Just a Minute with Randall D. Crocker

Company address: 411 E. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 700, Milwaukee, WI, 53202 Company Web site: http://www.vonbriesen.com
Company Web site: http://www.vonbriesen.com
Industry: Legal services/law firm
Number of employees: 160
Education: Drake University, B.A., 1976; Marquette University, J.D., 1979
Family: Wife, Kathleen Crocker; daughter, Margaret Crocker
What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
"In 2004, as von Briesen & Roper, S.C., celebrated its 100th anniversary, we rededicated our organization to our core beliefs and values and adopted a long-term plan that reflects an exciting and changing marketplace for the delivery of legal services."
What’s new at your company?
"Our new business plan commits our organization to provide the highest quality, cost-effective, practical and industry-focused legal services. To achieve our plan, we have committed our resources to hiring the best people and to providing them with the tools to being the most effective advocates and counselors to their clients. We provide all of our lawyers and para-professionals with laptop computers and remote access to our new electronic paperless office environment."
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
"We added lawyers with established practices by merger and acquisition and we intend to continue that trend. For instance, we acquired the Mequon-based law firm of Morse & Shiller in 2004 and the well-established Cabaniss Law Office in 2005."
What will be your company’s main challenges in the next year?
"Our main challenge is managing the amount of information that we deal with every day."
What’s the hottest trend in your industry?
"Sophisticated consumers of legal services are not committed to one law firm or service provider, but rather seek out the best lawyers to service their specific needs. The hottest trend is to be able to attract these clients by providing service and expertise which is among the best in any given practice area."
Do you have a business mantra?
"Service and expertise."
From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?
"Jack Welch and Rudy Giuliani."
What was the best advice you ever received?
"Producer efficiency in the absence of consumer utility is without economic meaning."
What do you like to do in your free time?
"Read and train Labrador retrievers for hunt testing."
January 21, 2005, Small Business Times, Milwaukee, WI