3 min read October 2023 — In an interview with Invest:, Marc Tepper, head of the Philadelphia office for national law firm Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney, talked about the firm’s Philadelphia office being designated one of the Best Places to Work in Philadelphia. He also discussed the challenges that remote working models have brought for some of the firm’s practices and its strategy to promote diversity and inclusion that have earned the firm a Mansfield Certification.
What were some of the prominent milestones that Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney reached in the past year?
2023 has been a year of growth for the Philadelphia office with many new hires in key strategic areas like energy and government relations. We have clients that allow us to do cutting-edge work and attorneys who enjoy the camaraderie and the challenges that the work brings to the office.
I’m most proud of the recent recognition of our office culture. We were selected as a Best Places to Work winner in the “large” company category by the local business publication. Based on an employee-driven survey, we were one of the few law firms selected for this honor, and the only one in our category. It celebrated our dynamic and collaborative culture that treats everyone with respect.
What are the key factors that differentiate Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney from other national law firms in terms of client service?
We have a proactive culture that is constantly trendspotting and forecasting for the next issues our clients may need support in navigating. This allows us to stay on top of emerging issues and open conversations about where our firm’s full-service platform can help them. We truly have a collaborative approach, and we reach out across our national footprint to support clients. We also keep an open dialogue with clients for them to discuss what other issues they may need support with and how we can continue to enhance service and value to them.
What are the top challenges facing the legal sector in Greater Philadelphia and what is your strategy to navigate them?
A topic people hear about often in Philadelphia is the office culture and which companies have made the “return to the office” a work-related priority post-pandemic. Having a number of attorneys working remotely is a challenge for the legal industry in Philadelphia. The more people who return to the office, the safer the community feels and the greater number of opportunities there are to collaborate with colleagues and local business contacts.
At Buchanan, we have a hybrid schedule that still allows for the flexibility of remote work and the collaboration provided by an office environment. I’ve noticed that practices that require more work among different lawyers and professional staff are in the office to have that collaborative experience. For example, litigation requires working with paralegals to get exhibits ready, testing out themes for trial and internally discussing cross-examination methods, all of which are more efficient for the client if the team works together in-person.
What strategies has Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney adopted to attract and retain team members?
When searching for new candidates we look at their capabilities and their experience in the areas that we need. We focus on finding the best possible person for the discipline that is required and geographic location is a secondary element to it. If that person is based in Philadelphia and a large share of work happens to be in Philadelphia, that is great. If that person is based in another city, we will find a way to get that person to do the same level of work as if they were based in our Philadelphia office. Additionally, we are very intentional about being part of associations and affinity groups that will introduce us to the best candidates.
What initiatives or programs does the firm have in place to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment for its lawyers and staff?
Diversity & Inclusion has always been a core value of the firm, and since our Chief Diversity & Inclusion Office Lloyd Freeman joined the firm in 2020, we have moved the needle with even more intentionality. We have expanded and grown our affinity groups and we seek out diverse candidates to fill open positions. We also publish a Culture Report that tells the story of the firm’s D&I strategy and what our goals are for the next year. It is a useful and timely report for our clients and prospective clients looking to work with our attorneys.
The firm’s Diversity & Inclusion programming has been recognized by the legal industry with many awards. Notably, we were one of the firms that signed onto the Mansfield Rule Plus Certification during its first year and it was recently announced that we received the Mansfield Rule Plus Certification for the fifth consecutive year. The Certification is a key diversity benchmark in the legal industry. This success can be attributed to being intentional about our diversity and inclusion initiatives and it is probably the single most important firm related designations that brings me the most pride for who we are as a cohesive unit.
What makes Greater Philadelphia a great area to have law firms such as Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney do business?
Philadelphia is unique in that it is one of the few great walkable cities in the United States. Additionally, it is one of only a handful of cities where people can both live and work and also feel safe doing it. Our center region has undertaken several initiatives to make the city safer and the streets more vibrant and alive than ever (despite media stories often to the contrary). When you live and work in Philadelphia, it is a gift. We have the best chefs and restaurants, the best sports fans, outstanding museums and the best community leaders of all the major cities. Additionally, there are thousands of new places to live coming to a number of emerging neighborhoods all around the core of the city. Moreover, Philadelphia is simply an easier place to live for people when compared with other Northeast cities or other large cities across the country. Our students can graduate from some of the best universities in the country and right out of school have an affordable place to call home with all the amenities that come with dynamic center city living. Many of our recent graduates stay in Philadelphia even when they come from another part of the country. More than ever, those who decide after graduation to work in New York City or DC, often return. The reasons are basic: affordability, a great arts scene, great food in every city neighborhood, an improving school system for our children, proximity to the best beaches and a population that cares about its city. That is what makes Philadelphia different from other great cities and why the future here is so bright.
Where do you see Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney going in the next two to three years and what is your outlook for the legal sector in Philadelphia within that time frame?
The past few years have been incredibly strong years for Buchanan in terms of growth and we do not see that slowing down. Given our strengths in the areas of life sciences, energy, healthcare and finance, we expect to see those core areas grow at a measured pace and we plan to expand into new areas. Additionally, our litigation practice will continue to be a driver for our firm over the next few years. We are also expecting to see tremendous growth in Philadelphia as the next mayor will bring incredible energy to the city and continue to focus on inclusion, equity, safety, improving our school systems, jobs and clean energy. That, coupled with the stem cell and life science research labs opening at a record pace around University City (near Penn and Drexel), will elevate Philadelphia to new heights. We are already a world class destination and there is no reason to think any of that will change anytime soon.
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