In this blog, we highlight how Sean Flaherty, managing partner of New England-based, Keches Law Group, guided the firm to build bold success by partnering with Esquire Bank and investing in the firm’s key business areas. This compelling story offers a blueprint for contingency fee law firms aiming to elevate their practice into a thriving business.

From Personal Challenge to Professional Triumph

Sean Flaherty’s journey into law began with a life-altering, work-related injury that brought him face-to-face with the profound impacts of legal advocacy. Represented by George Keches, the founding partner of Keches Law Group, Sean was introduced to the field of law—a pivotal moment that also sparked his determination to advocate for others affected by similar adversities.

Sean’s deep-rooted passion for law has led to a lifelong commitment to helping those harmed through no fault of their own, driving him to not just practice law but to master running the business behind it at Keches Law Group.

Optimizing Operations through Strategic Leadership

In the competitive world of contingency fee law firms, where outcomes are unpredictable, the integration of robust business practices is essential.

“One of the major changes that have come about in the last [10-20] years is lawyers starting to understand that their practice is, in fact, a business,” noted Sean. “In order for you to succeed going forward, you need to do the things that profitable businesses do so that you can continue to assist and help the people that you want to assist and help.”

Under Sean’s guidance, Keches Law Group embraced a transformative, business-oriented mindset. By instituting senior leadership roles in the areas of Finance, Operations, and Human Resources (HR), the firm enhanced its operational efficiency. This restructuring allows lawyers to focus on their clients’ cases while the business aspects are expertly managed to support growth and stability.

The results – through the leadership of Sean Flaherty, Keches Law Group has grown to employ around 225 dedicated professionals, including 60 to 70 lawyers, handling an impressive docket of 12,000 to 16,000 cases, and managing office locations throughout New England, Pennsylvania, New York, and North Carolina.

Leveraging a Strategic Banking Partnership to Fuel Expansion

Another pivotal point for Sean came when he reached out to Esquire Bank to finance a strategic buyout of Keches Law Group. The partnership formed with Esquire Bank has become transformative for the law firm. Tailored financing solutions from Esquire Bank have enabled Keches Law Group to expand its reach, facilitating the opening of new offices, hiring of additional staff, and a experiencing a significant increase in case volume, proving that the right financial partner can drive extraordinary growth.

According to Sean, “The year we started using Esquire Bank, our revenue exploded over 70%. Our relationship with Esquire Bank has allowed our firm to grow in leaps and bounds. Esquire Bank allowed us to scale our business in just a short period of time. We opened five new offices. We hired more lawyers than we had ever in a year and opened more cases than we ever opened in a year as well.”

Esquire Bank has also provided the financial wherewithal for Keches Law Group to invest in marketing and brand building, becoming the official law firm of prestigious entities like the New England Patriots and the Boston Bruins. The law firm has also boosted its online presence through digital marketing.

Finding the Key to Unlock Law Firm Growth

The collaboration with Esquire Bank has enabled Keches Law Group to focus on what they do best—fighting for justice for their clients—while also growing as a business.

“As a contingency fee lawyer, our case inventory is, in fact, the collateral that we’re using to continue to grow the law firm,” noted Sean. “They [Esquire] have a real knack and understanding that these cases have tremendous value, and these cases will, in fact, drive monetary value to the firm into the future. And by doing that, it allowed us to unlock a lot of the issues that remained locked with traditional banking.”

The partnership between Keches Law Group and Esquire Bank has been a catalyst for helping the firm achieve operational excellence and build bold success. By utilizing Esquire Bank’s flexible, financing solutions, the firm has also executed a successful growth strategy, solidifying their status as a leading contingency fee law firm in the industry.

“As a result of Esquire Bank and the solutions that they provided us, we were able to buy out retiring partners, grow the law firm, have the largest and most profitable year in the history of the law firm,” noted Sean.

Meet with Esquire Bank

Looking to build bold success for your law firm? Discover how to grow your law firm and by partnering with a bank purpose-built for law firms. Learn how your law firm can leverage its contingent case inventory to gain access to capital so you can invest in talent, marketing, technology, operations, case acquisition, and growth.

Schedule a no-obligation consultation with an Esquire Bank law firm banking expert today 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.