Gallagher & Kennedy has taken its initial foray into family law by luring over a four-person team from another Valley firm.
Melissa Benson joined Phoenix-based G&K from Tempe-based firm Davis Miles McGuire Gardner PLCC. Benson joined G&K as a shareholder to lead its new family law practice. She has 17 years' experience in all aspects of family law and the Arizona criminal justice system, ranging from work as a victim advocate, probation officer, sex crimes and domestic violence prosecutor, mediator and practicing attorney.
Benson started work at G&K effective July 29, after working in several roles at Davis Miles since 2019. She had been elevated to partner at Davis Miles in January.
Joining Benson at Gallagher & Kennedy are three former members of her team at Davis Miles, including associate attorney Elizabeth Nañez, paralegal Karen Duckworth-Barnes and legal assistant Metzil Heck. Nanez, a member of the National Hispanic Law Association, had been with Davis Miles for more than two years.
Benson said the conversation that ultimately led to her joining G&K happened during a happy hour at the beginning of the year. In fact, Benson said she had wanted to speak to G&K partner Haley Harrigan over a drink to try to convince her to join Davis Miles. Harrigan was named a Phoenix Business Journal Outstanding Woman in Business earlier this year.
"[Haley] had been a friend of mine since law school, and turns out I was trying to poach her and she was trying to poach me. Turns out she made a better pitch," Benson told the Business Journal. "I had texted her back in April after thinking about it, and then asked if I could bring my whole team. Everyone from [G&K managing partner] Kevin [O'Malley] to their other attorneys have been really great."
Gallagher & Kennedy ranks No. 8 on the Business Journal's list of the largest Phoenix-area law firms, with 59 Arizona attorneys prior to its latest additions. Davis Miles was ranked No. 10 by PBJ with 54 attorneys prior to Benson's departure this month.
Gallagher & Kennedy: On the lookout for complementary practices
Jennifer Cranston, a G&K shareholder and board member who is a member of the firm's recruiting and hiring committee, said the firm has always been looking at the big picture to think about complementary practices that could be added.
We had thought about adding a good, strong family law practice to help existing clients but we really hadn't found anyone that fit from a level practice point of view or a personality fit. When Haley [Harrigan] made the introduction to Melissa, she checked all the boxes.
Jennifer Cranston, Board Member
"Having [family law] is a good fit for all of our clients if you think about it. Our clients are in the southwest and all have families that could potentially have law issues, from a prenup to child custody issues or divorce. There are all these human issues our clients may encounter at one time or another, so we can be there for them and provide these services," Cranston added.
G&K has always put forth a team approach since it was founded by the late Michael Gallagher and the late Michael Kennedy in 1978, and began representing professional sports teams such as the Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona Cardinals. Cranston said Benson fits that team-first mentality, considering how she treats and interacts with her own team, and had wanted to bring them with her.
"We don't operate as hierarchy, so we see [hiring Melissa] as creating a very long-term and successful partnership, by adding this group of professionals to the firm," she said.
Benson said her team has hit the ground running this week, after bringing over about 30-35 clients from her practice at Davis Miles.
I see tremendous opportunities for us at Gallagher & Kennedy with the phenomenal resources they have. Ideally we would love to add more [family law] attorneys and staff. My personal goal is for us to create one of the leading family law practices in the Valley.
Melissa Benson
Click here to read the full story published by the Phoenix Business Journal.