Washington Lawyer - July/August 2020 - 24

FEATURE
people working in government offices, we are starting to see slowdowns
in getting our compensation. That can be a very challenging," she says.
"As a solo attorney, I'm learning very quickly that I have to really plan
ahead for what cases come in and how often, because some of these
cases last for two or three years on average." Other cases last nearly a
decade, Gentry says.
"I'm anticipating getting some more fees soon," she says. "It's just a
matter of processing and waiting."

After a hearing and conclusion of a case, it can still take several months
for a special master to issue a fee decision. "Then we are seeing about
another three to four months before we get our check. It's very different
than civil litigation. We have to plan ahead more for lean times."
For now, Gentry is more focused on balancing an increasingly heavy
workload. In addition to representing her own clients, she oversees
cases at the George Washington University Law School's Vaccine Injury
Litigation Clinic, where she is the director.

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Kinner & McGowan, PLLC

"Businesses our
size are going to
be more cautious
about taking
financial risks in
the near future
because we want
to make sure
that we have
cash reserves."

JOHN MCGOWAN & MEREDITH KINNER

Assessing Financial Risks

A year ago, John McGowan and Meredith Kinner were excited about
moving their cannabis law practice from a WeWork shared space to a
Capitol Hill rowhouse. Now, the coronavirus pandemic has changed
some of their entrepreneurial momentum.
"It's funny how some things come full circle. When you wrote the article
about us [in 2019], we were just moving into a new space," McGowan
says. "Well, the lease of that space [ended] in March. We've chosen not
to renew it because of the uncertainty of what's going on."
McGowan and Kinner decided to work from their homes instead to cut
back on expenses. "Obviously, we are not taking in-person meetings

24 WASHINGTON LAWYER

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JULY/AUGUST 2020

right now. Everything we're doing with clients is taking place over the
phone, through Zoom or UberConference. That's a great way to cut our
logistical expenses and make sure that we have enough cash on hand
should we see a decline in business," Kinner says.
So far, they have yet to experience a drop in revenue. Perhaps one reason
is that medical marijuana dispensaries and companies are deemed
essential businesses in Washington, D.C., and Maryland.
Still, McGowan and Kinner were cautiously optimistic regarding their
ability to attract new clients during the coronavirus lockdown. "It's really
hard to ask people to spend money on legal services right now," Kinner
says. "If the clients are concerned about whether they are going to shut
down or if they qualify as being an essential business, they might not
prioritize legal services that they normally would."
Washington Lawyer - July/August 2020

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