Sometimes law firm split-ups are divisive and bitter. 

That's not the case with the new firm of Nicolaides, Fink, Thorpe, Michaelides, Sullivan LLP. Twenty-nine of the new firm's 34 lawyers, including name partner Richard H. Nicolaides Jr., came from Bates, Carey, Nicolaides LLP. 

Both Nicolaides and Robert J. Bates Jr., a partner at what's now known as BatesCarey LLP, called the split amicable. 

“The idea of separation was discussed for months so there was no surprise,” Nicolaides said. “We all reached the same conclusion that it made sense to go our separate ways and starting in early 2014 was a logical time to make the transition.” 

Nicolaides and Bates said there were issues related to conflicts presented by representing different commercial insurance company clients. 

“We decided we wanted to do this in an orderly fashion because we had no real disputes over clients or who was going or staying,” Bates said. 

“We announced to the entire firm in July that we were going to go our separate ways at the end of the year and that made the most sense financially and businesswise.” 

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