Grow Your Law Firm

Welcome to episode 204 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with Cheryl Leone, with Law Firm Coach, to discuss Cheryl's role in helping him grow his law firm, especially in areas of management and processes. Ken and Cheryl joined forces in 1998. Cheryl has held every position in a law firm and can say 'been there done that' Dave came on board 1/2/2000 bringing to the table the best business practices he had learned as a retired IBM project manager. Merging the two of them. Dave and Cheryl created Catalyst with a promise to transform dreams into reality...     For seven years, Cheryl and Dave acted as mentors, consultants, and held positions of CEO and CO0 with Ken through catalyst. They made strong changes in how to run and manage and market a law firm.  Their business theories transformed Ken's firm into a multimillion-dollar law firm.  He hit his first million at four years.  He continued to grow and thrive by embracing change through effective business management tools.   Ken was able to successfully retire as a practicing attorney and created PILLMA many years ago, so he could share with others how to build multi-million-dollar law practices through change.  He remains active with PILMMA which has become a leader in managing and marketing law firms.    The three of them are well recognized coaches and mentors to other attorneys nationwide. Cheryl and Dave are semi-retired and do life coaching to some law firm owners.       Law Firm Coach is a division of Catalyst Group, Inc., a mentoring company located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Combining some 75 years experience in the business and law firm field, Cheryl Leone and Dave Favor argue they are simply mentors, sharing their knowledge and expertise where it is needed. Using time tested values based management practices, strategic planning and the principles of high performance, the two of them create profitable, productive and balanced law firms and lawyers that withstand the test of time.      What you’ll learn about in this episode:   1.       Embracing change is essential for law firm growth. 2.       Strategic planning is crucial for long-term success. 3.       Internal support and staff buy-in are pivotal for implementing changes. 4.       The value of client relationships and over-delivering for client satisfaction. 5.       Sacrifices, including time, energy, and financial investment, are integral to achieving growth. 6.       Continuous learning and adaptability are key in the ever-evolving legal landscape. Top of Form   Resources:    Cheryl Leone cjleone@catalystgroupinc.com  www.lawfirmcoach.com    Additional Resources:    https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect https://www.pilmma.org/resources https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

Welcome to episode 203 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with Lexamica co-Founder, Gabriel Stiritz, to discuss how Lexamica is transforming the way the legal industry handles referrals.   Gabriel is a versatile leader with expertise ranging from operations to creative direction. After driving success at a multi-state nonprofit and Sanford Law Firm, he co-founded Lexamica, a case referral platform revolutionizing the plaintiff-side legal community. Lexamica empowers law firms to serve more clients and boost revenue through a power attorney referral network. Gabriel's vision is to create ecosystems where both legal professionals and clients thrive.   What you’ll learn about in this episode:   ●      Learn about Gabriel Stiritz and his background ●      How referrals play a crucial aspect in the legal industry ●      Discover how Leamica can help your law firm ●      The benefits of utilizing the Lexamica platform ●      Importance of continuous client communication   Resources:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-stiritz-540aa166/ https://lexamica.com/   Additional Resources:  https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect https://www.pilmma.org/resources https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

Welcome to episode 202 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with Kyle Hebenstreit from PMP to discuss navigating through the ever-evolving landscape of legal marketing.  Prior to joining PMP, Kyle was with Deloitte Consultings Strategy & Analytics practice, where he worked side-by-side with established companies to transform their operations to enable growth opportunities in today’s increasingly digital, data-driven marketplace. Kyle previously worked in the media and entertainment industry at Skydance Media, where he supported creative development for the company’s feature film department and, ultimately, became Chief of Staff to the CEO. During Kyle's tenure at Skydance, the company produced several major motion pictures and expanded its business to include television, gaming, and fashion. Kyle received a BS from the University of Southern California and an MBA from Indiana University, Kelley School of Business.     What you’ll learn about in this episode: Discover different advertising revenues Learn about the important of building your brand Understanding and recognizing consumer behaviors How to measure success beyond immediate ROI Know how to adapt to the legal industry changes   Resources:  https://www.pmpmg.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pmpmg https://www.linkedin.com/company/pmp-practicemadeperfect/   Additional Resources:  https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect https://www.pilmma.org/resources https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

