Earth reaches aphelion in early July each year. Conventional wisdom might suggest that aphelion is where Earth is coldest, as it is approximately 5 million kilometers further from the Sun than at “perihelion,” where Earth is nearest to the Sun. The additional distance to the Sun results in 7% less sunlight globally at aphelion than at perihelion.

But ironically, Earth at aphelion is on average 4 degrees warmer than at perihelion. This is due to the greater land mass of the northern hemisphere. Land absorbs heat faster than water. Aphelion is reached at a time when longer days in the northern hemisphere permit more land to absorb heat for more time each day, permitting Earth as a whole to capture more heat. Even a distance of 5 million kilometers, in these circumstances, has little bearing on Earth’s ability to soak up the Sun’s energy.

“Aphelion” is symbolic of our approach to legal services. We eschew the notion that physical proximity is always significant, and we look for instances where conventional wisdom on legal process and staffing results in less than optimal means to advance a client’s legal and financial interests.