Law Office of Baker, Burton & Lundy, PC

Above L to R: Back, L to R: Mary Korkodian, Rolando Gutierrez, Brian Selogie, Evan Koch Middle: Clint Wilson, Albro Lundy Front: Kent Burton, Brad Baker

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Baker, Burton & Lundy is a full-service law firm formed in 1976 by Brad Baker and Kent Burton. The team now includes partners Albro Lundy, Evan Koch, Clint Wilson and Brian Selogie; attorneys Mary Korkodian, Stephen Semos and Rolando Gutierrez; and longtime paralegal and administrative staff members. 

What is your advice for your younger clients?

1. Just do the work. The first thing we tell younger clients is that they will be successful in whatever enterprise they choose if they just do the work. So many people out there don’t do the work. If you do the work that is required, you will get ahead.
2. Develop and nurture relationships. We have clients who have been with us for almost 50 years. Your best source of business is your satisfied clients.
3. Memorize John Wooden’s definition of success: “Success is the peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”  

Tell us something unique about your firm that others may not know.

Baker, Burton & Lundy handles almost any legal need that a client might have. And if we don’t handle it, we almost always have a relationship with a trusted referral that will. We handle everything from car accidents to multibillion-dollar class actions to multimillion-square-foot leasing to large and small probate litigation and estate planning. It is this depth and breadth of legal expertise that make us unique.

Do you have a professional superpower? 

Our professional superpower is that our legal team has over 180 years of combined legal experience, and we love practicing law. We have many long-term relationships with our clients and other attorneys with whom we work, as well as employees who have been with our firm for 10, 20, 30 and even 40 years—which is unique among law firms.

What are the best ways to establish trust with new clients?

Honesty is the best policy. When they see how hard we work and the results come, they not only trust us, but we are their attorneys for life.

Do you have advice for helping clients avoid making rash decisions?

One of the ways we protect our clients from rash decisions is quite simple: We tell them if you have a legal question, please pick up the phone and ask us. Most times, we can give advice to prevent serious problems through a simple phone call.

How do you assist clients in planning for their legacy and estate?

The goal is to help our clients achieve peace of mind. Taking the mystery out of legal documents and guiding clients so they are self-sufficient going forward is key. Knowing that they do not “need” us until someone passes away is empowering. “Does your decision feel right?” That is the measuring stick we use to solidify plans.

How do you deal with new information or surprises in your work?

Life is constantly teaching, so we never stop learning. Because of our depth of experience, we are able to adapt rapidly to changes in circumstances.

Describe how you cope with stressful situations at work.

We have a motto at Baker, Burton & Lundy that we work hard and play hard. Being able to physically and mentally step away from the practice of law doesn’t eliminate stress, but it certainly alleviates it. The partners have a fairly regular beach volleyball game that has been in place for many decades. Our partner Brian Selogie just recently paddled from Molokai to Maui in a six-man outrigger canoe for a worldwide competition.

How important is the trusted advisor role?

While there are continual advances in technology, we believe there will always be a need for an experienced trusted advisor who is staying current or even ahead of the rapidly changing legal world. As we approach our 50^th year as a law firm, we have developed wisdom that we share with our clients, and we plan to continue our role as trusted advisors for decades to come. 

Give us your thoughts about the importance of charitable contributions. 

Charitable contributions, with both our efforts and finances, are an essential part of Baker, Burton & Lundy’s outreach, and there are many charities that are near and dear to our attorneys. Albro Lundy has given 178 pints of blood and will keep on saving lives with his giving. Kent Burton has helped multiple charities establish their 501(c)(3) status, and Brad Baker is the current chair of H.E.L.P., Helping Elders Live Productively. Our attorneys are also active in community groups and coach local sports teams.

What are you grateful for as we approach this holiday season?

We are grateful for all of our employees and the family we have developed with them over the years. The career longevity of those in our firm is unparallelled from our experience in the legal profession. Most often, the only time people leave our company is when they retire.