Welcome to episode 201 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with Ashley Johnson, Founder of Dogwood Patent and Trademark Law to discuss the importance of safeguarding your law firm’s identity.  Using My Two Passions in One Law Firm. Prior to becoming a patent attorney, I completed undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry, as well as a Masters Degree in Biochemistry from North Carolina State University. After law school, I chose to practice patent law because of the technical background that it required. Practicing patent law allows me to combine my love of technology with assisting inventors and new businesses to create products that are helping improve the world. There was one major struggle I faced when I worked for the larger law firm, and it was the personal touch that I felt like I needed to provide my clients but lacked the time. I chose to start my own patent law firm in 2019 after 17 years of practicing law because I wanted to be able to help my clients in a one-on-one setting where they can get the insight and guidance that they need. As the founder of Dogwood Patent and Trademark Law, it has been so rewarding to help small businesses and startups at each step of the patent process. Our clients come from a variety of backgrounds, from medical devices and engineering design to green technology and consumer products.     What you’ll learn about in this episode: Learn about Ashley Johnson and her company How Trademarks can protect your Firm’s brand Why you should use Trademarks Discover the value of utilizing Trademarks Learn why you need to regularly monitor your brand   Resources:  https://www.facebook.com/DogwoodPatentandTrademark https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-johnson-patent-attorney-raleigh-nc/ www.dogwood-law.com   Additional Resources:  https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect https://www.pilmma.org/resources https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

Welcome to episode 200 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down for a solocast to discuss year-end planning tips and tricks to help your law firm succeed in 2024.  Ken Hardison is known as the “Millionaire Maker” for a reason. He has helped lawyers across the country double, triple, or quadruple their law practices and income. Ken teaches law firm owners the insights, knowledge, and critical strategies of Legal Marketing and Management that can only be learned in the trenches of real law firm success. With over 30 years of legal experience, Ken has personally grown and sold two seven-figure law firms. Ken has shared his knowledge and experience with attorneys, helping them experience exponential growth, increased profits, and ethical market preeminence.     What you’ll learn about in this episode:   The importance of evaluating your Marketing Budget Why you need to do a year-end financial assessment How to utilize tax benefits for technology upgrades Ken’s top recommendations for starting 2024 off right   Resources:  https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect https://www.pilmma.org/resources https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

Welcome to episode 199 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with Kerri Coby White, CEO of KerriJames, to discuss the Intake Game Changer for your Law Firm.  Kerri Coby White is CEO of KerriJames and author of the upcoming book The Law Firm Growth Machine. KerriJames helps law firms accelerate growth in just 30 days, leveraging data and utilizing AI to expand their reach and drive revenue all while reclaiming time. Their client list includes firms ranging from large, multi-million-dollar law firms to solo and lifestyle practitioners for whom they develop growth strategies, build systems, and leverage data to deliver long-term, sustainable growth. Kerri has more than a decade of experience in legal business development and marketing and has advised hundreds of lawyers helping them convert more prospects into profitable clients. A board member of Trusted Legal Partners (TLP), Kerri is also a frequent speaker on the small and consistent strategies that, compounded over time, result in significant growth gains for law firms.     What you’ll learn about in this episode: The importance of knowing your firms highest call volume How to become a data-driven law firm Learn why you should invest in your intake team Kerri’s advice on the top call centers Why you should continuously strive to improve   Resources:  https://www.kerrijames.co/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerricobywhite https://www.facebook.com/KerriJamesConsulting/   Additional Resources:  https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect https://www.pilmma.org/resources https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

Welcome to episode 198 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with Leonard Scheiner, CEO + Founder of Geek Haus, to discuss using the power of Public Relations to elevate your law firm.  Leonard Scheiner has worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies, law firms, and industry experts for more than a decade to build memorable brands, create valuable online authority, and scale new client acquisition to predictably grow the top and bottom lines of a firm. One client achieved over a 300% increase in revenue, while others have earned tens of millions of dollars’ worth of new business driven by Leonard’s frameworks and tactics. Often, Leonard has been at the creative and strategic epicenter of dramatic revenue growth and business transformation.  Earning his MBA from Pepperdine University in beautiful Southern California, and combined with in-house law firm marketing experience, this sets the foundation for the work Leonard does through is agency. Today, Leonard is the CEO at Geek Haus, a law firm PR and marketing agency based in Los Angeles.     What you’ll learn about in this episode: Learn how Leonard got started with Geek Haus See how Public Relations can help your Law Firm Discover PR strategies specific to Personal Injury Lawyers Using PR to enhance your Law Firm’s credibility Strategic planning can lead to effective + cost-efficient results   Resources:  https://www.gogeekhaus.com https://www.leonardscheiner.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonardscheiner/ https://www.facebook.com/leonardscheiner https://www.instagram.com/leonardscheiner   Additional Resources:  https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect https://www.pilmma.org/resources https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

