How the two oldest St. Pete law firms combined forces

Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid P.A. announced on Monday that attorneys from Fisher & Sauls P.A. have joined the firm. 

The new partnership will join two of the oldest and most respected law firms in St. Petersburg.

“This is an established law firm that’s bringing in lawyers with great reputations and name recognition,” Sean McQuaid, president of the Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid firm, told the Catalyst. 

The decision comes as the Fisher & Sauls firm has physically closed its doors. 

The absorption of the attorneys at Fisher & Sauls is not considered a merger but rather a partnership. 

“It was a strategic partnership to take advantage of marketing and business opportunities,” McQuaid said. 

A representative of Fisher & Sauls was not available for comment. 

This partnership is expected to significantly grow the firm’s practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, real estate and business law, according to a news release.

“During the pandemic, there were fewer crimes and auto accidents happening, but because of the pandemic, more people were doing estate planning,” McQuaid said, explaining how that line of work has grown immensely. 

Although there isn’t an exact monetary figure or other details disclosed on the partnership, McQuaid said roughly 4,000 clients represented by Fish & Sauls were informed about the move. 

The attorneys joining the firm due to the merger include Robert Kapusta (business, estate planning, real estate), Laurie Valentine (estate planning and probate), Hunter Rawls (probate, estate planning and probate litigation), Kenneth “Kip” Thornton (real estate), and Bruce Marger (estate planning).

Both Battaglia’s main office on Central Avenue and its satellite Riverview office will remain open.