Know Your Neighbor: Jeffrey Davis, Attorney, Hawthorne
Jeffrey Davis is keenly aware of the challenges and pitfalls facing small business owners.
He grew up in a small business family in northern New Jersey, his father owning his own construction company while his mother ran a graphic design business from the basement of the family house.
When Davis graduated from Seton Hall Law School, he gravitated to where he was most familiar and most comfortable – providing small groups of investors or entrepreneurs who have launched startups, emerging businesses or family-owned businesses with the time and legal expertise needed for success.
It’s a crucial service, Davis said, because the small business owner is often at a disadvantage, whether it’s because of a lack of financial wherewithal or a lack of awareness of or access to the other professionals that are often needed to launch a thriving enterprise.
“Part of what I wanted to do, part of the reason why I went to law school is my dad, because working in construction, everything ends up in litigation or some kind of dispute and I felt that the playing fields are so uneven,” said Davis, who initially went into the family construction business for several years after graduating Vassar College. “I woke up one day and made a choice of how can I do more.”
That expertise is not just legal advice but helping the new business owner locate a commercial lender or a CPA. Sometimes it may be working to resolve payroll issues while other times hooking up his client with a consultant to help devise a business plan might be in order.
His personal and family background in small construction firms gives him a natural leg up on clients in that area but he also advises entrepreneurs entering the food and hospitality industry. He chose the latter, in part, because of the creativity of the field and the wide assortments of opportunities it presents.
Davis, 37, an avid martial artist, also has clients in other types of endeavors. For instance, he represents one client who has launched a bouncy castle business.
Part of what makes Davis’ practice so intriguing is that he not only counsels small business owners, but he is one himself. Most young attorneys initially gain experience at an established firm. However, Davis eschewed that route, except for his first year out of law school.
“My personality is never set up for that,” said Davis, whose wife is a psychologist. “I worked in a corporate environment for a little over a year, a big firm, an accounting firm, and while I complained about it being one of the worst experiences of my life because I felt like I was a caged animal that had a lot of other potential to do things, it’s funny because I actually got a lot out of that experience and I’m glad I had that experience.”
He said he wasn’t interested in stringing along clients in increasing billable hours for the firm or being one member of a large stable of attorneys. He wanted to work directly with people like his mom and dad, who have good ideas and need proper direction.
“They’re looking to do what others won’t, so they may in the future can do what others can’t,” Davis said. “That’s part of being an entrepreneur.”
Previously, he had an office in Nyack, but with many of his clients either from Westchester or New York City, he decided to move close to home. He is currently in an office sharing arrangement with other professionals in a building on Saw Mill River Road in Hawthorne.
In addition to his legal work, Davis gives back to college students who are considering a career in law. He periodically participates in speaking engagements at Baruch College, and is also instituting a mentorship program for local undergraduate college students during the school year who may want to go to law school.
Davis will work with students individually to teach them about the legal process in construction, litigation, liquor licensing and general business law. This year Davis has two students from Pace who are participating.
He said when he graduated college, it took him seven years until he discovered the direction that he wanted to go.
“Ultimately, I’m extremely happy because I like fighting for small businesses and I like helping them, and I do it my way, which is why I’m by myself,” Davis said.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/