Milwaukee’s Third Ward is a hub for the hungry.

And attorney John P. Casey regularly takes advantage of the diverse restaurant scene as a way to maintain client relationships.

At least once a month, the personal injury and family law lawyer treats a client to lunch or coffee to discuss a case in a casual setting.

“I’ll suspend the time clock during that period,” Casey said. “Clients like the informality and it’s a way of showing you appreciate them.”

According to Casey, it’s more important than ever to maintain a face-to-face dialogue with clients.

LawInfo.com marketing consultant Phil Cenedella agreed — personal contact with a client is as important today as it was 100 years ago, no matter what your area of practice.

“I vote for that every time,” he said. “It’s always more beneficial to meet someone, whether it’s for a five-minute coffee, a two-hour lunch or even better, a three-martini lunch.”

But some other attorneys suggest that nowadays, availability is the name of the game.

Corporate attorney Nathan A. Fishbach said that responsiveness is the most important element in client communication.

“The key in today’s digital age is to be available on a 24-7 basis. Period,” he said.

In the past, Fishbach, of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek SC, spent more time taking clients out to eat, but now it’s a rarity, given the increased demand for instantaneous contact.

“For me, it is generally a half-hour meeting at Starbucks before 8 a.m., informally scheduled at the last minute,” he said.

Meet at the coffee shop

Personal injury attorney Jonathan P. Groth also uses coffeehouse conversations as a way to keep in touch with clients.

He said that at the outset of a case, he will often take a client to a neighborhood coffee shop to explain the process and set expectations.

“I’m a big believer in taking a client out for coffee, either to prepare for deposition or just to talk face-to-face about what happens next,” Groth said.

Groth, of Pitman, Kyle & Sicula SC, said that personal interaction in a social setting is still an effective way to put clients at ease.

“It sets any lawyer who does that apart from others who just talk on the phone or initially refer a paralegal to the client,” he said.

Madison attorney Sarah A. Zylstra said she tries to grab a bite with clients in between depositions or after a mediation.

It is a matter of keeping up good business relations, she said.

“I also do more with clients during events such as concerts on the square, because many are protective of their time” during office hours, said Zylstra, of Boardman Suhr Curry & Field LLP.

Labor and employment attorney Jeffrey S. Hynes agreed that the days of the “three-martini lunch” with a client are fading.

Turning down an invitation to grab a bite and chat was unheard of when Hynes started out 25 years ago, but now it’s increasingly common.

“Clients want efficiently packaged answers and quick advice, not touchy-feely exchanges and coffee talks,” he said. “At times, I find clients can barely stomach a long phone conversation, much less a leisurely lunch.”

Still, he said, it’s worth it to put in the extra work it requires to arrange face time with a client.

“I still find taking someone to lunch can result in numerous referrals and speaks highly of me and my firm,” Hynes said.

For attorneys with global practices like Fishbach, there are clients he has never even met face-to-face, let alone shared a meal with.

While he makes an effort to connect with clients when he travels, Fishbach said many of the people he represents cannot afford to take lengthy lunches.

“If they need a long time to talk, invariably it’s going to happen on the weekend or before or after work,” he said.