Nixon Peabody LLP is a multi-practice law firm with more than 700 attorneys in the United States. In Rhode Island, the firm’s branch is a small one, with only 15 attorneys and 15 staff, but it feels and acts larger than its profile.
“We’re a small office with big resources,” said Neal J. McNamara, the office managing partner. “We’ve got an excellent reputation, in and out of the state.”
Nixon Peabody has been named for three consecutive years to Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. It has received awards for human rights and equality. And this is the second year in a row that the firm was named to Providence Business News’ Best Places To Work list.
“We’re always striving to be not only the best firm to work with but also for,” he said. “I think it works for the simple reason that we make people feel appreciated.”
Nixon Peabody uses two employee-recognition programs. One is called Above and Beyond and the other is the Ace Award.
The Above and Beyond is a way to say thank you. It can be from an attorney to a paralegal or the other way around. If, say, a paralegal went above his or her duty while taking notes at a difficult deposition, then the attorney can give the paralegal a certificate. The certificate then is seen by everyone else in the firm.
“People are proud of their Above and Beyond certificates,” McNamara said.
The other is a yearly award – the Ace Award – in which everyone nominates a person they think did excellent work. The votes are culled down to three and then the entire firm votes on those three. A lunch party is then thrown for the winner, and a Tiffany glass is given with the winner’s name engraved on it, along with $200, and a photograph that stays up the whole year in the break room.
Last year, secretary Christina Conetta won the Ace Award. “I wasn’t even thinking about winning, I was just doing my job. Everyone here works hard and does a good job. Many of us could’ve won. But it feels good to be appreciated.”
Nixon Peabody also has monthly meetings. “There’s a lot of transparency between the attorney and the staff – and people like that,” said McNamara. “The size of this firm gives us an advantage in that it’s really easy for us to get together.”
But the staff also has their own meetings. Another secretary, Marilyn Lovely, said, “These meetings are good for us because we can talk about things and not have the attorneys present – that gives us a chance to bring forth any problems.”
“The staff is encouraged to talk about problems within these meetings,” said McNamara.
Nixon Peabody does a significant amount of pro bono work. “We’re involved with many nonprofits. Helping them with legal work, revising bylaws, litigation – basically helping them run their businesses,” he said.
What drives the firm’s success, however, is the connection between colleagues. “I think that trust is big here. Trust between the staff and the attorneys, where information is freely shared.” •
