JRW ESQ provides the rare opportunity to work with large law firm and in-house legal team veterans (approximately six decades combined) at the top of their professional game while also enjoying the benefits clients receive working with a boutique or small firm.
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.
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.
Diana Saliceti is a former partner of a New York corporate boutique firm, with extensive M&A, corporate and commercial experience for AmLaw Top 100 corporate practices serving US and international clients. Diana’s experience also includes nearly a decade of corporate and commercial transactions work in-house with two globally-recognized industry-leading companies, supporting product, IT, sales, marketing, finance and operational functions/departments.
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.
Average partner rates increased again in 2025 at 5.1%, with 2023-25 being the highest three years since LexisNexis CounselLink first produced its Trends Report in 2013
The median hourly billing rate for partners in large firms (+750 lawyers) for 2025 was $1,082, with (all size firms) M&A at $1,275 (up 8.8%), Commercial & Contracts at $885 (up 6.3%) and Corporate at $875 (up 7.4%)
Comparing to the 2015 Trends Report, the median hourly billing rate for large firm partners increased 65% from 2015 through 2025
For firms with 501-750 lawyers, the median partner rate in 2025 was 19% higher than the median partner rate in 2024 and the average associate rate increase was 7.9%
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.