Building Strong Relationships and Active Community Involvement Contribute to Success at Bentley Goodrich Kison Law Firm

In 2011, attorneys Kevin Bruning and Morgan Bentley began establishing their law firm after departing from Williams, Parker Harrison Dietz, and Getzen. Overcoming fear and doubt, the duo has since developed the firm, now known as Bentley Goodrich Kison, and has grown from two to nearly ten lawyers. The firm's focus on commercial litigation has resulted in substantial revenue growth, with revenue tripling since 2016 without an increase in billable hourly rates. The team's success is partly attributed to building strong relationships with other law firms in the area. Bentley Goodrich Kison is a top referral choice when other practices cannot assist clients. Bentley acknowledges that while they may have been lucky, their strategic decision to collaborate and cultivate strong ties with peers in the industry has contributed significantly to their achievements.


Another critical factor contributing to the success of Bentley Goodrich Kison is their active involvement in the Sarasota County Bar Association, which Bentley describes as a big yet closely-knit community. He notes that in larger cities like Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville, building relationships within the bar association can be challenging due to its size. However, at Bentley Goodrich Kison, being engaged in the bar association is almost a prerequisite for attorneys. It not only fosters camaraderie among colleagues throughout the county but also provides access to a diverse network of individuals, enabling the firm to expand its reach beyond its existing circle. The firm's growth is also partly attributed to its acquisition of significant clients, such as the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System and the Florida Police Benevolent Association, which sought out the firm. The firm's journey from its humble beginnings over a decade ago, when the founding duo operated from various locations, including an empty bank building owned by their former employer and Bentley's dining room, to their current office on Orange Avenue in downtown Sarasota is remarkable.

Around seven years ago, Amanda Kison joined the firm as a commercial litigation attorney focusing on business and real estate disputes. According to Bentley, the firm needed to hire someone new almost every month to keep up with the growth. Now, the firm has a total of 16-17 employees, including both staff and attorneys. With 10-12 litigation attorneys, Bentley thinks this might be a plateau for the firm's growth. He believes this number would put them in the top tier between Tampa and Fort Myers.

One of the most critical lessons Bentley has learned is the importance of not always saying "yes." Initially, they received many sales calls for services to help build their client base. While there was a tendency to say "yes" to everything, Bentley realized it's easy to overspend. He and Bruning spent a lot on online marketing, which would have helped if they had created a personal injury law firm. Still, they received many calls about low-level cases outside of commercial litigation.

Looking ahead, Bentley expects the firm to get busier if there's a prolonged recession, citing his experience during the last one, in 2007-09, when the number of foreclosures led to a tidal wave of litigation. In the meantime, the firm is seeking additional lawyers and paralegals to help with their current workload. Bentley also mentions the possibility of expanding into different practice areas in the next few years, which often happens to law firms.