Page 27 - Top Workplaces 2019

THE MORNING CALL THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019 27

Continued from Previous Page Cryder said. “I really love it here;
attorney from Colombia who is not there’s a very positive energy.”
only a native Spanish speaker but is Cryder said staff and attorneys are
able to understand the legal-technical supportive of one another.
terms. “Everyone wants to do their best for
“It’s a real bonus,” he said. our clients,” she said. “We tend to go
Lawyerswanttojointhefirmforthe outofourwaytohelpeachotherwhen
high-level work it offers, but the ben- someone is struggling on a big project.”
efitsarealsoasupportivefamilyatmos- Cryder believes in the firm’s philoso-
phere and attorneys reaching out phy of donating and volunteering. To
across legal areas to consult with one celebrate its 30th anniversary, FLB ran
another on cases. a 30 Days of Giving challenge. Staff
“The biggest distinguishing factor is members donated food, money, health
the collegiality; people are always will- and hygiene products; purchased from
ingtohelpout,”saidGretchenL.Peter- bake sales; hauled in clothes and toys;
sen, an attorney with six years on staff and bought tickets in 50-50 raffles to
incivillitigation.“There’sagreatopen- benefit 30 Lehigh Valley charities this
door policy. People will help you in any winter.
capacity they can.” Petersen volunteers with the Boys &
Charlesworth said the firm is re- Girls Club of Easton and FLB supports
sponsive to the ideas of its staff mem- HARRY FISHER/THE MORNING CALL hereffortsbysigningupasasponsorof
bers. Attorney Gretchen Petersen, left, chats with administrative assistant Valerie the annual golf tournament fundraiser.
“If there’s another area that may be Burgess. Petersen says her colleagues “are always willing to help out.” The firm allows employees time to vol-
underserved in Lehigh Valley and unteer at causes that mean something
someone wants to open a new practice annual holiday party, complete with Patti Cryder moved to the Lehigh to them and even jumps on board at
area, that’s encouraged,” he said. gifts for all staff members’ children. Valley from Washington state to be times as a champion.
Attorneys meet monthly in depart- During the pre-Thanksgiving snow- closer to her grandchildren. A former Charlesworthenjoystheannualhol-
ment meetings to hear of the latest ad- storm that snarled traffic and left thou- administrative assistant at a firm she iday party and outdoor picnics that
vances in the legal field. sands of motorists stuck for hours, staff loved in the northwest, Cryder has bring everyone together.
“We’re all in this together,” Petersen members at FLB were permitted to found that again at FLB. “Someoftheseniorshareholdersare
said. “We share the wealth of informa- leave early to beat the weather or to “I moved here specifically to be a there flipping burgers and dogs,” he
tion to make sure we’re the best attor- stay and ride out the storm. Employees grandma but I also have a very strong said.
neys we can be. It’s a great place to walked to the nearby Promenade work ethic,” Cryder said. “I fell into something very fortunate
work. Shops to get dinner and stayed in the Hergrandson’sschoolhostsagrand- 33 years ago, I was looking for a job
“With other firms its a 9-5 job. We office, catching up on work, chatting or parents lunch and it’s something the fresh out of law school and met Joe
certainly work hard but there’s more watching hockey in the conference firmencourageshertoattendyearafter Fitzpatrick,” Charlesworth said. “Here
considerationforfamily,”Petersensaid. room until the wee hours. year. we are now, and still loving it.”
The firm welcomes families to visit “We get along as a group. We just “They’re very supportive of letting
for Halloween trick-or-treat and the rode the storm out,” Shields said. you do what you need to do for family,” Sarah Fulton is a freelance writer.

Thank you Isett staff members for making Barry Isett & Associates
one of the Lehigh Valley’s Top Workplaces seven years in a row!

Allentown • Phoenixville • Doylestown • Hazleton • Wilkes-Barre • Stroudsburg • Mechanicsburg • Wyomissing
barryisett.com