Mike Barrett, with Saltz Mongeluzzi Barrett & Bendesky.

For Michael F. Barrett, it was time for "an alternative environment," so he and two lawyers left Philadelphia plaintiffs firm Saltz Mongeluzzi Barrett & Bendesky.

The decision to form his own boutique medical practice firm, Barrett DeAngelo, with fellow Saltz Mongeluzzi attorneys (and brothers) Joseph G. and Terry DeAngelo was both personal and professional.

"This is something that I am very excited to do and looking forward to it very much," Barrett said of their Tuesday departure in a phone interview Friday.

Just where exactly the firm will be based is to be determined. Barrett said he and the DeAngelos are currently scouting sites in Philadelphia's Northern Liberties area. For now, they are working in temporary locations, but accessible via phone and email.

Robert J. Mongeluzzi, president and co-founder of Saltz Mongeluzzi, said in a release Friday that the firm has been renamed Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky, while its internet address, www.smbb.com, remains unchanged.

Mongeluzzi said the name change was prompted by Barrett's recent departure to form his own firm.

"Our new name reflects Michael's departure and also continues to honor the legacy of our incomparable, late co-founder, Steve Saltz," Mongeluzzi said in a statement. "Co-founding partner Larry Bendesky, me, and everyone associated with our firm joins in wishing Michael all the best, professionally and personally."

Barrett had been at the firm for 22 years and has been a practicing lawyer for 36 years, always on the side of plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases.

Medical malpractice was and is his love, he said, and now it was time to strike out on his own to focus exclusively on such cases.

Joseph DeAngelo spent 12 years at Saltz Mongeluzzi as a personal injury lawyer with an emphasis on complex medical malpractice, premises liability and civil rights cases in Pennsylvania.

Rounding out the trio is Terry DeAngelo, also a former attorney with Saltz Mongeluzzi.

Barrett said he and Joseph DeAngelo will be shareholders and co-owners of the new firm, while Terry DeAngelo will an associate.

The DeAngelo brothers are either current or former registered nurses, according to Barrett, which he said fits in with what the new firm will be offering clients.

"We have the ability and opportunity to laser focus on a few catastrophic cases with my two colleagues," Barrett said.

"I have a 36-year career in medical malpractice cases. It is what we did best in our former firm. This alternative environment is in the best interest of the clients, and we'll able to maximize efficiencies using our joint and mutual experience," Barrett said.

"The three of us will work collaboratively on all the cases for the firm. We are going to make sure we make the time to work collaboratively," he said. "That's our focus. … We possess the concentration, special talent and skill to be able to identify the cases and develop and resolve them in our clients' favor and their benefit."

The moves come soon after Saltz Mongeluzzi announced a shift in practice and firm leadership after bringing on Steven Wigrizer, one of the founding partners at Wapner Newman Wigrizer Brecher & Miller, to chair the medical malpractice department. Wigrizer brought on attorney Jason Weiss with him, as well as some staff.

The hires and leadership change were announced just as Barrett was being moved into a new role as chair of the practice and professional development department to lead efforts to develop client and attorney referral relationships, while continuing his practice as a lawyer and partner for the firm, according to the firm at the time.

Striking out on his own "really was independent of that," Barrett said in the phone interview. "I just am 60 years old. I certainly don't want to wait any longer. I thoroughly enjoy working with young, strategic progressive lawyers, like my partner Joe and his brother Terry."

"I learned as much from them as much I hope they do from me," Barrett added. "This is a new, different, unique nontraditional environment."

He added, "We won't be in a standard high-rise building," but "we are going to stay in Philly."

Barrett, "born and bred in the Philadelphia metro area," resides in Gladwyne, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and J.D. from Villanova Law School, while both DeAngelo brothers are Temple Law School alums, and live in the city.

"I have always been fascinated by the intersection of law and medicine," Barrett said. "To me it's just something that I truly love that I enjoy trying to master. It's a very challenging discipline, and I have tremendous respect for the medical profession."

With good reason, as medicine runs in the family. Barrett said his wife, brother, brother-in-law and cousins are all physicians. His younger son is currently in medical school.

"I have great respect and admiration for the medical profession," Barrett said. "At the same token, I recognize that patients are entitled to be treated in a certain manner to meet the standard of care, and when they don't and suffer significant and serious injuries, I want to help them."

"I have always represented the plaintiffs, and I hope to do that for many years to come. It's very new and exciting opportunity," he added.