Balance improves work, life

POSITIVE THINKING: Operating in Providence for six years, Hartford, Conn.-based Robinson & Cole works to foster a positive atmosphere in the office. Pictured above, from left, are partner Patricia Igoe, legal administrative assistant Heidi Seddon and George Watson. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY
POSITIVE THINKING: Operating in Providence for six years, Hartford, Conn.-based Robinson & Cole works to foster a positive atmosphere in the office. Pictured above, from left, are partner Patricia Igoe, legal administrative assistant Heidi Seddon and George Watson. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

Employees at Robinson & Cole can list plenty of reasons why they enjoy working at the law firm, which opened a Providence office six years ago. But the best reason to be there, they say, is the firm’s commitment to offering work-life balance along with a challenging work environment.

“People really do look after one another,” said Nicole Babine Campbell, regional business-development and marketing manager.

Campbell is on maternity leave for the summer and is scheduled to return to work on a transitional schedule in September. She acknowledged that her co-workers will have extra work to do during vacation-heavy months and said she is incredibly grateful for the support.

“They recognize the importance of me needing to do what I need to do for my family and you don’t find that a lot,” she said. “That tone starts with the partners. They really look after and are protective of their team.”

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This atmosphere makes the 161-year-old law firm the winner in the Small-Employer Category in this year’s Best Places to Work awards program. With some 370 full-time employees and 200 attorneys, the Hartford, Conn.-based firm has several satellite offices, including in Providence. Fourteen staff members work at that office.

The firm concentrates on business affairs and business litigation.

Campbell said the firm’s expansion into Providence has provided her a professional challenge as everyone has worked to tap into the city’s business culture.

“The city has been a lot of fun to be welcomed into,” she said. “Our firm is big enough to have the financial ability to do [diverse work] but small enough to focus and deliver our clients a customized approach to business.”

Partner Patricia J. Igoe, who specializes in commercial finance, was one of two attorneys who joined the company to open the Providence office. While employed elsewhere, she worked with Robinson & Cole attorneys on several projects. When she decided to leave her prior firm, the decision to move here was an easy one.

“I thought it was better for my practice and I liked the management and direction of the firm,” she said. “To call the firm a family is kind of hokey, but we are close in that way.”

Heidi Seddon, a legal administrative assistant who has worked in the Providence office for about two- and-one-half years, agrees.

“The general atmosphere is always, always very positive,” Seddon said. “Everybody is friendly with each other. To pin down my favorite part of the job is hard because I enjoy my entire job. This is definitely a good place to work and that I can vouche for.”

The firm’s familial atmosphere is one of its points of pride. Partners strive to foster a culture of employee value and community involvement. Social activities, including the famous Live at Five Friday night social hour, an annual ice cream social, holiday parties and summer outings provide opportunities for employees to get to know each other and learn from each other.

There also is an annual staff-appreciation week, when each firm office designs daily events and lunches for its staff.

In addition to an attractive health and vacation time package, the firm is what Seddon called “generous” in being flexible about time off.

Seddon utilized the firm’s tuition-reimbursement benefit to earn her bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership at Providence College.

“There are also numerous ways to contribute to all kinds of charities, whether it’s a dress-down day to benefit a charity that is specific to someone in the office or a summer service project, the firm supports those types of things,” Seddon said.

An atmosphere of support is what Igoe finds most attractive in the firm. Lawyers, she said, can sometimes be too self-focused to support their co-workers. She has seen that happen at other firms, she said, but not at Robinson & Cole.

“Here, we all join in each other’s triumphs and share in disappointments,” Igoe said. “That’s the collaborative spirit of the people here, which is what makes the firm a great place to work. If you have good people, you have people who want to make it a good place to work.”

Though there is not a formal mentoring program at the firm, Igoe makes it a priority to support the professional development of the attorneys who work under her. She also issues an open-door policy if any workplace issues arise.

“We have a small office, so if someone has an issue, we know it and we all want to help and make it better for all of us,” Igoe said. “We all have a different job to do, but we’re all working together toward one common goal.” •

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