Lead Counsel

Hosted by Thomas Tona

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Episodes

175

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

What happens when law, business & life collide? What if you could hang out with law firm owners and accomplished business leaders earning seven, eight, and nine figures a year, and gain insights that propel legal cases, and businesses forward exponentially? The Lead Counsel podcast, hosted by Thomas Tona, is a weekly show that delves into the world of law, the business of law, life, and where the three intersect. Each episode will feature in-depth conversations with industry insiders and experts, thought leaders, and individuals that are making significant contributions and differences in their chosen fields. The show covers a wide range of topics related to law, the business of law, life and how they are intertwined. From the latest trends and research to personal stories and practical takeaways, the Lead Counsel podcast offers listeners deep dives on every topic discussed. The goal of this podcast is to provide zero cost to consumer information about law and the business of law, and related tools, to the general public. The show will include different segments, such as "Case of the Week," where the host gives his perspective on recent happenings in the industry, "Tools of the Trade," where the host and guests share valuable resources and tips for listeners, "Behind the Scenes" where the host and guests will share insights and stories not generally known in the industry, and "The Law Leader," where the host and guests will explore what it takes to build a 7,8 or 9-figure law firm and have a great life at the same time. Whether you're a lawyer, or non-lawyer, the Lead Counsel podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking to stay informed and inspired. The show is sure to be a valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about your personal injury, no-fault collection, or other claims or lawsuits, as well as law firm business owners looking to perform at the highest levels of leadership.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 22, 2026Episode 17547 min

175: Mastering Accountability Without Micromanagement with Mike Zappone

In this episode, Tom Tona and Mike Zappone explore the core principles of accountability in business, emphasizing the importance of clear expectations, the role of leadership, and practical tools like EOS to foster a culture of responsibility and growth. Key Episode Highlights The difference between leading and managing for accountability Creating clarity around roles and expectations The importance of vision and core values Using scorecards and rocks to measure progress The role of the leadership mindset in accountability Tools and systems to foster responsibility The importance of delegation and ownership Diagnosing and reversing accountability issues The visionary and integrator relationship Featured Guest Mike Zappone Professional EOS Implementer & ProfitWorks Certified Coach® Website: https://eosworldwide.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelzappone/ Your Host Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, Tonalaw Website: https://www.tonalaw.com LinkedIn: Tom Tona X: @NYPITrialGuy This podcast is sponsored by TonaLaw.

October 15, 2026Episode 17450 min

174: How Law Firms Solve Problems Faster: Mastering the EOS Level 10 Meeting and IDS (Identify, Discuss, Solve)

In this episode, Thomas Tona and Mike Zappone break down how to transform team meetings into high-impact problem-solving sessions using the EOS framework . Learn how to leverage IDS (Identify, Discuss, Solve) to address root causes, establish clear rules of engagement, and foster the vulnerability needed to build a healthy, results-driven team culture . Key Episode Highlights The importance of clear purpose in meetings Managing conflict and healthy friction in meetings The significance of weekly issues review The importance of root cause analysis in meetings How to structure an EOS L10 meeting Rules of engagement for decision-making The role of accountability and rules in business meetings The impact of effective meetings on business growth Featured Guest Mike Zappone Professional EOS Implementer & ProfitWorks Certified Coach® Website: https://eosworldwide.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelzappone/ Your Host Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, Tonalaw Website: https://www.tonalaw.com LinkedIn: Tom Tona X: @NYPITrialGuy This podcast is sponsored by TonaLaw.

October 8, 2026Episode 17355 min

173: Data Driven Law Firm Management: Stop Running Your Legal Business on Gut Feeling with Mike Zappone and Tom Tona

In this episode, Mike Zappone and Thomas Tona explore how data-driven decision making transforms law firm management. They discuss scorecards, KPIs, and the importance of aligning business metrics with strategic goals to avoid common pitfalls and foster growth. Key Episode Highlights The importance of data and scorecards in law firm management How to implement effective KPIs across departments The role of EOS in aligning team and business goals Using financial metrics to improve profitability The impact of mindset and accountability on growth Featured Guest Mike Zappone Professional EOS Implementer & ProfitWorks Certified Coach® Website: https://eosworldwide.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelzappone/ Your Host Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, Tonalaw Website: https://www.tonalaw.com LinkedIn: Tom Tona X: @NYPITrialGuy This podcast is sponsored by TonaLaw.

