Founding Partner Podcast

Hosted by Jonathan Hawkins

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Episodes

153

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

The Founding Partner Podcast follows host Jonathan Hawkins as he interviews the founders of successful law firms across the country. Get the inside scoop on how these legal trailblazers built their firms from the ground up. Learn about their origin stories, the challenges they faced, and the lessons they learned along the way. Whether you're an aspiring lawyer looking to start your own firm someday or just interested in the behind-the-scenes world of law firm entrepreneurship, the Founding Partner Podcast offers an educational, insightful, and entertaining look at what it takes to establish and grow a successful law practice in today's competitive legal market.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 20, 2026Episode 15051 min

From Fighter to Firm Founder with Chris Murphy

What does it take to build a 36-lawyer firm from a 500-square-foot office with no clients? In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast , I sit down with Chris Murphy, founding partner of Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP, to explore how a former professional hockey player and boxer turned his competitive mindset into a thriving commercial real estate law practice. From building a firm with his brother to mastering relationships, finding the right people, and staying committed to one niche, Chris shares why lasting success takes more than ambition.

October 13, 2026Episode 14953 min

Beyond the Billable Hour with Robert Kopka

What if the billable hour is holding law firms back from their greatest potential? In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast , Jonathan Hawkins sits down with Bob Kopka, founder of an 80-attorney insurance defense firm, to explore why the future of law may depend on changing how firms bill, lead, and embrace technology. From building a culture where people feel valued to preparing the next generation of leaders, Bob shares what more than three decades of running law firms have taught him about growth, trust, and knowing when it's time to do things differently.

October 6, 2026Episode 14855 min

Build Expertise, Then Build Visibility with David Craig

What does it take to build a law firm that stands out without chasing volume or spending millions on advertising? In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast , Jonathan Hawkins sits down with David Craig of Craig, Kelley & Faultless to explore how creativity, specialization, team development, and consistent content helped shape his practice. From an ingenious Yellow Pages strategy to building a rapid response team and creating consumer-focused books and podcasts, David shares why lasting growth starts with becoming genuinely valuable to the people you serve.

September 29, 2026Episode 14712 min

Starting a Law Firm Fast with Jonathan Hawkins

What happens when you suddenly find yourself without a firm and need to build one almost overnight? In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast , Jonathan Hawkins lays out a practical triage plan for attorneys who unexpectedly need to start a law firm. From forming the entity and opening bank accounts to protecting client relationships and building your public presence, he explains what needs attention first, what can wait, and why you do not have to solve everything at once.

September 22, 2026Episode 14617 min

Leaving a Law Firm Carefully with Jonathan Hawkins

Leaving a law firm can create tension for everyone involved, and the decisions made before and during that departure matter. In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast , Jonathan Hawkins walks through three issues lawyers and law firms need to think about when someone makes a move: notice to the firm, communication with clients, and handling client files. The goal is simple, understand the potential trouble spots before you step on a landmine.

September 15, 2026Episode 14516 min

Your Hit By a Bus Plan with Jonathan Hawkins

What happens to your law firm if you suddenly cannot run it? In this solo episode of The Founding Partner Podcast , Jonathan Hawkins breaks down what he calls the “Hit By a Bus Plan,” a practical approach for protecting your clients, family, employees, and firm if death or disability takes you away from the practice unexpectedly.

September 8, 2026Episode 14459 min

The Truth About Law Firm Growth with David Vicknair

Does every law firm really need to scale? In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast , Jonathan Hawkins sits down with New Orleans personal injury attorney David Vicknair to talk about building a firm on your own terms. David shares how intentional growth, memorable client hospitality, bold marketing, and investing in the right people helped shape his firm, and why growth only works when you know what you actually want to build.

September 1, 2026Episode 14359 min

Build the Firm You Actually Want with Michelle Dellino

What does it take to grow from a new law firm owner hiring an attorney off Craigslist to leading one of Washington’s largest family law practices? In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast , Michelle Dellino shares how confidence, calculated risk, hard-earned lessons, and a willingness to let go helped her build Dellino Family Law Group. She also opens up about the difficult seasons behind the growth, why founders need a clear vision, and what it really means to build a firm around the life you want.

August 25, 2026Episode 1429 min

Four Essentials Every Law Firm Partnership Needs with Jonathan Hawkins

A law firm partnership can work on trust and a handshake, until it doesn’t. In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast , Jonathan Hawkins breaks down four essential issues every law firm partnership agreement should address before disagreements, departures, or unexpected changes put that partnership to the test. He also shares a practical bonus tip for structuring partner compensation so it can evolve without reopening the entire partnership agreement.

August 18, 2026Episode 14157 min

Building a Brand That Lasts with Erik Pelton

What happens when a young lawyer combines an entrepreneurial instinct with an early fascination for technology? Erik Pelton turned that combination into a trademark practice that has continued evolving for more than 25 years. In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast , Erik shares how flat fees, technology, education, content, and a willingness to learn from failure helped him build a distinctive firm. We also explore why lawyers need to advocate for themselves, how delegation changes a founder's role, and why Erik believes some of his greatest successes began with mistakes.

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