In this blog, we feature the success story of how Slappey & Sadd broke free from traditional bank frustrations by finding a banking partner that understands the firm’s business needs.

 For plaintiffs law firms operating on contingency, banking isn’t just a back-office function—it’s a mission-critical partnership. Yet too often, traditional commercial banks fall short in understanding the unique business model, capital and operational needs that define contingency fee law firms. For Jay Sadd, co-founder of Atlanta-based Slappey & Sadd, those limitations became too important to ignore.

When Your Bank Doesn’t Understand Your Business

Traditional banks often struggle to understand the nuances of contingency fee law firms. “We spend a lot of money to build our cases and to represent our clients,” Jay explains. “Over the years, we’ve had three different banking relationships. We moved from one to the next. And they were traditional banks that frankly just didn’t understand our business and didn’t understand that our mission and the type of work that we do.”

That disconnect went beyond unfamiliarity — it became an operational liability. Traditional banks didn’t recognize the timing and cash flow of contingent cases and were often hard to reach in critical moments. As the firm grew and its caseload expanded, so did the need for responsiveness and alignment with the firm’s bank.

“We have to work with [banks] really on a day-to-day basis to make sure that our bills get paid, make sure that our finances are in order, and make sure that our banking needs for our clients and for our law firm are taken care of,” stresses Jay.

The Breaking Point: Sleepless Nights and Slow Response

Eventually, Jay’s frustrations reached a breaking point. “My law partner and I both lost sleep over the fact that we really couldn’t get a hold of them when we needed them,” Jay says. For a law firm managing a high volume of active cases at a time, delayed communication wasn’t just inconvenient—it was a risk to business continuity and client service. For Slappey & Sadd, their former banks didn’t seem to have the resources required to respond to the firm’s needs – an approach that was “too hands-off” for the firm’s partners.

These traditional bank frustrations led Jay to reevaluate what he needed from a banking partner. “We came to Esquire Bank because of those frustrations with the other banks and because Esquire Bank clearly understands a law firm like ours,” recalls Jay.

Seeking a Banking Partner Who Gets It

Looking for a bank with deeper insight into how contingency fee law firms operate, Jay sought out Esquire Bank. “The thing that intrigued me about Esquire Bank is they really focused on the type of work that we do,” says Jay. “Instantly I could see they knew about the concerns of our clients and the concerns of our law firm. They were able to respond because they understood how we work, what our needs were, and they’re well-staffed.”

For Slappey & Sadd, the transition to Esquire Bank was a seamless process. “We were really happy with the way we were able to transfer our accounts over to Esquire Bank and able to continue our day-to-day operations without skipping a beat,” notes Jay.

Refocusing on Clients and the Courtroom

With the right banking partner in place, Jay’s focus shifted back to his clients. “They [Esquire] do everything they can to make sure we have the opportunity as lawyers to represent our clients as best we can and do the best we can for them, sometimes under very difficult circumstances.”

Jay adds:  “I’ve been around for a couple of decades or more now and we’ve banked with a [few] other banks. And Esquire, by far, has been our best experience because they understand law firms, they understand what we do, and they’re very responsive to our needs.”

For law firm leaders grappling with banking friction, Jay’s story is a clear reminder: having a bank that understands your business isn’t a nicety — it’s a necessity.

“Esquire Bank has always had our back,” notes Jay. “They handle our transactions efficiently, they’re friendly, they answer our calls, and they’re there for us when we need them, and so, you know, they’re part of the team.”

Meet with Esquire Bank

Don’t let traditional bank frustrations hamper your firm’s operations. Discover how to run more efficient operations and grow your law firm by choosing the right banking partner. Esquire Bank is purpose-built for contingency fee law firms.

Learn how your law firm can finance its case costs and free up capital to invest in talent, marketing, technology, operations, case acquisition, and growth.

Schedule a consultation with an Esquire Bank law firm banking expert at a time convenient to your schedule.

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* The information provided on (or accessed through) this blog is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, and should not be relied on for, law firm operations, tax, legal or accounting advice. Some of the information may not be applicable or appropriate for all law firms. Please consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors as appropriate. Results may vary by law firm.