October 1, 2026Episode 17253 min

172: Right Person, Right Seat Part 2: Unpacking EOS Leadership with Mike Zappone

In this episode, Mike Zappone shares insights on building effective organizational structures using EOS principles, focusing on the accountability chart, hiring right people, and creating a culture of discipline and accountability to drive exponential growth. Key Episode Highlights The importance of the accountability chart over traditional org charts How to identify and fix issues with the right people in the right seats The role of core values and culture in hiring and retention Using scorecards and metrics to create accountability The impact of organizational structure on business valuation Featured Guest Mike Zappone Professional EOS Implementer & ProfitWorks Certified Coach® Website: https://eosworldwide.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelzappone/ Your Host Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, Tonalaw Website: https://www.tonalaw.com LinkedIn: Tom Tona X: @NYPITrialGuy This podcast is sponsored by TonaLaw.

September 24, 2026Episode 17139 min

171: Right Person, Right Seat Part 1: Unpacking EOS Leadership with Mike Zappone

In this episode, Thomas Tona and Mike Zappone explore the critical importance of placing the right person in the right seat within a company. They discuss how alignment with core values, understanding capacity, and strategic decision-making can transform organizational culture and performance. Key Episode Highlights The importance of aligning people with core values How to identify the right person and right seat The cost of keeping the wrong person in a role Strategies for letting go of outgrown employees The role of data and scorecards in decision-making The impact of trauma and mindset on leadership The significance of accountability and transparency The parallels between racing teams and business leadership Featured Guest Mike Zappone Professional EOS Implementer & ProfitWorks Certified Coach® Website: https://eosworldwide.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelzappone/ Your Host Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, Tonalaw Website: https://www.tonalaw.com LinkedIn: Tom Tona X: @NYPITrialGuy This podcast is sponsored by TonaLaw.

September 17, 2026Episode 17056 min

170: How Clear Vision and Communication Drive Business Success with Mike Zappone

In this episode, Mike Zapone and Tom Tona explore how clear communication, vision, and effective leadership are essential for business success. They discuss practical tools and mental models to align teams, delegate results, and build a cohesive organizational culture. Key Episode Highlights Importance of clear communication in leadership The exercise of defining and sharing your vision Difference between delegating tasks and results Using EOS tools to align team and culture The role of core values and core focus in business The significance of organizational knowledge and documentation The impact of friction and conflict in decision making Strategies for effective prioritization and accountability Featured Guest: Mike Zappone Professional EOS Implementer & ProfitWorks Certified Coach® Website: https://eosworldwide.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelzappone/ Your Host: Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, Tonalaw Website: https://www.tonalaw.com LinkedIn: Tom Tona X: @NYPITrialGuy This podcast is sponsored by TonaLaw.

September 10, 2026Episode 16954 min

169: Why successful law firms hit the ceiling with Mike Zappone

Tom Tona is joined by Mike Zappone for a practical conversation about why growing law firms stall, what a "ceiling" actually looks like, and how EOS helps leaders build something that runs beyond the founder. Mike brings real-world operator experience, including having built and exited a business to private equity, and Tom shares how those lessons are changing the way his firm communicates, delegates, and scales. In this episode, they unpack the difference between being a high-performing owner and building a true organization, why simplicity wins over complexity, and how accountability charts, scorecards, and Level 10 meetings create clarity without the owner being the bottleneck. They also get into the emotional side of growth, from burnout and fear to the relief of seeing the team step up. Key Episode Highlights Hitting the ceiling in business growth Identifying organizational bottlenecks The role of EOS in scaling law firms Effective delegation and leadership Simplifying processes to increase efficiency The importance of accountability and scorecards Strategies for organizational change and growth The impact of leadership styles on scaling Featured Guest: Mike Zappone Professional EOS Implementer & ProfitWorks Certified Coach® Website: https://eosworldwide.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelzappone/ Your Host: Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, Tonalaw Website: https://www.tonalaw.com LinkedIn: Tom Tona X: @NYPITrialGuy This podcast is sponsored by TonaLaw.

September 3, 2026Episode 16837 min

168: All About Your People: How Strategic Hiring, and Investing in Your Team Drives Law Firm Growth

In this episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona and his guests dedicate the entire conversation to the single most critical asset in any business: its people. They discussed strategic hiring, structured onboarding, continuous training, investing in your people, and how talent management systems will power the firm's long-term success. Your Host: Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, Tonalaw Website: https://www.tonalaw.com LinkedIn: Tom Tona X: @NYPITrialGuy This podcast is sponsored by TonaLaw.

