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V O L . X X I V N O. X X V I N OV E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 8 14 L AW F O C U S career services director, Derek Van Volkenburgh. He notes that small firms handle almost all criminal defense and most family law work in Maine, along with the bulk of trusts and estates and non-corporate real estate transactions. "To ignore small firms in a state like Maine is to miss a huge swath of the profession," he says. Boutique firms with a big footprint Within a few blocks of each other in downtown Portland are two niche firms with a big footprint — the three- attorney Opticliff Law, whose services include business, startup and copyright law, and business immigration firm FordMurray, which employs four law- yers and four support staff. Ezekiel Callanan founded Opticliff as a one-man operation in June 2012, work- ing from "the tiniest little desk" at ink Tank Coworking. He didn't spend much time behind the desk, though, making it a daily priority from the start to get out and prospect for clients at conferences and other networking events. "On Day One, I went to a talk and got my first client right then and there," he recalls. "On Day Two, I did it again and got another one." at's not to say it was all smooth sailing. After initially focusing on copyright law for creative-economy enterprises, Callanan quickly found that was "a little bit too niche" for Portland. Seeking a broader client base, he piv- oted into services for startups and entre- preneurs, including help with business formation and raising venture capital funding. He thinks his first clients were a baker and a contractor or builder. Now with Adam Nyhan and Andrew Kraus, Opticliff has a work cul- ture in stark contrast to that of big firms. ey're approachable and casual in how they dress — no suits or ties — and how they communicate with clients, many of whom are looking for advice on how to start their first business venture. "My goal," Callanan says, "was to build a firm that was truly a different kind of law firm, one built on flat fees and transparent billing, built on value- added professional services, and one that was more relaxed and casual." at applied both to the ink Tank setup and the second-floor Free Street suite the firm now calls home, with a welcoming reception area colorfully decorated by Callanan's wife. ough the only one of the three with large-firm experience, Nyhan advises new lawyers to consider start- ing in a small market. "You're probably going to be happier, and with better long-term economic prospects," Nyhan says. Kraus did just that by joining Opticliff, where he started his legal career and quickly discovered the value of networking. "If you want to be a small-firm attorney, you have to love the client interaction part, and you have to really want to put yourself out in the com- munity," Kraus says. ough attorneys do their own scheduling and clients can easily request appointments via the internet, Callanan is currently looking for a staff person to take on some administrative and legal responsibilities. Nearby on Pearl Street, business immigration firm FordMurray has grown from two founders in September 2015 to four attorneys and four support staff, including three paralegals. More than 80% of its clients are outside of Maine — in 25 states — and include hospitals and institutions of higher learning. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E THERE IS A DIFFERENCE Because Construction Management Design/Build General Contracting Engineering Sheridan Construction www.sheridancorp.com Fairfield Portland 207-453-9311 207-774-6138 Bear's Den, UMO P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Opticliff Law, a three-person firm in Portland with a focus on advising business startups, was founded by Ezekiel Callanan, center. He's joined by Adam Nyhan, left, and Andrew Kraus. If you want to be a small-firm attorney, you have to love the client- interaction part, and you have to really want to put yourself out in the community. — Andrew Kraus Opticliff Law

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