Fixed-fee law firm throws out the clock

The billable hour might want to watch its back.

J.M. Ramey and Wythe Michael left Hirschler Fleisher at end of 2009 and started their own business law practice. The firm, Ramey|Michael Business Law Group PC, is abandoning the stopwatch, instead charging clients based on arranged fees for services.

“We will consider what we think will go into the work and then set a fee. If we miss, that’s our problem, not the client’s problem,” said Ramey, 40. Read more

The Herd: Arrivals and departures for 1.06.2010

Sports:
The Flying Squirrels added a manager and a pitching and hitting coach.

Andy Skeels will make his Double-A managerial debut in the spring. He spent the 2009 season with the San Jose Giants (Advanced-A – California League), where he led the club to a 93-47 record. The 44-year-old also spent time as a manager or coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1999), Texas Rangers (2000) and Montreal Expos (2002-04) organizations. A former catcher, Skeels was originally selected by the San Diego Padres in the seventh round of the 1987 draft and played parts of 12 seasons in the minor leagues with the Padres, New York Yankees and Dodgers.

Ross Grimsley has been named pitching coach. Grimsley, who was a National League All-Star, enters his 12th season in the Giants organization. A former first-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in the 1969 draft, Grimsley spent 11 seasons pitching in the Major Leagues with several different teams. Read more

Is the billable hour’s time up?

Old habits die hard.

When it comes to Richmond’s legal industry, most businesses don’t like paying by billable hours. But for the most part, the concept is sticking around like cold pizza.

Cullen Couch, a communications director for the University of Virginia Law School Foundation who in July surveyed 1,200 alumni, found that most firms still use the billable hour. That’s despite the fact that 53 percent said that the recession would “fundamentally change the business of law going forward.” Read more

The law firm shuffle

The rainy fall has ushered in an unseasonably high amount of firm-hopping.

Cantor Arkema will be dropping its business practice, sticking with just personal injury. The firm has been renamed Cantor Stoneburner Ford Grana Buckner. Two of the former lawyers are leaving for a firm up the street, and four others are heading to a larger business law firm. The new firm has a place-holder website up here. Read more