August 27, 2026Episode 16714 min

167: Essential Advice for Starting and Building a Business

In this special compilation episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona brings together key insights and foundational advice from top legal minds on what it truly takes to start, build, and sustain a successful business . Starting a business or opening a new law firm comes with severe challenges, from wondering if the phone will ever ring to learning how to avoid devastating financial mistakes . In this mashup episode, Tom Tona and his guests peel back the curtain on why mastering basic business fundamentals must happen long before you think about scaling . They unpack the dangers of stepping outside your lane of expertise, debunk the widespread myth of passive law firm ownership, and explain why joining the right peer network or mastermind can save you years of costly trial and error . Key Highlights Master Fundamentals Before You Scale: Focus on building your core foundation first . For any business under the ten year mark, making your first hire or putting basic processes in place is building, not scaling . Spend your first five years becoming an absolute expert in your domain and creating documented, repeatable systems . Stay in Your Lane of Expertise: Tom Tona candidly shares his biggest business mistake: venturing outside his primary area of legal expertise into an unfamiliar business venture . He discusses taking a massive financial hit that wiped out a multi seven figure net worth and the mindset required to get back on track . The Reality of Law Firm Ownership: A look at the persistent myth of absentee ownership marketed to overworked attorneys . Successful high revenue law firm owners put in continuous hard work, active leadership, and short term sacrifices for long term gain . Think Like a Marketer and a Lawyer: Guest Brian Glass discusses the critical balance between legal skill and business strategy . To increase revenue and profitability, law firm owners must understand how to leverage marketing, screen for higher value cases, and refine internal processes . The Value of Mentorship and Masterminds: This episode also discusses why new business owners should never operate on an island . Finding a collaborative tribe, finding experienced mentors, and investing in pay to play masterminds provide shortcut growth and keep you from repeating preventable mistakes . Your Host: Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, Tonalaw Website: https://www.tonalaw.com LinkedIn: Tom Tona X: @NYPITrialGuy This podcast is sponsored by TonaLaw. TonaLaw is not just another law firm. They're defining what it means to fight for their clients. We get a lot of attorney referrals from across the country. We pay fee participation in all jurisdictions where it's permitted. We focus on integrity, innovation and relentless advocacy. TonalLaw is proving that the business of the law can scale without losing its heart. Do you want to see how a modern firm is built for impact and happy client referrals? Check out tonalaw.com mention again the Lead Counsel Podcast and I'm happy to get on the phone with you.

August 20, 2026Episode 16652 min

166: Unlocking LinkedIn: Authentic Personal Branding and B2B Referrals with Jimmy Lai

In this episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona sits down with Jimmy Lai, co-founder of Lai and Turner Law Firm and author of Quietly Influential . They dive deep into how introverted professionals can leverage LinkedIn to scale their businesses, build authentic networks, drive high-value attorney-to-attorney referrals, and recruit top-tier talent . Episode Highlights Maximizing B2B Referrals : Tom reveals how TonaLaw signed 22 new personal injury cases in 90 days strictly through LinkedIn networking . The Introvert Advantage : Jimmy breaks down how an introverted attorney used LinkedIn as a public diary to generate 80,000 dollars in referral revenue, recruit top team members globally, and land major podcast appearances . Overcoming Perfectionism : Why perfectionism is a socially acceptable form of procrastination that stops creators from posting, and why lived experience beats polished marketing every time . Strategic Commenting : How leaving thoughtful comments on key industry posts acts as a major coattail strategy to build an audience without the pressure of constant content creation . Authenticity vs. The Hater Effect : Embracing vulnerability, sharing failures alongside wins, and using your unique traits to attract ideal clients while repelling the wrong fit . Hidden Opportunities in DMs : Why checking your LinkedIn direct messages weekly can lead to massive revenue, strategic production partnerships, and key hires . Featured Guest: Jimmy Lai Co-Founder & Immigration Attorney, Lai & Turner Law Firm PLLC Website: https://www.laiturnerlaw.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmylai-jdmba/ Book: Quietly Influential Your Host: Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, Tonalaw Website: https://www.tonalaw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonalaw/ X: @NYPITrialGuy This podcast is sponsored by TonaLaw. TonaLaw is not just another law firm. They're defining what it means to fight for their clients. We get a lot of attorney referrals from across the country. We pay fee participation in all jurisdictions where it's permitted. We focus on integrity, innovation and relentless advocacy. TonalLaw is proving that the business of the law can scale without losing its heart. Do you want to see how a modern firm is built for impact and happy client referrals? Check out tonalaw.com mention again the Lead Counsel Podcast and I'm happy to get on the phone with you.

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