depending on who walks through the door and what their needs are.


Although Randall & Danskin doesnt have an office in Idaho, many of its attorneys are licensed in the state, and the firm says it does a lot of work for clients in Kootenai and Bonner counties.


Grabicki declines to disclose the firms annual billings, but says theyve been growing for some time. He says hes pleased with the firms current size and revenues, and adds that it doesnt have any immediate plans to add more attorneys or staff members, although that could change if opportunities justify further hirings.


Unlike many law firms that have an established track, typically occurring over seven or eight years or longer, that associate attorneys must follow before they can achieve partner status, Randall & Danskin likes to have its attorneys financially vested in the firm as soon as the principals think they are ready because they believe that approach promotes a healthier work environment, Grabicki says. He admits that having so many principals can dilute the profits that each one partner receives, but says, You can either have a pyramid structure, with a few people at the top, or a broad-based structure where everyone is involved. The approach is much more progressive than other firms, says new addition Seanna Bodholt.


One challenge facing the firm isnt unique to law, says Grabicki. He says all professional firms face the demographic challenge as the average age of lawyers rises, a large share of them approach retirement, and a decreasing number of young lawyers come in to succeed them.


Contact Ben Rascoff at (509) 344-1260 or via e-mail at benr@spokanejournal.com.