Everyone in business must have an “elevator story” – a summary of what they do that could be told in a short elevator ride. For the partners of Freedman, Anselmo, Lindberg and Rappe, LLC - or FAL&R – their story would go as follows: A Naperville-based law firm founded in 1980 that works mostly in creditor’s rights, including the collection of consumer retail debt, foreclosures and bankruptcy. They also assist buyers and sellers in real estate transactions and work to provide expert counsel related to wills, trusts and estate planning.
Steve Lindberg, a FAL&R partner since 1988, feels that change has been critical to their firm’s success.
“People who made wood burning stoves aren’t in business today,” Lindberg said. “We must change and adapt to keep our firm growing and stay ahead of the competition. There are 80,000 attorneys in Illinois and we want our practice to operate at a higher level than everyone else.”
In the interest of their employees and clients, Steve and his partners Louis Freedman, Thomas Anselmo and Robert Rappe have created a strong business succession program so their firm will thrive long after they retire. “We put a premium on both client and employee retention here,” Lindberg said.
“We feel the trust we have built over the years should not be taken for granted.”
An Affinity For Efficiency
Companies in need of collections and foreclosures – especially those publicly traded – started to demand performance data showing exact returns on investment from firms like FAL&R in the late 1990’s. These companies were tired of writing blank checks and wanted results with the numbers to back it.
“In both court and in business practices, lawyers tend to rely on precedents,” Lindberg explained. “There is an aversion to change in this industry, most notably in the reporting of debt collection numbers. Because transparency exposes inefficiencies, our firm has always Always Changing For The Better Louis Freedman, Partner of FAL&R, reviews a daily production report card with a collections call center employee. FAL&R is recongized as one of the Midwest’s best-performing and fastest-growing creditor’s rights law firms. embraced accountability in our production. Now that reporting is the industry standard, we are that far ahead.”
FAL&R’s collection and foreclosure clients receive a report card every day showing their performance. Their awards for excellence from companies such as Ford and Target aside, Lindberg feels FAL&R’s embracing of the demand for metrics has had many positive effects on their firm. “If we want a client’s business, we will do things the way they want it done,” he said. “The demand for metrics has streamlined our firm’s operations and increased our capabilities. If a client set the bar at five feet, we will gladly jump 10.”
Growth Begets Growth
In 2001, FAL&R had 20 people on staff. Five years later, the firm’s attorneys, paralegals, collectors and other employees totaled 95 people. Needless to say, FAL&R is looking for more office space.
“This firm is selective in who we bring in,” said Melissa Schroeder, FAL&R’s Human Resources Manager. “We are a very high volume firm and expect a lot from our people. But we treat our employees very well - offering competitive pay, room for growth and a rich benefits package.”
For instance, an employee who started at FAL&R as an assistant in the foreclosures department took advantage of the firm’s tuition reimbursement program and recently began law school.
“You have to help people grow,” added Lindberg. “If you corner them, they won’t stick around long.”
With The Help of Horton
“Providing competitive benefits is essential to recruit top talent in our industry,” Lindberg said. “Attorneys look long and hard at these packages and The Horton Group’s employee benefit programs and expert consultation have been fantastic for us.”
FAL&R began their partnership with The Horton Group in 1995. The firm currently offers a three-tiered price program, giving employees more control of their benefit plan. The Horton Group also facilitates on-site health and wellness screenings for the growing firm.
“A number of employees discovered an existing or looming health condition at our most recent screening,” said Schroeder. ”We have received a lot of thanks from our people for bringing this service to the workplace. Steve and the other partners always talk about the importance of change, and providing these health screenings shows that they are doing more than just talking.”
And while FAL&R will continue to change in the coming years, one constant will remain: Exceeding client expectations through the highest level of excellence in service.