Scranton, Pennsylvania. Photo: Shutterstock

A recently spun-off litigation firm has added three partners in two different offices, expanding its reach outside of its Philadelphia base.

Bardsley, Benedict + Cholden has added Joseph Murphy and Patrick Murphy to its Scranton office, and partner Larry Gross to its Mount Laurel, New Jersey, office. Founding partner Andrew Benedict said the group adds about 20 percent in revenue to the firm, which launched in April and now has 19 lawyers in four offices.

The firm had one lawyer in Scranton, Thomas Geroulo, who had also come from Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires & Newby, but had not yet set up office space. The Murphys had been partners in their own firm, Murphy Genello & Murphy, which has been absorbed by Bardsley Benedict, Benedict said.

“That gives us a really good three-lawyer foundation. If you're in Scranton and you want a Scranton lawyer and someone who really understands it, you have three lawyers there who have been there their whole lives,” Benedict said.

The Murphys are both trial lawyers, with experience in general liability, commercial liability, construction law, directors and officers liability, liquor liability and dram shop cases, civil rights and products liability.

Gross, who had been practicing at Salmon, Ricchezza, Singer & Turchi, is an insurance defense lawyer focusing on commercial motor vehicle matters and general liability. He said he hadn't been looking to leave his former firm, but knew a few people at Bardsley Benedict and was intrigued by “a unique opportunity.”

“I see myself gaining the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new firm and growing the practice together,” he said. “I'm excited because we're not going to be bound by any of those preconceived notions of how a firm should be run.”

Benedict said his firm's CEO, Brian Reeves, made the connection with the Murphys and Gross. Reeves had been the chief financial officer at Weber Gallagher, where Benedict previously practiced. In that role, Reeves had interacted with the Murphys and Gross as part of his responsibility to evaluate M&A and lateral hiring candidates.

He said the firm's goal is to double in size within its first year, having started with about 15 lawyers in the spring, but doing so “wisely.”

“A lot of people have reached out to us in regard to what we're doing and the platform we have and how it could help their clients,” Benedict said.

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