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We thought we were just being polite.  Turns out, we were on to something.  We offer all visitors to the office a drink when they arrive.  In the hot, humid DC summer, a tall glass of water is almost always eagerly accepted.  In winters increasing defined by the rude arrival of a polar vortex, coffee and tea warm people’s hands and hearts.

Now we learn that we are not simply being polite and hospitable, but we are engaging in a good business practice.  Attorney Lee Rosen writes a blog called Divorce Discourse, but it is not usually about divorce law, but, rather, about the business of the practice of law.  He recently wrote a piece entitled “Offer Me a Drink: It is the Polite Thing to Do” in which he discussed the value of making a client and a prospective client feel at ease, welcome and comfortable when they visit a lawyer.  So many of our clients are facing extraordinary challenges and are anxious.  The simple human connection made by offering a cup of coffee begins to build that relationship of trust which is essential for a good attorney-client relationship.

And, honestly, we have great coffee.  We have three people in the office who make sure that Benach Collopy is always well-supplied with excellent coffee.  Sandra Arboleda is a native Colombian and takes extraordinary pride in offering a well-made cup of coffee.  For Sandra, it is not only about welcoming clients, but a point of national pride, to have a good cup of coffee.  Competing with Sandra’s Colombian coffee is Mariela Sanchez from Peru.  Mariela insists that the Peruvian highlands produce coffee that is just as good, if not better, than the more famous Colombian blends.  Lastly, Hanif Moledina, originally from a Ugandan coffee growing family, searches the world to bring us new beans, roasts and flavors.

We always say that we have the best coffee in Washington DC.  Stop by and see for yourself!