The lawyer jokes many of us are familiar with need not apply to local firm Patel | Gaines, which can attribute much of its growth over the past two and a half years to its big-picture mentality.

And that mentality is expanding to the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The firm has brought on Lance Beshara, previously with the Fort Worth office of Pulman, Cappuccio, Pullen, Benson & Jones LLP, as the new partner for the one-man office at 221 W. Exchange Ave. in Fort Worth.

But based on how quickly Patel | Gaines’ San Antonio office has expanded, Beshara likely won’t be alone for long since the firm is planning to hire between five to seven more for the new location.

Since opening its first office in Stone Oak back in 2013 — which managing partner Rahul Patel called an eight-by-eight box — the firm has since moved into a 3,000-square-foot space along Blanco Road. However, given the lean firm’s growth plans for the year ahead, it will likely be either expanding that space or looking for another new one entirely before the end of the year.

Patel, who was recently named to the San Antonio Business Journal’s 2016 40 under 40, started the firm with Senior Litigation Partner Grant Gaines, who previously worked at the San Antonio office of Pulman, Cappuccio, Pullen, Benson & Jones LLP.

So how did the small firm convince Beshara to join? Patel said it’s Patel | Gaines’ fixed mentality and modern edge, which i

s a far cry from the old-school personas many law firms are known for.

“We find clients that are like us and want to grow,” Patel said, with Gaines adding that the firm doesn’t charge clients for small interactions such as short phone calls or emails. And even if it means a cut now, both partners are willing to waive fees or be upfront with potential clients since they believe it’s a reinvestment in their own growth and reputation.

“We’re business owners before lawyers,” Patel said, adding the firm’s youth is another attribute clients appreciate. “Listen, it’s 2015 — I’ve got a phone, I’ll just text a client rather than set up a big long meeting and charge someone for a lot of hours.”