DISCUSS YOUR SPECIALTY
“We practice within the general umbrella of civil trial work,” said Kelly Mathis. “We are mostly on the side of the defense, trying civil litigation. Within that general umbrella we do a couple of main areas: insurance defense and workers comp defense. Within insurance defense, one of our particular niches is medical malpractice defense.”
HAVE YOU SEEN A SHARP SPIKE IN THE NUMBER OF DOCTORS BEING SUED?
“It seems that there’s more of it,” said Mathis. “But there’s always been a fair amount. I think there’s certainly more publicity now. It’s obviously a very hot issue of the doctors and their ability to attain insurance and the role that lawsuits play in that, both in number of suits and size of the verdicts.”
“The other thing I’ve observed is we’re seeing more cases that are very rare kinds of outcomes,” added Mary Bland Love. “There’s more of a reach to sue doctors for uncommon events. The other thing we’re seeing is more lifestyle cases — people who come to a doctor with significant, long-term, preexisting lifestyle misbehavior: obesity, smoking, diabetes. Then they have a bad event and they believe the doctor mismanaged their already complex situation.”
WHY REPRESENT DOCTORS INSTEAD OF PATIENTS?
“The attorneys in the firm believe a lot of cases doctors face are unfounded or very weak and the public doesn’t realize the effect these cases have on doctors.”
HOW LONG HAS THE FIRM BEEN AROUND?
“Bob Gobelman and I started the firm April 1, 1988,” said Love. “We had both been partners at Matthews, Osborne, McNatt, Gobelman & Cobb. We told our partners that we were forming our own firm.”
A HUNDRED BOTTLES OF BEER ON THE WALL
“Our first office was on Adams Street where Jacksonville Legal Aid is now,” recalled Love. “When we started, we had no carpet, borrowed furniture and Bob had a trial starting that Monday. We got the boxes unpacked on Saturday, drinking beer from Scottie’s to get it done. Our first firm picture is Bob and me toasting our new firm with bottles of beer sitting on boxes.”
WHY DID YOU AND BOB START YOUR OWN FIRM?
“At that time there were differences of opinion developing among the partners about management and financial issues,” said Love. “It looked like a good opportunity time-wise in his career and in mine.”
WHEN DID THE PARTNERS SIGN UP?
“Kristy came to the firm in 1989,” said Love. “Kevin came to the firm in 1991. They both made partner in 1995.”
“I joined the firm in 1994 and became partner in 1996,” added Mathis. “Ron was the last addition. Because the firm name was so long, he didn’t get added to the name.”
“He’s starting his third year as partner,” added Love.
WILL YOU ADD
MORE PARTNERS?
“We have no plans one way or the other,” said Love. “At present, we’ve got a stable partnership. We’re all open to grow but there is no immediate necessity to do so. I think our philosophy has always been to let young associates rise to the occasion that express an interest and ability. It’s not a closed shop.”
HOW MANY ASSOCIATES DO YOU HAVE?
“Five,” said Mathis. “And we have two clerks ready to take the bar.”
“We have 27 total people, either full-time or part-time,” added Love. “When Bob and I started the firm, we didn’t have the ambition to make this an institution.”
“The firm is always going to be medium-sized,” added Mathis. “We don’t envision being the next Holland & Knight.”
DESCRIBE YOUR CLIENT FLOW OVER THE YEARS
“Steadily increasing would be the terms I’d use,” said Love. “We started off with two partners and two associates. We ebbed and flowed in terms of the total number of lawyers we’ve had but we haven’t been below nine in a long time. We’re basically at 11 to 13 now and we’ll probably be increasing from there. When we moved into this space, we planned for 15 or more lawyers over the course of the lease. We’ve planned ahead because we’ve seen steady growth.”
WHAT IS THE KEY TO
YOUR GROWTH?
“There are several reasons for that,” continued Love. “Frankly, there is a growth in the experience of the firm. Along with that experience has come a fair amount of success. Thirdly, the community itself is growing. A successful firm in a successful economic community will thrive and I think we have. You’ve got to work hard for it and keep remembering that you’re a professional service organization, with emphasis on both points.”
MEET THE PLAYERS
Robert Gobelman went to University of Chicago Law School. After graduating, he joined Osborne, Copp, Markham and Ehrlich, which merged to form Matthews, Osborne, Ehrlich, McNatt, Gobelman & Cobb.
Love is a graduate from the University of Virginia School of Law. Having worked with Gobelman since 1978, she became a partner in 1985.
Originally from the Tampa area, Mathis moved to Jacksonville to join Gallagher, Baumer, Bradford, Miklas, Cannon & Walters. The firm dissolved a few months later and Mathis went with Baumer, Bradford & Walters. The remaining partners formed their own firm, which is now Holland & Knight. Through a friend, he learned of a position at Matthews, Osborn. He is a Vanderbilt and Florida State University alumni.
Kristy Gavin, a graduate from the University of Florida, clerked for Bob Spohrer. Love met Gavin through him and encouraged Gavin to work for her.
Kevin Blaz’s background was with the State Attorney’s Office. A graduate of Thomas Cooley School of Law, Blazs joined the firm after returning from a teaching stint in China. He also practices mediation.
Ron Wasilenko served 22 years in the U.S. Navy where he was (Ret.) Adm. Kevin Delaney’s senior JAG officer. He made partner at the firm after one year.
WHAT’S GREAT ABOUT RUNNING YOUR OWN FIRM?
“When I decided to be a lawyer, I wanted to have the opportunity for service, to have an interesting professional career and to be able to handle the financial needs of my family,” said Love. “What’s rewarding is the fulfillment of all three goals. If your work is not interesting, it’s hard to motivate yourself to get out of bed.”
— by Monica Chamness