It's About The People

Go to Vorys, Sater, Seymor  and Pease, LLP’s Web site (www.vssp.com) and the first thing you notice is a prominent picture of the firm’s general partner, Robert W. Werth. 

 “Our FirmSite reflects the importance we place on people and relationships,” said Andy Havens, Director of Marketing Development.  “We want visitors to the site to actually see the people who make up the firm.”

Vorys, Sater was founded on a handshake in 1909.  The firm has never had a written partnership agreement.  That level of trust and confidence is a cornerstone of the firm’s relationship with its clients.  And when Vorys, Sater built its new Web site, it wanted the site to reflect that proud tradition and heritage.

“Our home page is about who we are, our philosophy, and our values," said Havens. "If people only ever see our home page, we want them to know that everything we do is centered on our commitment to clients. And that begins with our people and our philosophy. We wanted the home page to have a very human aspect and to start making the connection between visitors and our people.”

The firm has grown to more than 350 attorneys in five offices, and has a client list ranging from individuals and small businesses to corporations such as Honda, Wendy’s and Limited Brands.  Vorys, Sater is a well-known name throughout Central Ohio.  Though the firm needs little introduction among many of its potential clientele, their FirmSite provides an important means for prospects to broaden their understanding of the firm when it comes time to select counsel.

Vorys, Sater’s FirmSite contains several different newsletters, covering the latest news and development on topics such as antitrust, international trade and immigration law.  The newsletters are distributed to clients through FirmSite Communicator.  “Before launching our FirmSite, we used to mail printed newsletters to clients,” said Havens.  “Our attorneys now prefer sending them electronically.  It’s very easy for to sign people up for an electronic newsletter, and the FirmSite has an excellent archive feature where people can view and download previous newsletters.”

“Our FirmSite provides a way for clients and potential clients to find out more about the firm at their own pace,” said Havens.  “It’s like having a 24-hour lobby filled with racks of information and brochures.  We encourage people to visit whenever it’s convenient for them, browse around, pick up a ‘brochure’ if they feel like it. We want people to understand who our attorneys are and what our firm is all about.  Our FirmSite conveys to visitors that we are a very person-oriented firm – that our primary importance is the relationship of the people within the firm and with our clients.”

The Vorys, Sater FirmSite further demonstrates the firm’s commitment to client service by including helpful links to dozens of judicial, government and business resources, ranging from the F.A.A. to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to The American Association of Exporters and Importers.

But the importance of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease’s FirmSite isn’t just the information it presents, but what it says about the values of the people behind the firm.

“Visitors come to a law firm's Web site for many specific reasons,” said Havens.  “But it all boils down to a search for information. The goal of our FirmSite is to provide people with the information they want as quickly and easily as possible, while at the same time giving them a feel for what makes Vorys, Sater such a remarkable place.”