Last November, I shared a piece that developed from an “aha!” moment I had while sitting around the table enjoying the firm’s Thanksgiving lunch, where I realized that we all had a personal connection to business owners. Stock Legal attorneys dedicate much of our time to working with owners of small to medium-size businesses - in Saint Louis, on both coasts, and everywhere in between – and perhaps some readers thought to themselves, “Corporate attorneys who admire small business owners?...Unremarkable.” It’s true that it wasn’t exactly a revelation, if you’ve met Sara at a networking event, or had the opportunity to watch our video. Sara and our whole team are pretty transparent about our enthusiasm for growing along with our clients, and for supporting local small businesses off the clock.
But after digging in, I discovered something unique - nearly every one of us either had a spouse with their own enterprise, or grew up with parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles who ran businesses; and a couple of us even had our own endeavors.
This year, at my second Stocksgiving, another lightbulb appeared. Like last year, we had each brought a dish to share, and were enjoying what everyone had brought to the table (see what I did there?). The Stock Legal team has evolved over the last twelve months, and yet there I was, still surrounded by attorneys, both old and new, who shared the experience of having close proximity to an entrepreneur, and thus shared an understanding of what it takes to launch and operate a business.
The memories I describe below, about my growing up “in the business” seem silly or mundane, and they are - it was simply my everyday life. And that's exactly why I believe they were formative events. These experiences and lessons, shared by virtually all of the Stock Legal team, can't be learned in a classroom or by practicing; only someone who has lived through it firsthand can fully appreciate what's involved in starting, running, or selling a business. That understanding is the foundation of how we operate, as human beings and as lawyers.
So, I felt like it was only appropriate to update the list of businesses brought to you by the Stock Legal team and their families. I hope you enjoy reading, and that you are enjoying a wonderful holiday season full of good colleagues, family, and small business-made treats!
Sara's contagious enthusiasm for small business owners began long before she started Stock Legal. Her parents owned a company (Stock Transport) while she was growing up, and she founded a long term pharmacy business with her former spouse, as well as Legal Back Office. (Also, she is on the cap table for several startups, is an investor in Stadia Ventures, and manages real estate projects. No, I do not believe Sara sleeps). All of this is to say: Sara knew what she wished she'd had in terms of legal support, and the firm was set up intentionally to provide that - positive, transparent counseling by an attorney who is willing and able to tailor services to their client (as opposed to one-size-fits-all counseling at $700 an hour).
In my case, I grew up with a front-row seat to many flavors of businesses. My late dad founded a mortgage company (he eventually was bought out by a partner) that's still around today, called USA Mortgage (a fun fact: SL’s corporate team leader, Sam Wallach was general counsel at USA Mortgage prior to joining Stock Legal, and it feels fateful to get to work with him). At the same time, my mom was employed by a publicly-traded corporation, but she primarily focused on its franchisees. Because both my parents worked a lot (especially when my father was first starting his business), I spent any non-school working hours with my maternal grandparents, and my Pop ran a building materials sales business. My grandmother shared daily anecdotes about her mom. My great-grandmother was a single mother in 1927, and - you guessed it - a small business owner. She had her own dress shop in Maplewood. We are lucky to have several heirlooms from her store - the chair she used to work from, a flyer from the grand opening that I keep in a frame on my desk. As I list these out, it seems obvious, but somehow it hadn't occurred to me how developmental this all was; it was just my "life".
I am an only child, so I am not being hyperbolic when I say that a vast portion of my childhood was spent with my parent's coworkers, vendors, and clients. My memories are of the Superbowl Sunday we helped my dad move into his first office in one of those office buildings off Old Ballas, and a snapshot memory of seeing his name on the black felt letterboard directory in the lobby. Of telling one of my grandfather's clients for the umpteenth time that the fax line was -5556, not -5555. Of using my mom's special Stabilo-brand highlighters to color at her desk, or later, highlight homework. Of trying to entertain myself during yet another "it'll be quick" stop (you know the ones) at the office on a Saturday. As a side note, Stock Legal being paperless is fantastic, but I do miss making accordions out of the perforated margins of the retro printer paper and necklaces out of paperclips. My mom's ad agency partners from those days remain close family friends. I just read a book to my kids the other night that had been given to me by one of my parent's coworkers when I was a kid.
Jayne had her own practice for 22 years pre-Stock Legal; partner in a small leasing company along with her brother; Jayne’s father had his own CPA firm; her three sisters and one brother each have their own various enterprises.
Spouse owned an awesome entertainment/ photography company, called Oh So Vivant.
Dad had his own dental practice (which is probably why Sam has a penchant for our Dental Service Organization clients)
Grandparents on both sides were business owners (one was a water company, the other a beer distributor – how’s that for symbiotic?!); mom owned a software company; prior to coming to Stock Legal, Julie herself was a founding member of law firms.
Late husband had a small international pharmacy consulting business, The Melling Group, and later formed a small non-profit called Pharmacists Preventing Suicides.
Krystal believes improving the justice system requires hard conversations about individual lawyer well-being. Bored with outdated and unhelpful notions around making lemonade out of lemons, she’s crafted a consulting business focusing on mindfulness in the legal profession, called Hustle Less Law. Krystal has given her foundational keynote, “When Law Gives You Lemons”, to much appreciation and success, in the greater metro area, and will continue to grow in 2023.
Andy has had a front row seat for his family farm, which is still growing. The original farm, which started in 1818, is still in the family and growing crops. As a child, Andy spent a lot of time on the farm with his grandfather, who began to run it as a dairy after returning from World War II. Andy knows better than anyone that owning a business is a 365 day a year commitment: the cows don’t care if you want to take the day off. Eventually, Andy’s mom assumed a management role, embracing modern technology and methodology to keep the farm profitable, independent, and in the family. Andy of course has a penchant for agriculture-related clients, but also has a special interest in issues surrounding sustainable methods, and trendspotting strategies and practices.
Cori produces local comedy shows, and herself performs standup comedy routines at local clubs and all around the country. Her next show is the Double Dare Comedy show on January 4th, 2023 at Platypus n the Grove.
Her in-laws to be own a logistics trucking company here in St. Louis. Fun fact: Lindsey was an on-air anchor before going to law school, and remains passionate about highlighting local businesses, even from her slightly less glamorous platform.
John has invested in a number of start-up and early-stage businesses in the real estate, medical cannabis, and healthcare technology industries.