Gary Lesser, Managing Partner, Lesser, Landy, Smith & Siegel
In an interview with Invest:, Gary Lesser, Managing Partner of Lesser, Landy, Smith & Siegel, said that the firm’s continued success is driven by smart, strategic growth, a deep commitment to community, and the thoughtful integration of new technologies like AI. “We’ve been in Florida for 98 years, and with the area booming, there’s more demand and more opportunities to help our clients.”
What have been some of the main highlights and key milestones for the firm in the last year?
It’s really been an exceptional year for the firm. We changed our name for the first time in over 20 years and welcomed a new equity partner, Glenn Siegel. Glenn has spent most of his professional career with us and, through his own hard work and the firm’s growth, has earned that partnership. As a result, we’ve expanded the size of the firm, our practice areas and expanded the firm’s statewide reach with offices in Bradenton and Broward County. While we’ve always focused on injury and insurance litigation — strictly on a referral basis with no advertising — we’ve recently seen significant growth in business litigation on a contingency fee basis, and these cases also come to the firm by referral, usually by lawyers and other professionals. That growth has led us to make an excellent lateral hire by bringing on board Ryan McCarthy, a new partner from one of Florida’s top firms. He is heading that division of the firm, and I expect we’ll see continued expansion over the next year. This momentum is fueled by the strength of our legal team, our reputation, and the region’s rapid growth. We’ve been in Florida for 98 years, and with the area booming, there’s more demand and more opportunities to help our clients.
What areas are you exploring for future growth?
We recently hired Michael Baxter, one of Florida’s top medical malpractice lawyers, and his whole team came with him. Our focus is significant cases where our clients have suffered a death in the family or a catastrophic injury due to medical neglect. Our firm has always taken more of a “boutique” approach. We would rather handle a smaller number of bigger cases, so we can give those cases our full attention and provide ongoing communication with and service to our clients to get the best possible result. Our expanded statewide reach allows us to help our clients across the state though our roots are strongly placed here in Palm Beach County.
Are you currently paying attention to any changes in the legal environment or regulatory frameworks that could impact the way your firm operates or serves clients?
Yes, there is a major shift happening right now with the rise of AI. The rollout in the legal field has been awkward. Many lawyers are either afraid of it or are misusing it. Few take the time to truly understand that it’s just a tool like a pen or a computer. AI should be used in the way it works best right now, understanding that it will evolve over time. We’ve seen lawyers get in trouble for citing fake case law, but that’s not AI’s fault — that’s on the lawyer for not checking the source. If you don’t blindly trust another attorney’s draft, why would you do that with an AI generated work product?
Large law firms are already leveraging AI, particularly for data management. At our firm, we’re using it to manage email and handle large sets of data, especially where we have voluminous medical records and other documents. We were asked to beta-test a new AI product for summarizing medical records, but we still carefully review everything personally and in detail. AI is transforming legal practice, but like any tool, it works best when used responsibly and intelligently.
In terms of practice areas, aside from healthcare, are there others where you’re seeing increased demand or client needs?
Our core has always been injury and insurance law. And frankly, people don’t drive very well — they’re in a rush or looking at their phones — so that continues to be a major source of demand. With the population growth and massive tourism in South Florida, we see more traffic and more accidents. That keeps us busy. We’re also seeing significant growth in healthcare law and business litigation. But really, South Florida is a bustling place, and unfortunately, distracted driving is a major danger on Florida’s roads and highways.
Do you see the aging population affecting your legal practice, especially in areas like healthcare?
There’s a common debate about who the worst drivers are — New Yorkers or Floridians — but the real issue in Florida is the mix of drivers. You have tourists, seniors, young drivers, busy professionals, and families, all on the same roads. Different driving styles create disharmony, and there’s actual research backing this. I remind my three daughters every day to drive safely and defensively because it’s dangerous out there.
What sets your firm apart from others in Palm Beach and South Florida?
Very few firms in the area have the longevity we do — 98 years of continuous ownership, multigenerational client relationships, and deep community involvement. My grandfather came here in the 1920s and got involved in civic life immediately. He believed it was our duty to help others, a value passed down to my father and now to me, and this is the core value of the firm and expected of all our lawyers – to be meaningfully involved in the community. We have strong community and business connections, which help us attract excellent legal talent. Our attorneys are highly experienced and deeply committed to their work and to their community. We don’t advertise and we don’t do TV spots or billboards or anything like that. We see many clients referred to us by other clients that the firm has represented over decades, and we see many clients referred to us by lawyers and other professionals and friends in the community. We have deep roots in South Florida, and that is because of case results, relationships and reputation.
Many law firms have noted recruitment is a challenge. Has that been the case for your firm?
Attracting and retaining top legal talent is a major challenge, especially now. Many out-of-state firms are entering Florida, increasing competition for a limited pool of highly qualified lawyers. The demand far exceeds supply, even though the talent pool is growing.
We’ve been fortunate because of our relationships and reputation. We’ve hired great lawyers usually through referrals. We’ve also used headhunters with some success, but personal connections have been more effective. Recruitment of top talent is going to remain a challenge in the legal sector and in the business community in general.
Looking ahead over the next two to three years, what are your priorities and goals for the firm?
For the last few years, I’ve divided my time between running the firm and serving as President of the Florida Bar. That was an incredibly rewarding and exhausting experience, but now I’m back at the firm full-time, and our focus is on smart growth. We’re not trying to grow for growth’s sake — we want to do it strategically. We have been able to add skilled lawyers to our team, and we always have our eyes open for lawyers who want to work hard for our clients and serve the community. Palm Beach County continues to thrive. While the firm has a strong statewide presence, Palm Beach County is our base of operations and our home. It’s a beautiful place to live and work, and the economic growth here is consistently strong. The challenge for law firms is staying relevant and connected. I tell both new and experienced lawyers to lean into their work and into the people around them. Build relationships, do good work, and you’ll succeed, especially in a dynamic place like this.
I was born and raised here. I’ve practiced law here for 33 years, and what still amazes me is how impactful you can be if you choose to be present and involved. In Palm Beach County, if you engage, whether politically, civically, or charitably, you can make a real difference. Despite all the growth, this still feels like a big small town. You make your reputation here through relationships and hard work. It’s our secret ingredient. If you’ve been here for a few years and get meaningfully involved, you’re a Palm Beach County person.
