Firm History | Capes Sokol

On April 1, 2001, eight ambitious attorneys led by David V. Capes, Mark E. Goodman, Gary R. Sarachan, and Daniel R. Sokol took a leap of faith and formed Capes, Sokol, Goodman & Sarachan, P.C.

From the beginning, we concentrated on the long term, and this has served us well. Our unique foundation of collaboration produced a rewarding work experience for our team, an increased ability to serve our clients, and support the community where we work and live in more ways than ever before.

From there, we worked hard and prospered together as a team. We set lofty goals for ourselves and the firm, and we have achieved them together. We have grown in space through our new dynamic, collaboration-based office, expanded our depth of legal experience through new attorney and practice group development, and focused on cultivating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive work environment.

I’m very proud of our accomplishments in the past 20 years and view our anniversary as an occasion not just to celebrate our past and present, but as an opportunity to renew our goals and commitments as we move into our third decade and beyond.

With a vision for the future and a solid strategy for getting there, I know that success is inevitable. None of this would have been possible without the combined strength of the people of Capes Sokol and their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to our firm and our clients.

To all of our friends, thank you for your support.

Jeffrey A. Cohen, Managing Shareholder

Relentless Drive to Improve

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Awards & Designations

Strategic-Focused Growth

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“For those of us who joined the firm after April 1, 2001, our firm’s anniversary holds a special meaning. Our anniversary is a chance to reflect on what brought us together, the values of the firm established not only by its founders but by each one of us who came after. We recognize that together we are a better law firm than if we are apart – especially now.” – Adam E. Miller, Shareholder

Community-Focused Leadership

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Leadership

Collaborative Approach to Clients

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“Capes Sokol clients include individuals and organizations with sophisticated, complex challenges and opportunities. They enjoy working with us because we are non-judgmental, excellent listeners, creative, pragmatic, and dedicated toward giving the best advice, achieving results and managing through their problems and challenges efficiently, humanely and ethically.” – John S. Meyer, Jr., Shareholder

Explore Key Moments Across Our History:

2001

Capes, Sokol, Goodman & Sarachan, P.C. is Founded

Four litigators from Rosenblum, Goldenhersh, Silverstein & Zafft and four from Rothman, Sokol, Adler & Sarachan, P.C. form Capes, Sokol, Goodman & Sarachan, P.C. (“CSGS”). There are 20 people in the new firm, including secretaries, office managers, paralegals and support staff. The eight founding shareholders are Sanford J. Boxerman, David V. Capes, Jeffrey A. Cohen, Mark E. Goodman, S. Todd Hamby, Gary R. Sarachan, Daniel R. Sokol, and Alan N. Zwibleman.

2001

Capes, Sokol, Goodman & Sarachan, P.C. is Founded

2006

Firm Expands Office Space by 25%

CSGS signs an eight-year lease in the Pierre Laclede Building at 7701 Forsyth. The lease for 12,500 square feet is a 25% increase over current space, almost tripling the space since the firm’s inception.

2006

Firm Expands Office Space by 25%

2007

Firm Relocates Office

The firm relocates to the twelfth floor at 7701 Forsyth of the Pierre Laclede Center in Clayton.

2007

Firm Relocates Office

2008

Firm Celebrates Rothman’s 50th Anniversary

CSGS celebrates Kenneth J. Rothman’s 50th year practicing law with a party at the firm. Ken, Senior Counsel, served as Majority Leader and then Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, as Lieutenant Governor of Missouri, and as a Municipal Judge in the cities of St. Ann and Richmond Heights.

2008

Firm Celebrates Rothman’s 50th Anniversary

2010

Firm Establishes CSGS Charitable Foundation

The firm forms the CSGS Charitable Foundation to facilitate and encourage the support of charitable organizations by the firm and its employees.

2010

Firm Establishes CSGS Charitable Foundation

2011

Firm Celebrates 10th Anniversary

The firm celebrates its tenth anniversary. CSGS has doubled in size, adding three new shareholders and ten new associates.

2011

Firm Celebrates 10th Anniversary

2013

Firm Adds Intellectual Property Practice

Michael Kahn, an intellectual property lawyer who represented Mike Tyson’s tattoo artist in a copyright case, joins the firm to head up the new Intellectual Property Practice Group.

2013

Firm Adds Intellectual Property Practice

2014

Firm Rebrands, Expands & Elects First Managing Shareholder

Jeffrey A. Cohen, a founding member of the firm, is named Managing Shareholder, a change from the law firm's previous three-lawyer executive committee. • CSGS adopts “Capes Sokol” as its registered business name. • The firm signs a lease agreement to expand an additional 1,940 square feet on the third floor of the Pierre Laclede Center. The firm now occupies a total of 17,467 square feet with the new expansion, consisting of the entire twelfth floor and a significant portion of the third floor.

2014

Firm Rebrands, Expands & Elects First Managing Shareholder

2016

Firm Celebrates 15th Anniversary & Adds Two Practices

The firm celebrates its fifteenth anniversary. Capes Sokol has grown over thirty percent in the last five years, adding eight new shareholders, one of counsel attorney, and six new associates. • Capes Sokol adds a trusts and estates practice with the hiring of Harvard W. Muhm, Lisa M. Adams, and Heidi M. Ottsen. • Adam E. Miller, a veteran products liability attorney who has successfully represented Monsanto in nationally-significant PCB litigation, joins Capes Sokol as a shareholder and Co-Chair of the firm's litigation practice.

2016

Firm Celebrates 15th Anniversary & Adds Two Practices

2017

Firm Launches Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Practice

Capes Sokol forms St. Louis’ first Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Practice Group.

2017

Firm Launches Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Practice

2018

Firm Signs Lease for New Expanded Office Space in Regions Centre

Capes Sokol executes a 10-year lease for new and expanded office space in the Regions Centre, a few blocks west of its former location. • Legal Services of Eastern Missouri honors the firm with the Gerald R. Ortbals Law Firm Award at the annual For the Common Good Awards Reception.

2018

Firm Signs Lease for New Expanded Office Space in Regions Centre

2019

Firm Adds Entertainment & Media Practice

Capes Sokol forms an entertainment and media practice. Pete Salsich joins the firm as of counsel to lead the practice with his former partner Michael A. Kahn. • Construction begins on the firm’s new space in the Regions Centre.

2019

Firm Adds Entertainment & Media Practice

2020

Firm Moves into New Office Space

Capes Sokol moves into its new, multi-floor office space in the Regions Centre. The firm occupies the top two floors of the building, totaling approximately 34,000 square feet of premium office space in the heart of Clayton’s business district. The new space is over 40 percent larger than Capes Sokol’s former office, which was expanded in 2014 and 2016.

2020

Firm Moves into New Office Space

2021

Firm Celebrates 20th Anniversary

The firm celebrates its twentieth anniversary. Capes Sokol has grown over forty percent in the last five years, adding fifteen new shareholders, three of counsel attorneys, and thirteen associates.

2021

Firm Celebrates 20th Anniversary

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