JRW ESQ was founded by Jeff Wahl, a former equity partner at an AmLaw Top 50 firm. For 20 years, Jeff worked on M&A transactions in various industries with deal values ranging from $5M to $2.3B. Jeff was also the lead US transactional commercial attorney for the firm, handling all manner of domestic and international commercial agreements.
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Jeff’s former colleague, Matt Bailey, joined JRW ESQ in 2024. Like Jeff, Matt is a former equity partner at an AmLaw Top 50 firm. For 17 years, Matt counseled and led clients through high profile private and public M&A transactions and corporate matters, including IPOs, public-company SEC reporting, debt and equity financings and corporate governance/board counseling engagements. Matt was the firm’s office corporate practice group leader and office hiring chair.
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JRW ESQ deploys all of this expertise and experience combined with personal attention, responsiveness and cost-effective rate structures difficult to achieve in large law firms.

COST MANAGEMENT

• JRW ESQ seeks to be a better, and more sustainable, way to manage costs without sacrificing quality for commercial contracts, general corporate work and traditional M&A. Consider the following from the CounselLink® 2025 Trends Report:

• Partner rates increased in 2024 at the second highest levels since LexisNexis CounselLink first produced its Trends Report in 2013 (2023 was highest)

• 2024 median blended average matter hourly rates (for all timekeepers) increased over 2023 by 12.4% for M&A

• The median hourly billing rate for partners in large firms (+750 lawyers) for 2024 was $1,050 (up 6% over 2023), with (all size firms) M&A at $1,210 (up 7.4%), Commercial & Contracts at $820 (up 6.2%) and Corporate at $785 (up 6.7%)

• The average associate rate increase in 2024 in large firms was 10.8 % over 2023

• Comparing to the 2015 Trends Report, the median hourly billing rate for large firm partners increased +60% from 2015 through 2024

• JRW ESQ can help companies reset this trend and manage costs, without compromising quality.

APPROACH

• While “JRW” is Jeff’s initials, JRW ESQ wants clients to associate those letters with the following approach:

J

J for “jurist.” – An old-fashioned word for “one who has a thorough knowledge of the law.” JRW ESQ draws on our deep background in all facets of corporate and commercial law and nearly four decades of experience managing the legal needs of clients’ businesses.

R

R is for “reasonable” and “responsive.” - Rates, fee structures and bills will be reasonable and not pass every overhead expense to clients. Also, JRW ESQ understands clients need to hear back and receive help promptly.

W

W is for “wisdom.” - JRW ESQ tries to practice wisdom along with practicing law. JRW ESQ seeks to know clients’ preferences, risk tolerances and key goals and concerns so that clients enjoy efficiencies over a long relationship. JRW ESQ strives to give counsel that is honest, loyal, sincere and holistic.