As reported in Yahoo! News, Montage Legal Group is expanding to the Washington DC area. Consisting almost entirely of women, Montage is a network of experienced attorneys who have taken a break from their law firm careers, but want to continue to practice law on a freelance basis. Montage Legal Group utilizes this previously untapped resource to create the ultimate talent pool for law firms nationwide. As a result, law firms of all sizes are able to take advantage of Montage’s vetted contract attorneys for hourly temporary or long-term projects.
Former Skadden Arps litigator Shannon Forchheimer will lead Montage Legal’s expansion to Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. Educated at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and trained at Skadden Arps and Dickstein Shapiro, Forchheimer has first-hand experience with the struggle many accomplished attorney parents face in seeking the elusive “balance” between being a full-time attorney and full-time parent. “I always planned to work full time, but the demands of law firm life and young children became too much. Ultimately, I made the difficult decision to quit my job and stay at home, a decision I never would have anticipated at the start of my career. ”
While at home full-time with her young sons, Forchheimer started a popular blog, “But I Do Have A Law Degree,” which was voted “One of the Top 5 Lawyer Mom Blogs” by FindLaw’s Legal Blog, Greedy Associates, but she also yearned to maintain her professional identity and keep her legal skills sharp. Montage Legal Group was a perfect fit.
“The Montage business model makes perfect sense,” says Forchheimer. “There are so many talented, experienced women lawyers who have given up their full time jobs, but have so much to offer. Law firms in the DC area will benefit greatly from the skills we can bring to the table.”
Montage Legal Group, founded in 2010 in California by former Snell & Wilmer attorneys Laurie Rowen and Erin Giglia, has received accolades for its unique business model, including a feature story in the ABA Journal, “Freelance Law.”
With the latest expansion, Montage Legal Group has increased to 60 freelance attorneys, admitted in a dozen states as well as members of the Patent Bar. Montage Legal Group plans to continue its growth nationwide.
To view Montage Legal Group’s press release, please click here.
Shannon Forchheimer
Shannon Forchheimer graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2005, where she served as a Senior Editor of the Journal of Constitutional Law. Upon graduation, Shannon joined the New York office of Skadden Arps as an associate in the Litigation Department, where she represented clients in complex commercial litigations and government investigations involving RICO, federal securities laws, ERISA, and breach of contract. In 2007, Shannon relocated to Washington, DC, and joined the law firm of Dickstein Shapiro, where she continued to focus her practice on complex litigation, and represented government contractors suing the Government for breach of contract and CERCLA violations.
After the birth of her second son, Shannon left law firm life. While at home full-time with her young sons, Forchheimer started a popular blog, “But I Do Have A Law Degree,” which was voted one of the “Top 5 Lawyer Mom Blogs” by FindLaw’s Legal Blog, Greedy Associates.
In 2012, Shannon joined Montage Legal Group as its Lead Attorney for Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. Shannon lives in Washington DC with her husband and two sons.
Contact Shannon at ShannonF@montagelegal.com.