Welcome to episode 197 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with Michael Moebes, founding attorney at Moebes Law, to discuss how Michael has mastered referral partnerships. Michael Moebes, Esq. is the eponymous founding attorney at Moebes Law, LLC: a law practice dedicated to representing injured individuals. Specifically, Moebes Law specializes in workers’ compensation, veterans disability, and personal injury claims. Has an accident ruined your life? You should probably give Michael Moebes a call. Michael began his professional career as a client representative with IBM before resigning to attend law school at Georgia State University in Atlanta. He spent three years representing employers and insurers at the insurance defense law firm of Drew, Eckl & Farnham in midtown Atlanta before joining the legal team at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company for two years. These five years taught him how insurers evaluate injury claims in terms of validity and financial exposure in addition to teaching him about the nuances of practicing injury law throughout the great state of Georgia. In 2009, Michael started Moebes Law, LLC and has passionately represented the injured ever since. In fact, he has recovered millions of dollars and won countless medical procedures in the course of his representation of injured workers and veterans since starting his firm. He is active in the National Organization for Veterans Advocates, the Workers Injury Law and Advocacy Group, and numerous local and national bar organizations. He’s a registered neutral by the Georgia Supreme Court as well. Michael has been named a “Rising Star” (before he was over 40) and then a “Super Lawyer” by the Georgia “Super Lawyers” organization multiple times, an honor given to 2.5% of attorneys in their practice field as voted upon by their peers. He has also been named among the “Legal Elite” by GeorgiaTrend magazine. He has lectured at the Georgia Trial Lawyers annual convention, the “Fundamentals of Law Practice” course at Georgia State University College of Law, and the “National Return to Work Week” radio show. In 2013, he was interviewed for the companion guide of “Solo By Choice,” a guide to starting one’s own law firm. When not practicing law, Lieutenant Colonel Moebes served as a Medical Service Corps officer with the U.S. Air Force Reserves for 23 years before retiring in 2020. He deployed three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom: twice to Balad Air Base, Iraq and once to Andrews AFB, Maryland. In the course of his decorated military service, he facilitated the aeromedical evacuation of thousands of wounded warriors, and he participated in the Jessica Lynch rescue mission in 2003. He was featured in cover story articles in the Daily Report newspaper after both Iraqi deployments. The three-part “Iraq Diary” article published in October 2003 won national recognition. When not serving his country or his clients, Michael enjoys traveling, writing, and time with his three young children, wife, and dog of questionable lineage. He and his family are active members at Buckhead Church and support several local charities, including Wellspring Living, the Sandy Springs Conservancy, and the Anti-Defamation League; he was selected to the Glass Leadership Institute for the ADL. He serves as Treasurer of the Board for Act 3 Theater in Sandy Springs and Secretary for the Sandy Springs Bar Association. He was chosen for Leadership Sandy Springs in 2013 (becoming an LSS Ambassador in 2014).     What you’ll learn about in this episode: Discover Michael’s journey to becoming a Lawyer Learn the importance of referral partnerships Tips for building your own referral relationships How Summits and CLE events can help you grow your network What it means to have Reciprocal Referrals The importance of following up after a case settles   Resources:  https://moelaw.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/callcolonelmoe/ https://www.facebook.com/CallColonelMoe/ https://twitter.com/CallColonelMoe https://www.tiktok.com/@callcolonelmoe https://www.instagram.com/callcolonelmoe/   Additional Resources:  https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect https://www.pilmma.org/resources https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

