FOV's – "Friends of Valorem"
At Valorem, we are well aware that we could never do what we do on a daily basis if it weren't for a little help from our friends. To that end, consider an entry on this list one little token of our gratitude -- and of course, our ringing endorsement.
JON HEINIGER DESIGN, INC.
(Creative Director/Designer Extraordinaire) - www.heinigerdesign.com
It's impossible to adequately gush about Jon. Not only is his work off the charts in terms of creativity, detail and design, but he also tolerated our off-the-wall ideas AND then brought them to life! Jon is responsible for our first brochure and pocket folder (hopefully coming soon to a bookstore near you), as well as our 1st anniversary open house invitation (woops -- didn't get yours? It got lost in the mail). We cannot recommend his work enough. Plus, he happens to be one of the most genuinely nice people we know...and at Valorem, that goes a long way. (Okay, and bringing us tasty desserts never hurts).
Duo Consulting
(Our web designers) – www.duoconsulting.com
We told them our goals, and then we told them our budget. They exceeded the former, and did not exceed the latter. We cannot say enough about Sonny Cohenand the entire crew at Duo. Just look at this web site and you'll understand.
GERRY RISKIN
(Firm Advisor) - www.edge.ai; www.gerryriskin.com
Someone once said of Gerry, "When Gerry speaks, he reaches parts of your mind that have never been used before." Gerry, a former managing partner of a large Canadian law firm, now consults with lawyers and law firms across the globe. We consider Gerry both a very close friend and an honorary member of Valorem. He has helped us in so many different ways, especially making sure we remain focused on our primary goals in starting Valorem.
CONFLUENCE LAW PARTNERS
A cool and like-minded law firm focused on providing IP representation on a flat fee or alternative fee basis. www.confluencelaw.com
David Bohrer and Michael Kallis (both formerly of Morgan Lewis) have created a fabulous national team to complement its Silicon Valley based firm. Check out their new IP blog too: www.flatfeeipblog.com.
Debra Snider
(Former firm lawyer, GC and now author and speaker) – www.debrasnider.com
Debra is an FOV for so many reasons. Check out her book, The Productive Culture Blueprint and some of the law-related resources on her web site www.debrasnider.com, including the “Enough is Enough” article.
eva wisnik
(Consultant/Trainer/Recruiter) - Wisnik Career Enterprises - www.wisnik.com
One of our favorite choices for business and professional development training programs for law firms and attorneys, including fabulous custom-tailored programs for women lawyers, new associates, new partners, and more. Eva is based in New York, but conducts training programs nation-wide, and we are lucky that her fan-base extends to a large number of Chicago firms, so we get to see her on a regular basis.
Workspring
(Off-site Meeting Space) - www.workspring.com
Very cool and cutting edge meeting space for small to large groups. They provide everything you need, from white boards and post-its to breakfast, lunch and snacks. An ideal and innovative way to have productive meetings outside of your own office.
Dan Ariely
(Professor/behavioral economics guru and author of Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions) – www.predictablyirrational.com
Predictably Irrational is the book of choice at Valorem these days, and the one we are recommending (or giving) to clients and friends so they can see for themselves. The best part of all – when we emailed Dan for advice about shifting the mind set from doing things "the same old way" to the Valorem way, he emailed us back with some helpful advice. Very cool.
S. Stein Furniture
(Cool office furniture) - www.ssteincompany.com.
Amazingly patient, fabulous service and fabulous selection at a variety of price points. Ask for Jill Hoffman and her team and you will undoubtedly have some of the coolest digs on the block.
instinct incorporated
(Office Signage/Design Firm) - www.instinctincorporated.com
Jackie Pinsler was a godsend when we wanted to create the type of signage that fit our firm perfectly. She captured our personality perfectly in creating signs like, "Beware of Brainstorms" for our Collaboration Room or "Valorem Bored Room" for our conference room.
FITZGERALD EARLES ARCHITECTS, INC.
(Our Architects) - www.feachicago.com
We told Dani Fitzgerald (312-491-9840) and her team that if anyone walked into our office space and said, "Ahhh, a law firm" we would be sorely disappointed. Knowing that we wanted something different that would reflect our values of open collaboration, Dani and her team created something that exceeded our every expectation. Live long and prosper, Dani.