Enduring Boulder law firm specializes in customer care

Business Report Correspondent

BOULDER ? After nearly 50 years in business, Martin & Mehaffy LLC offers an array of legal services from its location at 1655 Walnut St. and branch office in Brighton.

The firm’s nine lawyers cover personal injury, estate planning and civil litigation among other services, but they specialize in good, old-fashioned friendliness and customer service, a specialty that is becoming rare.

“We’re informal,´ said John Mehaffy, a 32-year veteran of the firm. “We want (clients) to feel comfortable. Legal issues often aren’t. We call our clients regularly to keep them apprised of what’s happening.”

Part of the firm’s comfort level lies in its ability to offer a wide range of legal counsel to meet any need a client brings to them. “Most of the time, when a client comes in, they work with one attorney throughout the matter. They don’t see a different face each time they come in the door,” Mehaffy said.

Regular client Jack Stokes of Liquor Mart in Boulder said he is absolutely satisfied with his treatment from Martin and Mehaffy. “John (Mehaffy) is a great man to deal with. John was just in the store shopping, and we touched base. It was nice,” he said. “Most people are only nice when it is the holidays, but John would treat you that way all year round. They treat you like family.”

Despite the small-town appeal of the firm, Martin and Mehaffy has handled a number of high-profile cases and served well-known clients. Mehaffy met golf legend Jack Nicklaus when handling the real estate issues involved in developing a golf course in Breckenridge. This was a special treat for the attorney who is an avid golfer.

The firm has also represented Vail, Winter Park, Georgetown and Brighton with development issues. Despite these cases, Mehaffy said 90 percent of the firm’s clients are everyday people and businesses.

Real estate is Mehaffy’s specialty, but he said the firm’s other attorneys specialize in many different types of law. “We move people through the office and address as many issues as might come up,” he said. “People can come to one place and not go to another office. That’s what makes it fun. It’s still fun for me after all these years.”

Mehaffy said the building boom along the Front Range will continue as long as the economy remains good. But maintaining continuity with customers makes Mehaffy feel prepared for any economic slowdown. The firm’s staffing strategy has also kept Martin and Mehaffy afloat through tough times. “We have, over the years, tried to maintain eight to 10 attorneys. We’re at nine now,” Mehaffy said. “We don’t gear up with people when the economy is good. We have a stable clientele. We’ve been here so many years.”

15-year client Jake Puzzio of Colorado Community First Bank in Boulder said the bank does business with other law firms, but Martin and Mehaffy “understands our needs. They’re very friendly and reasonable.”

Martin and Mehaffy also contributes to the community by supporting Downtown Boulder Inc. Mehaffy is chairman of the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District (BID), a special tax district started by Downtown Boulder Inc. This committee has implemented graffiti cleanup, alley cleaning and better trash pickup. “We aren’t looking to replace city services, just supplement them,” Mehaffy said.

The BID hopes that by making downtown more visually appealing, more people will patronize the mom-and-pop stores in the heart of Boulder. The BID has also boosted business downtown by running radio and television advertisements promoting downtown Boulder. “The city’s been very, very supportive,” Mehaffy said.

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