Published Nov. 7, 2016

Longtime friends Jeffrey H. Chilton (left) and John A Cothorn are now law partners in teir newly merged Detroit firm, Cothorn & Chilton PC.

The integration game

A long time coming    

As John A Cothorn and Jeffrey H. Chilton see it, being friends throughout their respective careers in law helped prepare them to take the plunge and become full-blown law partners.

They recently merged, bringing the Law Offices of Jeffrey H. Chilton out of Grosse Pointe Park and into the Buhl Building suite where Cothorn & Mackley PC had existed.  the new firm is now known as Cothorn & Chilton, PC.

“We get along with each other, so it’s a true partner-ship in every sense of the word,” Chilton said.  “It’s a partnership based on trust, knowledge of the other person’s abilities and it makes coming to the office an enjoyable experience.

”Most of the time,” he added with a laugh that Cothorn echoed.

Chilton said the practices is 99 percent defense, with Cothorn handling civil cases including premises liability and no-fault, and Chilton focusing on criminal law.

The two began their careers at the firm now known as Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook.  They both left after about five years to start their own practices but maintained their friendship. Over the past year, they had discussed what each wanted to do for the future of his practice.  They have a combined 60 years trial experience.

“We decided we had a commonality of interests and now was the time to form this joint venture,” Cothorn said.  “So we did.”

“During our interactions, we had clients who ask for services that I couldn’t provide, and ask Jeff for services he couldn’t provide.  By merging together, we’re able to offer them.”

Besides the namesake partners, the new firm has three associates and one flextime attorney.     Cothorn said the fact that the firm is located in the Buhl building, where Kitch was based when the two partners were there, is special.

“It’s like a grand homecoming,” he said.