Somos Group hopes real estate developers and governing bodies seeking legal land use help will come knocking.
And when those clients are looking for other sorts of assistance in their projects, Somos Group hopes they’ll stick around for that, too. The new downtown-based boutique firm, which opened March 1, not only offers legal services but an array of consulting and public engagement services meant to overlap together for its clients.
“We feel like as lawyers, we have a unique place at the table to be able to find those solutions for our clients,” said Somos co-founder and Chief Executive Alfred Fraijo Jr. “When we started Somos, we really were focused on creating a platform that was truly multidisciplinary.”
It’s a business model that has been adopted by some larger, global law firms in recent years. However, while those tend to be general full-service practices, Somos is dedicated to land use and real estate, particularly those that are considered sustainable and responsible.
“It’s a model that makes sense,” observed Kevin Burke, a business of law lecturer at USC Gould School of Law. “It’s in keeping with trends in the market and where things are going. The broadening reach of law firms and legal services are in transition. I think it’s very progressive and forward thinking.”
As a minority-owned firm, Somos Group also promises to advocate for minority communities that have historically been the victim of poor planning and land use, Fraijo said.
“We built a team that looks like the decision-makers that our developer clients are approaching for approval. The political leadership in California is increasingly diverse and we reflect that diversity when we go to the table and meet with government officials,” he said. “Having that level of fluency on the issue of diversity and how land use decisions and policies impact, disproportionately, certain types of individuals and certain types of demographics is an important aspect of what…
Read the full article here
