Tenant of the Month: Richard C. Petrofsky

Creve Coeur Workspace is excited to introduce Richard C. Petrofsky as Tenant of the Month! He has been a tenant of ours since November of 2013. 

• What is your profession and why did you choose it?

I am an attorney specializing in estate planning, business law and tax.  I have been practicing law since 1986.  Since I was in grade school I always wanted to be an attorney.  I loved all of the lawyer T.V. shows growing up (like Perry Mason).  My Mom has told me that when I was a baby, she would whisper in my ear that I was going to be a lawyer when I grew up – I guess I listened to her.

• How long have you owned your own business?

Although I have been partners with other lawyers in other firms, I have owned my own solo practitioner law firm since 2008.
 

• What inspired you to own your own business?

Although I enjoyed practicing with others, I wanted to do things differently.  Most lawyers are dependent on time an hourly rates and with larger firms, each lawyer is accountable to his or her partners for their time.  I wanted to practice law without worrying about time.  I do most of my work on a fixed fee basis.  Clients don’t get bills for every minor phone call.  They know up front what something is going to cost and I spend as much time with them as they need.  I like it this way.  Since I have owned my own firm, I have never had a client complain about a bill.
 

• What might someone be surprised to know about you?

I am a big movie fan.  In fact, I write screenplays in my spare time.  Although nothing I have written has actually been made into a movie, two of my screenplays have been optioned (which means someone was looking to make it into a movie).  One of those screenplays was optioned by Burt Reynolds and the other by Diane Ladd.
 

• Do you have a hobby, play a sport, or have any special interests?

I love seeing movies, writing screenplays, collecting sports memorabilia and watching/performing magic.
 

• What job would you be terrible at?

A stay at home parent.  My wife quit her job to stay at home when our twins were born.  Being a stay at home parent is one of the hardest jobs I can think of and it takes a special person to do it and do it well.  My wife is that kind of person.  I am not.
 

• Who has impressed you most with what they’ve accomplished?

My Dad.  He never went to college, but started his own business (a bakery), worked countless hours to get it to grow and ultimately sold it and was able to retire comfortably – a true story of success.

• Where is the most interesting place you have visited?

New Orleans.

• Do you have any advice based on your area of expertise?

Plan ahead.  Whether in the estate planning, business or tax area, most people find themselves with problems when they fail to plan.  People that surround themselves with professionals (lawyer, accountant, financial planner) tend to be more likely to fulfill their goals and objectives because they plan ahead.
 

• If you could work anywhere in the world, where would you choose?

I love St. Louis.  Wouldn’t work anywhere else.
 

• How has working in a shared work space influenced your business?

It has allowed me to spend more time doing what I do best (practicing law) without having to worry about the office administration things.  I also like being in an office environment with other professionals that may be able to assist me (for example, we have a tax preparer in our office suite that has helped my clients in the past).
 

• What is your favorite restaurant from the St. Louis area?

For a nice meal – Flemings.  For fast food – Lion’s Choice.