If you want to know how the economy’s doing, look at the law and accounting firms whose services other businesses seek, says John Pinkney, managing partner in the law firm of Slovak Baron Empey Murphy & Pinkney LLP.
“Several years ago, we were a handful of lawyers. We’re now 20 lawyers, and we employ about 33 people. And we are still looking to bring on more lawyers. That tells me, given the amount of work that we’re handling for our clients, the economy is robust.”
SBEMP is the largest law firm in the Coachella Valley. They are a full-service firm offering a range of specialties including business and real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, labor and employment, public law, and estate planning. The firm represents small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, and governmental agencies such as cities, counties, special districts, and water districts.
Pinkney pins growth to the region’s demographic changes. “The Coachella Valley is transitioning into a year-round economy,” he says. “We’ve seen a lot of growth in hospitality, alternative energy, and healthcare.” And as those industries continue to grow, he says SBEMP will continue to grow as well.
His firm recruits bright professionals attracted to the quality of life here, and its affordability compared with other California locales. “Those are major attributes of this area and have been a good thing for our firm,” he says. “We stand by the belief that hard work, integrity, and ethics are a winning combination, and the secret to success not only in our business, but in any business.”
VIDEO: Watch the interview with John Pinkney.