The first clue to the spirit at Kellerhals Ferguson LLP is the clean white lines of the conference room just off the foyer. A seascape triptych by local artist David Hill adorns the back wall of the room while sunlight pours in from the front window of the new Port of Sale Mall offices.
The painting, in graduated shades of blue, presents a soothing feeling, as is the intent.
"Discussions with lawyers can get heated sometimes," Erika Kellerhals says. "Most people aren’t happy at a lawyer’s office."
Let’s see. The 30-somethings at Kellerhals and Ferguson LLP appear to be an exception to that mind set. The young partners, Greg Ferguson and Erika Kellerhals work together seamlessly to all appearances.
They are eager to talk about their new enterprise.
After graduating with law degree in taxation from New York University in 2001, Kellerhals went to work for a small New York City firm that specialized in tax law. However, after a couple years, she listened to the call for gentler climes.
"It just got too hot, too cold and too crowded," she says.
In 2003 she answered an online ad and five weeks later relocated to St. Thomas to work for long established attorney Marjorie Roberts, where she met her future partner, Ferguson.
Both speak of their familiarity with the community springing from their association with Roberts.
After about five years, Kellerhals screwed up her courage and decided to start on her own.
Ferguson joined her in 2009. They moved from their modest Government Hill office to their new digs early this year, where they now have a staff of six – two legal assistants, a summer intern and attorney Christopher Kroblin, who joined the firm last year.
"At first, we did everything ourselves," Kellerhals says. With a laugh, Ferguson says, "Just us. We typed our own documents, made copies, ran errands, filed our own papers, answered phones, whatever."
By way of introduction to Kroblin, Kellerhals explains, "Greg and I are transitional and tax attorneys, "Chris is our litigator. He’s the one who goes to court."
Moving here from New York in 2005, Kroblin got his feet wet in an impressive manner – serving as judicial law clerk for V.I. Supreme Court Justice Maria M. Cabret, in her former position as presiding judge of the Superior Court of the V.I.
Kroblin handles federal and local tax litigation cases as well as association, partnership, and corporate litigation matters, in addition to his general trial level practice.
He talks about the advantages of using arbitration as an alternative to the courts.
"Court cases in the territory take a long time, whether in federal or local court," Kroblin says. "Arbitration offers an efficient alternative. All the parties need to do is to agree."
Hence, the soothing atmosphere, the David Hill painting.
All three say they are here for the long run.
"I can’t imagine living anywhere else," Kellerhals says, with Ferguson’s smiling agreement. "We are vetted in the community. It’s our home; we’re going to stay here and raise our kids. We are in our thirties, and holding."
With a nod to Kroblin,, she says, "Chris has gotten a head start. He already has one on the way."
Kellerhals says," It’s the perfect time for us. It’s a great opportunity. We’re small. The idea is to grow organically, to meet the needs of our clients in a personal way."
The firm represents business clients in all stages of commercial transactions from creating the right entity, to counseling clients on mergers, dispositions and restructurings, to winding down a business. Or starting one.
"I love closing a deal, putting the parts together," Kellerhals says. "For instance, says someone wants to start a business but has no idea how to go it. We know the pitfalls, the EDC, (Economic Development Commission) benefits, the implication of tax law, corporate law. We’re a one-stop shop. We feel the need to focus on our clients personally."
"I always liked law," Kellerhals says. "Now we both love it," Ferguson adds.
The more they talk, the more their engagement with the community becomes evident. Both are engaged in the community, swimming, sailing, serving on local boards, and doing a considerable amount of pro bono work. Both are experienced divers, members of CORE, the not for profit Caribbean Lionfish Response Program.
And they are ambitious. Witness the blog on their website, initiated this year.
"Our goal is to make this [blog] a premier Internet resource for legal and business news in the Virgin Islands," Kellerhals says.
The current blog posts include Gov. John deJongh Jr.’s State of the Territory address, property tax updates, and a post about tax incentives businesses should utilize, especially when new legislation is passed on the federal or local level that increases a tax incentive for a business.
Kellerhals says, "We’ll sometimes post about our amazing staff, sports and current events," which brings us to the firm intern Camilla Daniels.
Speaking of their staff doing something "amazing," Saturday evening. summer intern Camilla Daniels was crowned 2011 Miss Virgin Islands in the pageant at the UVI Reichhhold Center for the Arts. The 18-year old is a math major at Barnard College in New York.
Ferguson received his law degree at George Washington University Law School in Washington, D. C. Kroblin graduated from the Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco.
