Published in Firm News on December 6, 2024
With over a century of experience, Douglas, Haun & Heidemann has transitioned from offering a wide range of legal services as a general practice firm, to concentrating on key areas of the law, including ligation, family law, estate planning, real estate, and probate law.
The team at Douglas, Haun & Heidemann includes two members of its founding family: Patrick Douglas and his father, Kerry Douglas, along with 8 other attorneys. Patrick, who is the firm’s president and one of four partners, shared that his decision to pursue a legal career was deeply influenced by his family’s history of working in the field of law.
“My family has always emphasized the importance of serving your community,” Patrick explained, “and I’ve always felt like the practice of law has given me the opportunity to do that.”
The firm’s remarkable longevity, spanning over a century of practice, hasn’t come without its hurdles. Patrick acknowledged a key challenge often faced by smaller firms: balancing leadership responsibilities with day-to-day legal tasks. He says of his years of practice the primary challenge he’s faced “is fulfilling the dual role of being the managers of the business while also being the primary producers.”
Despite these challenges, Patrick believes the firm’s ability to evolve over the past 112 years reflects its resilience and dedication. Looking towards the future, he envisions utilizing new technologies to enhance efficiency and provide cost-effective legal services to clients.
Community involvement is central to the firm’s identity and Patrick is committed to maintaining this important tradition.
“Many attorneys have been and continue to be a part of civic organizations, such as Rotary. Others have received civic service awards,” he said. “We have supported numerous charities over the years from direct donations, to donating our services, and putting on a golf tournament to raise money for local charities.”
Additionally, the firm is prioritizing attracting talented personal injury attorneys in Springfield to join their team in the future.
“Our long-term goals include continuing to provide such a high quality of legal services that the position as a future partner in the firm is so highly coveted that it is sought out by the best and brightest young attorneys,” he said, “Our long term success can only be assured by the strength of our attorneys and their high-quality performance for the benefit of our clients.”
As Douglas, Haun & Heidemann continue to practice law and transition their focus to specific areas of law, they hope to carry on important traditions while making way for their team to expand and grow alongside their practice.