Welcome to episode 196 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with the Vista Consulting Team; Tim McKey, Sarah Waggoner, and Rebekah Summerville, to discuss the best practices and strategies for streamlining legal operations to improve efficiency in your Law Firm. Tim co-founded Vista Consulting in 2009, along with his partner Chad Dudley. Vista’s aim was to help plaintiff law firms reach their full potential. In December 2017, Tim acquired Chad’s interest in Vista. Tim and Chad remain very close friends to this day! Tim has decades of CPA experience with local, regional, and national CPA firms. However, it is through Tim’s prior consulting practice that he found his passion. He has worked with many business owners, assisting them with defining and attaining success in their business and personal lives. Developing a management philosophy with business owners along with the associated systems and processes that assist in delivering outstanding management to Vista’s client teams is Tim’s forté. Tim’s experience and interest allow him to assist Vista clients with developing a realistic vision of their firm into the future, creating a strategic plan to achieve that vision while working with firm owners in designing their desired lifestyle. From a technical standpoint, Tim assists Vista clients in reviewing firm tax entity structure, accounting systems analysis, and financial reporting. Additionally, Tim is the managing partner of The McKey Business Group (MBG) CPAs. MBG is a small consulting CPA firm located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The firm only works for select businesses, providing consulting services (building the roadmap for the future), as well as traditional CPA products and services. When working with Tim, there usually are “light bulb” moments…he calls them BFOs (a Blinding Flash of the Obvious). Sometimes, he says, business is just not that complicated. Tim’s ability to mentor successful businesspersons, gently push them to new levels of thinking, while providing creative perspectives, contributes to Vista clients’ success, as well as Vista’s success. Tim’s strategic vision for Vista has made a great contribution toward developing a team of consultants who take a comprehensive approach to working with their clients. Identifying and solving operational issues is not the only goal…enhanced profitability and having fun doing it is real success. Personally, Tim has 2 daughters, Sarah and Caroline, 3 granddaughters, Mary Grayson (MG), Ryleigh, and Kate, 1 grandson, Timothy, and 1 wife, Jodi. A self-proclaimed business nerd, Tim enjoys reading, pondering and discussing future business trends, models, and disruptive change, tennis, exercise, and the pursuit of the “abundant life.  Sarah Waggoner joined the Vista team as the Director of Talent Acquisition in 2021. She began her career in Birmingham, Alabama as a Med/Surg nurse in 2008, then moved to Kingwood, Texas where she worked in Med/Surg and labor and delivery. She’s also served as the director of a Teddy Tennis franchise, a pro at Kingwood Country Club, and the Children’s Director at Kingwood First Baptist Church. Using her diverse background, Sarah brings incredible organizational skills and a unique perspective to our team. In her role as Director of Talent Acquisition, Sarah is responsible for all talent acquisition efforts, helping clients navigate the process of finding, identifying, and onboarding top talent. She works closely with the Vista Operations Consultants to understand their client’s talent needs. Sarah graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama in 2007 with a degree in nursing. She also lettered four years in tennis at Samford. Sarah lives in Kingwood, Texas, with her family. Rebekah Summerville joined the Vista Consulting Team at its inception as an Accounting Consultant. She’s worked with Vista founder Tim McKey at McKey Business Group since 1996 and still serves as their Chief Financial Officer and CPA. She manages to balance the dollars and cents for both the McKey Business Group and the Vista Team. She has a knack for explaining complex accounting concepts in a no-nonsense, easy-to-digest way. Rebekah graduated from Belhaven University in Jackson, MS, with a degree in accounting. She’s a huge fan of both of her athletic kids and enjoys spending lots of time cheering them on at all of their sporting events and practices. When she’s not on the bleachers, you can find her spending quality time with friends and family. She also enjoys running and Pilates as a stress relief.     What you’ll learn about in this episode: Learn how to properly plan for succession Understand what a Fractional CFO is Why you should embrace the legal industry evolution The importance of evaluating your firm’s financial health How to acquire top talent for your firm   Resources:  https://vistact.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Vistact https://www.linkedin.com/in/timmckey/ https://www.instagram.com/vistaconsultingteam/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/vista-consulting-team/   Additional Resources:  https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect https://www.pilmma.org/resources https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

Welcome to episode 195 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with Founder and CEO of Bridge Legal, Ed Scanlan, to discuss pioneering legal tech solutions.   Ed is the Founder and CEO of Bridge Legal. Launched in 2018, Bridge Legal stands as the leading platform for high-volume litigation firms and funders offering comprehensive solutions for capital deployment, client acquisition, and case maturation. Bridge's software platform, Bridgify, provides predictive analytics to manage risk and improve ROI for funders and firms.  Prior to Bridge, Ed founded and was CEO of Total Attorneys. Since its inception in 2002, Total Attorneys was a pioneer in legal technology and digital marketing, inventing the legal lead generation industry and growing to serve thousands of law firms across the United States until its sale to Internet Brands in 2014. In 2021, Ed launched the specialty finance company Ute Capital, which provides capital to firms building mass tort portfolios. In 2022, Ute raised a $50MM institutional facility to fund its strategies. Ed was inducted into the Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, was listed in Crain's Chicago Business 40 under 40, named Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization's Young CEO of the Year, and was a Midwest Finalist for the Ernest and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He has been featured in multiple publications, including the New York Times, Business Week, Inc., Smart Money, Crain's Chicago Business, and the Chicago Tribune.     What you’ll learn about in this episode: Learn about Ed Scanlan’s background What Bridge Legal can do for your law firm Learn about Bridge Legal reporting and analytics Find out how they handle “burstable” staffing needs How Bridge Legal is using AI to predict lead quality   Resources:  https://www.facebook.com/bridgelegaltech www.bridgelegal.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmundscanlan/ https://bridgelegal.com/services   Additional Resources:  https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect https://www.pilmma.org/resources https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind