Higgs, Fletcher & Mack LLP is one of the oldest, largest, and most respected law firms in San Diego. Formed in 1939, HF&M has grown from two attorneys to more than 60.
With offices overlooking San Diego harbor, HF&M is continuously evolving and expanding its practice areas to better serve the community, changing times, and clientele. Throughout the changes over the years, the firm has retained a deep-seated philosophy based on integrity, service, and community participation.
The firm's principal founder, DeWitt "Dutch" Higgs, served as the President of the San Diego County Bar, as President of the Board of Governors of the California State Bar, and as Chairman of the University of California Board of Regents. Following his lead, firm members and partners are encouraged to participate in pro bono and extra-legal community activities.
Three of HF&M's lawyers have also served as Presidents of the County Bar Association (including co-founder Ferdinand Fletcher, name-partner Pitts Mack, and Craig Higgs). Others in the firm have served on the Boards of Directors of the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce, the Old Globe Theatre, and the San Diego Economic Development Corporation.
Numerous partners at HF&M have graduated to become prominent state and federal court judges, and several of the firm's trial attorneys are members of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Additionally, some of the firm's attorneys are members of the most selective national litigation organization, the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Several years ago when the original project started, a local San Diego lawyer/writer had referred HF&M to RosArt. The firm then contacted RosArt and expressed the need for a revamp of their existing site to create a quality, professional web presence. A "from scratch" re-design was needed.
RosArt did a complete three-week study of the firm and its needs. Information gathered during this study period was used to create a list of requirements for the new web site. However, the firm needed time to assess the benefits of implementing a web presence and the financial implications involved.
A series of phone calls, faxes, and emails passed before a final contract was signed. This was a good news/bad news situation, as we were also informed that the HF&M point person, who had been dealing with the web site project, had left the firm. Luckily, a firm manager, who had a more direct connection to senior management, became the new point person.
First, we noticed a small flaw in their current, at that time, HF&M logo. We indicated a method to fix the flaw so the logo would be easier to read and identify. The firm approved the fix. The revised logo was subsequently used on the site.
Next, the look and feel of the web site was established. Textual content was re-purposed from the old web site and edited to fit the context of the new site design and layout. Also, instead of having a navigation panel on the left hand side of the page (like most web sites were done at the time), we convinced the firm to put the navigation panel at the top of the page. This freed up this area and allowed the left hand part of the page to be used more efficiently as a "quotes and facts" side bar.
Functionally, the lawyers of the firm needed to be able to use the web site to post their individual expertise for potential clients to see. To facilitate this, we designed a form that each attorney's page would be made to fit, listing all pertinent information about a given attorney. (These pages are printer friendly.) The site was also developed in such a way that attorneys could use direct URLs to send prospective clients to their bio page, without requiring them to navigate through the main site.
Included in the web site were two custom Administration Panels to add and delete information as necessary. One Admin Panel was made for internal use at the law firm. The other Admin Panel was for the PR firm, who at that time represented HF&M, to add and delete PR information. (The firm also has access to the PR Panel.) Those with access to the Admin Panels, however, only had access to the specific areas of the site that need revisions. This was done in order to prohibit accidental code changes to other parts of the site.
The next phase began when the firm wanted an e-newsletter. We designed the newsletter and the system to manage it, including an automatic sign-up/removal feature on the web site and a "double opt-in" feature. We also implemented a pop-up window on the site that directs visitors to sign up for the newsletters. RosArt continues to distribute the newsletter through the latest HF&M site.
We were also contracted to design a presentation folder and layouts for stationery packages to match the revised logo and new color scheme.
HF&M is an ongoing project at RosArt. On one occasion in particular, the firm needed an immediate 24-hour translation of an attorney biography on the web site to an obscure Chinese dialect. We completed the project on time and on budget, as it is our goal to find an answer to each and every client need.
HFM recently decided to revamp their image and update their technology. Buchanan Design (San Diego) created their new logo and corporate ID materials. After almost five years of a very successful RosArt built and maintained web presence, RosArt was once again contracted to do the development of the new site, with the mandate that it match the new image. The new site was completed and approved with several recommendations from us as to how graphic aspects for the web site needed to be represented in order to match the new print look. Several pieces of functionality from the site we designed from the original project were used in this new iteration. The original Admin Panel’s ability to update the site content was expanded throughout the new site.