At Maddin Hauser, extraordinary is our goal. The Maddin Hauser Way encompasses the values and practices at the foundation of our unique culture. Our extraordinary performance comes from amazing people all striving for excellence. This sets the stage for how we relate to each other, our clients, and the larger community. Extraordinary is who we are and what makes us leaders in the law.

Our Executive Committee developed The Maddin Hauser Way, a set of core values that are universally embraced by all employees.

  1. ACT WITH INTEGRITY. Demonstrate an unwavering commitment to do the right thing in every action and every decision. Always be truthful, no matter the consequences. If you make a mistake, own up to it, apologize, and make it right.
  2. TREAT EACH OTHER LIKE FAMILY. Our relationships go deeper than simply being colleagues at work. We genuinely care for and about each other. Whether it’s a kind word during a tough stretch, a friendly smile each morning, or a helping hand in stressful times, show your compassion.
  3. MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Be an active part of your community inside and outside the firm. Give back by contributing your time, effort, and, where appropriate, your services to make your community better. Every little bit matters. You can and do make a difference.
  4. DEMONSTRATE A PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE. Take pride in the quality of everything you touch and everything you do. Have a healthy disdain for mediocrity. Good is not good enough. Excellence is our calling.
  5. INVEST IN RELATIONSHIPS. Get to know the people and entities for whom you work. Understand what makes them tick and what is important to them specifically. Care about what they are trying to express and accomplish. Strong relationships enable us to work through difficult issues and challenging times more efficiently and successfully.
  6. HONOR COMMITMENTS. Do what you say you’re going to do when you say you’re going to do it. This includes being on time for all phone calls, appointments, meetings, and other engagements. If a commitment can’t be fulfilled, notify others early, agree on, and honor the new commitment.
  7. DO WHAT’S BEST FOR THE CLIENT. In all situations, do what’s best for the client. Client needs are always first and foremost, but with the recognition that our personal health and relationships should not be compromised as part of being an excellent professional. A team effort is often required.
  8. SHOW MEANINGFUL GRATITUDE. Recognizing people doing things right is more effective than pointing out their errors. Regularly extend meaningful acknowledgment and gratitude – in all directions throughout the firm. This applies to all things big and small-say please and thank you.
  9. LOOK AHEAD AND ANTICIPATE. Solve problems before they happen by anticipating future issues, planning for contingencies, and addressing them in advance. Work with the framework of appropriate lead times. Preventing problems is always better than fixing them. Find ways to get things done better, faster, and more efficiently.
  10. BE A MENTOR AND SPONSOR. The best way to influence others is through your example. Walk the talk. Take responsibility, formally and informally, to coach, guide, teach and mentor others. Be the change you want to see and be open to learning from others along the way. Seek out the unique talents in one another and advocate for skills enhancement and professional advancement for other and you.
  11. BE A LIFELONG LEARNER. Orient your paradigm to continuous growth and learning. What got us here isn’t the same as what will get us to the next level. Just as past failures do not limit the future, past successes do not guarantee continued growth. Move outside your comfort zone rather than hanging onto old ways of doing things. Be excited by the possibilities that come from change and growth.
  12. EMBRACE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES. Purposefully seek opportunities to learn from others. Be genuinely interested in learning about others’ unique strengths, thoughts, suggestions, and life experiences. We recognize the value of empathetically inviting, including, and understanding diverse perspectives. Take deliberate, informed actions to create a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive.
  13. FIND A WAY. Take personal responsibility for making things happen. Respond to every situation by looking for ways we can do it rather than explaining why it can’t be done. Be resourceful and show initiative. Don’t make excuses or wait for others to solve a problem. Dedicate yourself to seeing issues through to their completion.
  14. BE PRESENT EVERY DAY. Have a passion for what you do and be fully engaged. Make the most of each day by approaching every task with focus, purpose, and enthusiasm. Work with a sense of urgency and be willing to go the extra mile by doing whatever it takes to accomplish the task or job at hand.
  15. BE CURIOUS. In searching for optimal solutions, challenge and question what you don’t understand. Don’t accept anything at ‘face value” if it doesn’t make sense. Be curious, ask thoughtful questions, and listen intently to the answers. Dig deeper to go beyond the expected. There is no such thing as a dumb question.
  16. BE A PROUD BRAND AMBASSADOR. Treasure, protect and promote our reputation. We’re all responsible for and benefit from our firm’s image and reputation. Consider how your actions and words impact the firm’s reputation and brand.
  17. BE POSITIVE AND CONFIDENT. You have the power to choose your attitude. Choose to be confident, optimistic and enthusiastic. Your attitude is contagious and can motivate others. Spread optimism and positive energy.
  18. CHECK YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR. It’s about our clients and us, not you. Don’t let your ego get in the way of doing what’s best for the firm and our clients. Worrying about who gets credit or taking things personally is counterproductive. Make sure every decision is based first and foremost on advancing team, client, and firm goals.
  19. PRACTICE BLAMELESS PROBLEM-SOLVING. Demonstrate a relentless solution focus rather than pointing fingers or dwelling on problems. Identify lessons learned and use those lessons to improve yourself and our processes so we don’t repeat mistakes. Get smarter with every mistake. Learn from every experience.
  20. PITCH IN WHEREVER NECESSARY. Be willing to do the mundane and ordinary things necessary to get the job done. If you see an opportunity to pitch in and help, simply do it. Do not leave to others what you can do yourself.
  21. LISTEN GENEROUSLY. Listening is more than simply “not speaking.” Respect others by giving them your undivided attention. Minimize distractions and let go of the need to agree or disagree. Suspend your judgment and be curious about knowing more rather than jumping to conclusions. Above all, listen to understand.
  22. BE CLEAR ON EXPECTATIONS. Create clarity and avoid misunderstandings by discussing expectations upfront. Set expectations for others and ask what others expect of you. End all meetings with clarity about action items, responsibilities, and due dates.
  23. KEEP YOURSELF AND OTHERS INFORMED AND IN THE LOOP. Respond to questions and concerns quickly, whether in person, on the phone, or by e-mail. This includes simply acknowledging the question was received, an answer is in progress, and keeping those involved continuously updated on the status of outstanding issues.
  24. SPEAK COURAGEOUSLY. Speak honestly and in a way that helps make progress. Say what you mean and be willing to ask questions, share ideas, or raise issues that may cause conflict when it’s necessary for team success. Be courageous enough to say what needs to be said. Address issues directly with those who are involved or affected.
  25. SHARE THE WHY. Before others can understand what to do or how to do it, they must first understand why. Explain the big picture when advising a client or delegating a task or project. The more people understand the reason behind the task, the more actively and efficiently they can participate in the solution.
  26. PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS. Missing just one detail can have an enormous impact on a client. Be a fanatic about accuracy and precision. The goal is to get things right, not simply to get them done. Double-check your work. Get the details right the first time.
  27. BE VIGILANT ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY. Our clients share information with us because they need and trust us. Honor that trust by keeping their information in confidence and taking appropriate steps to safeguard how and where it’s used. The same is true for information about our firm and your colleagues.
  28. HAVE FUN IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE. While our passion for excellence is real, remember that the world has bigger problems than the daily challenges of our work. Stuff happens. Maintain a balanced perspective and sense of humor. Don’t take things personally or take yourself too seriously. Laugh a little every day.