Trusts + Estates

Pryor Cashman Partners Paul E. Van Horn and Erica Howard-Potter talked with The Legal Intelligencer and Law360 about their move to join the firm’s Trusts + Estates Practice and Private Client Group.

In “Schnader Attorneys Scatter in Wake of Firm Dissolution,” Paul and Erica, who both came to Pryor Cashman following the dissolution of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis told The Legal Intelligencer about choosing Pryor Cashman:

“It is such a positive outcome from what was a difficult experience,” said Van Horn about joining Pryor Cashman. “I truly feel that this is where I should’ve been all along.”

Howard-Potter added that she felt the move to Pryor Cashman presented a “tremendous growth opportunity,” noting that Pryor Cashman’s bench of diverse practices are perfectly suited to her and Van Horn’s trusts and estates practices and also that the firm’s size is right.

“It was a deliberate decision on our part—we like the midsize model,” she explained. “We’ve been at midsize firms and we find that it’s the right fit for our client profile.”

The lawyers also discussed the benefits of their new home with Law360 in “Pryor Cashman Adds 2 Partners From Schnader Harrison”:

“We knew we wanted a mid-size firm; we knew that space is very comfortable for our clients, and that we wanted a general service firm,” Van Horn said. “And Pryor Cashman really was incredible in what it has to offer … We really felt like it was a great platform for us to start afresh.”

In addition, Van Horn said the firm stood out for its culture, which he described as very energetic, and because Van Horn had known Daniel Kesten, head of Pryor Cashman's trust and estates practice, for over 15 years.

The pair said that after Schnader Harrison announced its closure, one of their priorities was to ensure that their clients would be taken care of and to find a suitable new home. They both did significant due diligence on Pryor Cashman in order to ensure they would not be going through a similar situation after moving firms and were confident that they made the right choice of firm, Howard-Potter said.

“Everyone we speak to says, ‘This is such a great place.’ And you can feel that,” Howard-Potter said. “I’m looking forward to really getting to know my colleagues and using this as an opportunity to grow myself and my practice, because I think that they really have the supports in place for me to take off in a meaningful way.”

In addition to the interviews, Van Horn and Howard-Potter’s move was noted by Reuters and Law.com Pro Mid-Market.

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