Meet Eric Grabois of The Law Office of Eric J. Grabois and Pinnacle Title Group

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Grabois.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My career as a lawyer began when I was just 15. My cousin David, a lawyer, was kind enough to hire me as his receptionist for the summer after my freshman year of high school. My voice had deepened enough at that point to sound like an adult. I thought the job was actually a lot of fun: I got to make some money, eat pizza and talk on the phone most of the day.  This initial opportunity lead to many other internships and jobs at several law firms in Boston, when I was at Tufts University for undergraduate school.

Although I had all this working experience, after I graduated from college I still did not know what career to choose. I had an interest in Real Estate and fortunately, a family member had a job opportunity for me. The job was to work at Gator Investments, a large commercial real estate company. I jumped at the chance.

I was only 22 and had virtually no experience in this area. The job was challenging, to say the least, but I learned a great deal about commercial real estate, retail business and how the law impacts it. I helped fill shopping center vacancies, assisted in drafting commercial leases, and absorbed as much as I could. It was at that point that I decided that I wanted to go to law school.

I was accepted into the University of Miami, School of Law. I chose to go there as a Miami native and because I could take master’s level classes while in school.  When I graduated in 2004, I decided that rather than join a firm, I would start my own firm immediately after law school, (a fateful and mildly crazy choice).

I was about one month out of law school and into my solo practice when I got my first case, to collect against the rapper Trick Daddy for not showing up at a concert at my client’s nightclub in Panama City Beach. I had gotten my first fee all on my own, and after that, there was no looking back. I did over 100 hours of continuing education my first year out and I became a title agent for Attorney’s Title Insurance Fund. My practice grew organically, client by client, I took probate matters, commercial litigation matters and did real estate closings. I didn’t make enough money to have a staff, so I had to do everything myself, and through trial and tribulation, I learned every day and began to expand my skill set.

I was about four years into my practice when a client advised me that he knew of an attorney who was looking to bring on a partner. After meeting, I realized that he really wanted an associate, and this was not what I wanted to do. I cordially rejected the job, but I had about eight cases to refer to him. We decided that I could be “of counsel” to his firm on these cases and still maintain my office.  Coincidentally and fortunately, the job I rejected was taken by a smart, beautiful and engaging attorney, my wife and future partner, Jennifer Safren. We became great friends while working together, and I was finally able to convince her to be “more than friends”.

After Jen and I got engaged, we decided it would be best if we started working together, (my second greatest decision, after asking her to marry me). Jen and I truly complement each other, and it has been our different skills that has made our practice, and our family, a success.

Soon after, I was fortunate enough to be retained by clients that were investing in real estate as the economy was rebounding. It was through these relationships, all whom are still my clients today, that really changed the direction of my Firm.  With every case we took and every real estate transaction that we closed, we forged new and continuing relationships, while still preserving the old ones. This is the strategy that has been the cornerstone of our practice’s growth.

In 2012, I started the practice’s affiliated title company, Pinnacle Title Group, which now handles over 200 real estate transactions on an annual basis, accomplishing another personal goal of mine.

The law practice has now grown into three lawyers, three paralegals, and multiple interns, who without all their help, none of my success would be possible. I am grateful to my team and the amount of dedication, loyalty, and effort they show me and the clients, day-in, and day-out.  We are there for each other through the good and bad, ups and down.  We are friends.  We laugh at work, a lot. When there are tears at the office, we try to be a support system for each other. This is how I got to where I am, and my story.  I know that the value that I place, and have always placed on these relationships, helped lead me here today, and will continue to foster my successes.

Has it been a smooth road?
The road has had some bumps along the way. As a new attorney, you usually have the comfort and security of an established law firm, to give you cases, explain the issues of law and strategy, offer guidance as you learn. I had to figure all of these things out on my own and without support staff. I was my own head of marketing, public relations, bookkeeping, and client management. This was not an easy feat for a 27-year-old.

Then, just as I felt like I had found a niche and got my footing in my practice, in 2007, the real estate market crashed, and I lost about 50% of my revenue because of the market downturn. As a result, I almost ran out of money and thought that I might have to close the Firm.

Fortunately, I was retained on a probate case and that was able to keep me afloat. It was also that point that I was introduced to some real estate investors who began buying distressed properties in South Florida, and from that time forward the practice expanded and flourished.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Law Office of Eric J. Grabois, P, L, and Pinnacle Title Group story. Tell us more about the business.
I am a real estate attorney. Real Estate is my passion. Real Estate touches everyone and affects and shapes all of our lives in so many ways, and that is one of the reasons that I love and enjoy it so much.

I think what sets me apart from lawyers is that I am known to be an attorney that brings people together, that I solve problems, that I always try to find common ground. I care about my cases, and my clients and I take the work that I do every day very seriously. Our clients can attest to it.

I think what sets me apart from other law firms and title companies is that I never rest upon what I already did.  I keep pushing to learn new things every day, and indeed, I do. I have a constant desire to improve and educate myself on each transaction so that I never stop learning and challenging myself.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were just starting out?
I think it is easy to look back and say, “if I only I had done it like this or chosen this path.” But I am at the point where I have achieved a level of success in my practice that I am content with. Each decision or choice I made in the past, has led me to where I am presently. So, I cannot say in hindsight that I would do anything differently. I love my practice. I love my family. I love my clients, many of who have become my good friends. I am proud of my firm, my co-workers and the work that we do every day. I get to help people, and it is truly a rewarding experience. I could not wish for any better outcome than what I have already achieved. My only wish is for continued success.

Contact Info:

• Address: Law Office of Eric J, Grabois, P,L.
  1666 79th Street Causeway, Suite 500
  North Bay Village, Florida 33141
  Pinnacle Title Group
  1666 79th Street Causeway, Suite
  North Bay Village, Florida 33141
• Website: www.graboislaw.com and www.pinnacletitlegroup.com
• Phone: 3058912029
• Email: eric@graboislaw.com and service@graboislaw.com and info@pinnacletitlegroup.com
• Instagram: @pinnacletitlegroup

Image Credit:
Andy Gallacher, Jennifer Mackey

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