Attorneys reap success with family in their firms
Dayle Jeffs, left, and his son Robert Jeffs review maps of a client's land at their office in Provo Wednesday, July 13, 2011. Members of the Jeffs family make up six of the nine attorneys at their firm Jeffs & Jeffs Attorneys at Law. MARK JOHNSTON/Daily Herald
Members of the Jeffs family make up six of the nine attorneys at their firm Jeffs & Jeffs Attorneys at Law in Provo Wednesday, July 13, 2011. MARK JOHNSTON/Daily Herald
From left, William Jeffs, David Jeffs, Robert Jeffs, Dayle Jeffs, Randall Jeffs and Kevin Jeffs photographed at their office in Provo Wednesday, July 13, 2011. Members of the Jeffs family make up six of the nine attorneys at their firm Jeffs & Jeffs Attorneys at Law. MARK JOHNSTON/Daily Herald
Attorneys Allen Young, right, and his son Tyler Young photographed at the offices of Young, Kester, Black & Jube, in Provo Friday, July 15, 2011. MARK JOHNSTON/Daily Herald
PROVO — Attorney Allen Young pierced the courtroom air with a bear-torn pillow, brandishing its muddy, gashed and claw-printed surface before a judge and spectators last February. When he sat down, his son Tyler calmly stood. He asked pointed questions, delivered evidence and fortified his argument. Days later, Allen was back to make closing arguments, nearly ripping the lectern out of the floor and only pausing to swallow, briefly, when his voice crackled with emotion.
Together, the father-son duo won their case — a wrongful death lawsuit — and nearly two million dollars for the family of a boy who was mauled to death by a bear. But what makes the case remarkable isn’t just the ruling, the money or even the grisly details. It’s also the fact that the Youngs used their unique relationship as family members to enhance their professional capabilities.
“I tend to be a little more aggressive and Tyler tends to be a little more reasonable,” Allen said.
The Youngs — who practice at the Provo law firm Young, Kester, Black & Jube — have the law flowing through their veins. Among the many attorneys on their family tree is Phineas Young, a prominent Utah pioneer, early Latter-day Saint leader, and brother of Brigham Young. Allen also said his grandfather was a judge in Provo, and his World War II vet father continues to help research cases.
Allen said that when he learned Tyler wanted to follow in his footsteps, he was proud. Today, the pair describes their relationship as positive, professional and even routine. But both also say their work is affected by their family connection. Tyler said he feels freer to speak his mind, and Allen added that the relationship helps them maintain a unique dialogue that might otherwise be impossible between a younger lawyer and a seasoned veteran. That isn’t to say they don’t butt heads — which Tyler said has happened — but both Tyler and Allen agreed that, for them, working together works.
The Youngs aren’t alone. Perhaps the poster firm for family law practices, Jeffs & Jeffs employs six members of the Jeffs family among its nine lawyers. Managing partner Robert Jeffs said that a cadre of other family members also are employed in auxiliary positions.
So why would a group of successful attorneys choose to spend their days with family members? Like the Youngs, Robert Jeffs said that doing so makes his practice better.
“The nice part about our family is that we all like each other,” he explained. “We have Sunday dinners together, and we socialize together a lot. So we have a very relaxed, informal atmosphere, and I think that helps the business.”
Robert said he decided to become a lawyer at an early age, as he scurried through the corridors of his father’s practice. Founded in 1957 by Robert’s father, Dayle, and uncle Dean, Jeffs & Jeffs today employes Robert’s two brothers, David and William, his cousin Randall, and his nephew Kevin.
The Jeffs make their practice work by compartmentalizing. Each attorney has a speciality, and the firm implements practices to avoid conflicts arising over compensation. The result, according to Robert, is that the office is filled with people pursuing individual tasks, but who also are surrounded by family members.
“When you have a family member around, I think there is an increased amount of trust that goes along with that,” he added.
Much like Robert Jeffs, Richard Petersen was inspired by his father, who he said worked hard but managed to come home and shut work out. Richard and his brother Sean both work with their father, Don, at Howard, Lewis & Petersen. Richard Peterson said the business is a full service law firm, and that it can be useful to have someone who is more than a business associate to talk to.
“That level of comfort, it’s much greater with a family member,” he said. “You’re able to bounce ideas off a family member. Even outside of the office you can talk.”
For the Petersens, working together is fairly natural. Richard described having a long, positive relationship with his brothers and father that has carried over into their professional lives. And, like the Jeffs and the Youngs, the blending of personal and professional, family and firm, somehow manages to be an asset.
“It’s probably not for everybody,” Richard said. “You’ve got to have a good family to do it, and our family has always been fairly tight that way.”
