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10 Hartford Business Journal • July 8, 2019 • www.HartfordBusiness.com He said the firm has remained com- petitive by adopting technology such as client portals and artificial intelligence to boost efficiency and accessibility, of- fering alternatives to traditional hourly billing and specializing in new areas — strategies echoed by the other two firms. Lieberman pointed to the recent launch of the firm's state attorneys general practice group, which he said answered a call from clients who were dealing with complicated compliance issues across multiple state borders. Led by former Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen and his former deputy, the group represents business clients facing enforcement actions by state attorneys general, in areas ranging from consumer protection and antitrust matters to environmental regulation. If a client faces a data breach affect- ing customers in 15 states, the group can swoop in "like a SWAT team" to contact the 15 state offices and resolve the issue quickly, Lieberman said. "It's a perfect example of where a client's needs dictated to us what we needed to do strategically as a firm," he explained. Changing with the times Bridgeport-based Pullman & Com- ley, which has an office in Hartford and recently expanded to Springfield, has also kept its competitive edge by developing new areas of expertise as Connecticut's economy evolved, said Chairman James T. Shearin. "I'm sitting in Bridgeport right now which in the '40s and '50s was the munitions capital of the world. That industry is gone and in its place have come other businesses, so as law firms we adapt," he said. "You've got to remain on the cutting edge as the business and industry around you changes." He said one of the biggest shifts in the last two decades has been in the public-development arena. Having a hand in "pretty much every major development project in the state," he said, the firm now specializes in public-private partnerships and incen- tive programs like Opportunity Zones, which promise federal tax breaks to developers building in distressed neighborhoods. It's also found new clients in emerg- ing industries like alternative energy and medical marijuana. Shearin, Goldberg and Lieberman also cited their firms' strong com- mitment to community service, but agreed that the main driver of any prospering law firm is its people. "Not only the hiring. It's the train- ing, it's the retaining," Shearin said. "I think we all share that common ingre- dient: The people make it work." Georgetown's Jones said attracting, nurturing and keeping top lawyers is a tall order at a time when talent poaching from rival law firms is at an all-time high nationally. Non-compete clauses that are standard in other industries are considered a violation of ethics in the legal field, he said. "Keeping a firm together [in this climate] requires a lot of attention not only to economics but also to culture," Jones said. "You've got to make your people want to be there and give them good reasons for wanting to stay. I take my hat off to any firm that's suc- cessfully done that for 100 years." FOCUS >> Legal Milestone continued Monnes. Lieberman and Shearin, from three competing law firms, pose on an outdoor patio at Shipman & Goodwin's Hartford offices. HBJ PHOTO | STEVE LASCHEVER @pullmancomley pullcom.com BRIDGEPORT 203.330.2000 HARTFORD 860.424.4300 SPRINGFIELD 413.314.6160 WATERBURY 203.573.9700 WESTPORT 203.254.5000 WHITE PLAINS 914.705.5355 STAMFORD 203.324.5000 Celebrating 100 Years of Pulling Together, Succeeding Together We are proud to have been a leader in the Connecticut legal and business community since 1919. To all of our clients, thank you for the continued trust you have put in us over the last century. We look forward to working with you to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. At Pullman & Comley, our culture of "pulling together, succeeding together" with our clients, with each other, and with our communities has been, and will continue to be, the cornerstone of our success. Looking to create a custom publication? Let us take care of it for you. ADVERTISING@ HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM WWW.HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM/ CUSTOMPUBLISHING | 860.236.9998 Whether it's the celebration of a major anniversary or the opening of a new headquarters, Hartford Business Journal's Custom Publishing Division can help you create a custom magazine for your business. Our division's top fl ight team of writers and designers can help you tell your story – and make your business look great! Based on our unique publishing model, it's surprisingly affordable. ADVERTISING@ CALL TODAY!