Local law firm stays true to coastal Delaware
The law office of Steen, Waehler and Schreider-Fox LLC may have relocated earlier this year, but the practice is still established as one of the area’s most successful.
Coastal Point • Ryan Saxton
Tempe Steen, Mary Schrider-Fox and James Waehler havebrought their law office from Bethany Beach to Ocean View but maintain their professional and friendly service throughout the area.
“Since the move to Route 26,” said attorney Tempe B. Steen, “it has been terrific. The location is accommodating, and neighbors have been very welcoming.”
The law offices have been situated at 17 Atlantic Avenue in Ocean View since early May, next to Oceanova Spa and just west of Bethany Beach.
While Steen focuses most of her work on municipal law, representing towns including Fenwick Island, Selbyville, Dagsboro, Millsboro and the City of Lewes, her colleagues, Mary R. Schrider-Fox and James F. Waehler, provide their own specialties. Schrider-Fox deals often with local homeowner’s associations and communities, while Waehler’s expertise centers around civil litigation and commercial contracts.
The firm’s offices were originally shared with Tunnel and Raysor along Route 1 in Bethany Beach, but when the opportunity arose, the ideal location offered an opportunity for the practice.
“We’ve definitely been busy,” said Steen. “Homeowner’s associations are a government activity, and there has been some recent development that has kept us working hard. Towns are always busy and constantly growing. It’s a wonderful experience watching local government in action. I really get a kick out of seeing them all come together.”
While many of the area’s businesses thrive in the warmer months, autumn often brings a steady, if not increased, flow of municipal work.
“A lot of the local towns seem to have issues at contradicting times,” noted Steen, “but that’s not always the case. Either way, the people are a joy to work with, and the town staffs are a delight to be around. Issues often appear to be similar,” Steen added, “but they all have their own personality, their own history and their own philosophy.”
The recent slump in the economy has kept many municipalities and communities on their toes.
“Towns are very concerned about their budgets,” she noted. “No one wants to resort to raising taxes, but a lot of these towns are dealing with shrinking budgets, and that can be areal challenge.”
Fortunately, Steen, Waehler and Schrider-Fox has established a rapport with the local towns and associations and has offered them legal support over the years.
“We held onto a lot of our staff,” said Steen, “and they’ve been with us for a fairly long time. We feel we have a real approach here, and our clients really know who they are talking to when they step into our offices. From a geographical perspective, we’re not too far from where we were before, and our business neighbors have been very welcoming.”
Steen, Waehler and Schrider-Fox LLC will celebrate their new law offices as a new addition to the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon-cutting this Friday, Nov. 6, at 4 p.m. For more information about the firm, or to schedule a consultation, stop by 17 Atlantic Ave., Suite 2, in Ocean View, or call (302) 539-7900.
