SIMON H. BLOOM has left Powell Goldstein, where he was a partner, to launch his own shop, the Bloom Law Firm. Bloom is bringing along a Powell Goldstein associate, Stephanie E. Dyer, to his firm, which is in the Equitable Building at 100 Peachtree St.

Bloom said his firm focuses on real estate disputes. He represents owners, developers, builders, contractors and brokers. “Our shop will be able to take a piece of dirt from entitlement through any aspect of development of the property and litigation,” he said.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to go out on my own and offer my services to a wider market,” said Bloom, 35, of his decision to open his own firm. He had practiced at Powell Goldstein since 1997. He explained that big firm rates were pricing him out of what he sees as a “huge middle market.”

He said that at Powell Goldstein he billed clients $385 an hour, adding that his rate there was about to increase to $405 an hour. “Only the Fortune 1000 could afford my rates—and there are only so many of those clients to go around that have real estate issues,” he said.

His new rate is $295. “If you want a Powell Goldstein-quality trial lawyer, you’re not going to get a better deal,” he said.

“It used to be that you went to the biggest firms if you had an important case. Now you have other options. … There are specialists in smaller firms who can do just as good a job without the overhead and higher rates.”

Bloom said he brings “a healthy percentage” of his clients to his new firm, but declined to name them.