Steve's Rules with legendary executive recruiter Steve Nelson from the McCormick Group

Hosted by Steve Nelson

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Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Steve has been an executive recruiter for nearly three decades and without naming names, he is ready to spill the tea on best practices (and maybe a few not so best practices) by firms and candidates he has seen during his career placing some of law's most driven and successful professionals into highly profitable and growing enterprises across the legal sector. Steve is a former lawyer and journalist and is a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management and a proud son of Wilkes-Barre PA. Master of Ceremonies for Steve's Rules is Murray Coffey Principal of M Coffey mcoffey.net

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25 recent

October 12, 202622 min

Integrating Comedy into Business Development---A Conversation with Brenda Pontiff

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I talk to business development coach and consultant Brenda Pontiff, who also appears regularly on the Los Angeles comedy circuit. In addition to sharing our experiences in the world of standup, we discussed a variety of issues relating to both business development and lateral recruiting, including: Her career as a sales executive at both major accounting firms and law firms. Her unique role as an intermediary for lateral groups evaluating their suitors' commitments vis-a-vis integration and business development support. How she uses comedy in her workshops. Her thoughts on how AI will change both business development and the practice of law. Contact Steve McCormick Group

September 9, 202643 min

Deborah McMurray on the Impact of AI on Experience Management

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I interview Deborah McMurray, long-time marketing strategy and technology consultant. Among the topics we cover: Her journey from her days as a client relations executive during the infancy of law firm marketing to an independent consultant to starting her own multifaceted legal management company.. How that company, Content Pilot, has been integrating artificial intelligence in its software products. The announcement of Content Pilot's launch of a new AI-driven version of the company's experience management product. How that product can address deficiencies in lateral partner hiring and integration. Our joint efforts in the College of Law Practice Management. Contact Steve McCormick Group

June 5, 202618 min

President Trump's Executive Orders--One Year Later

Send us Fan Mail Last year, we discussed what the impact of the executive orders would be on the firms that settled with the government. Now that a year has passed, Steve and his colleague David Ris provide some observations. Among the areas covered: How much turnover has there been at the settling firms, as well as those firms that challenged the government. Why some firms have seen significant departures, while others have not. The impact on associate retention. The impact on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Contact Steve McCormick Group

May 14, 202622 min

Deborah Farone on How Women (and Men) Can Build Thriving Law Practices

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I interview Deborah Farone, former Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at both Cravath and Debevoise, on her new book "Breaking Ground: How Successful Women Lawyers Build Thriving Practices." Among the topics: How Deborah is helping marketing professionals and law firms in her current consulting firm, Farone Advisors. The wide scope of her interviews for her book, including women rainmakers across the globe. Why the book is a great primer for everyone looking to expand their practices. Why women often fall victim to the "Imposter Syndrome". How artificial intelligence is revolutionizing law firm marketing and business development. Contact Steve McCormick Group

April 8, 202620 min

A New Age of Partner Recruiting and Integration--An Interview with Chuck Curtis

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Steve's Rules, Chuck Curtis of CLCurtis31 Consulting and I discuss a myriad of issues relating to partner recruiting and integration. Chuck had a 25-year career working in high-level recruiting positions in law firms such as Pillsbury Winthrop and Latham & Watkins before starting his own consulting firm three years ago. Among the topics covered: The range of consulting services provided by Chuck to law firms, individual partners, and even legal recruiters. Determining early in the recruiting process whether there is a realistic compensation fit. The gap between originations and portability. The continued dominance in partner recruiting at the top 25 firms. Contact Steve McCormick Group

February 15, 202631 min

Steve's Rules: Interview with Legal Strategist Wendy Bernero

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I am joined by Law Firm Strategist Wendy Bernero, co-founder of Yate Collaborative, and a veteran of senior marketing and business development roles at many premier law firms. We discussed: The background and scope of Yate Collaborative. The evolution of legal marketing and business development over the past 30 years. Advice to legal professionals on how to position themselves for leadership positions in law firms. Our work for the College of Law Practice Management, including our joint editorship of the organization's newsletter, which summarizes major developments pertaining to the practice of law. Contact Steve McCormick Group

December 7, 2025Episode 1240 min

The Emergence of Practice and Legal Project Management----A Discussion with Susan Lambreth of Law Vision

Send us Fan Mail In the latest episode, I have a wide-ranging discussion with Susan Lambreth of LawVision, who is the nations leading authority on Practice Management in Law Firms. Among the topics we discuss are: What are most firms looking for when they retain her services Her various roundtables and what types of professionals are included in each. The importance of her certification programs. The evolution of practice management in the past 20 years. A summary of the various practice management models. Different structures encompassing practice management, legal project management, pricing, and other related disciplines. The emerging trend of Practice Group Directors transitioning to law firm COOs. Contact Steve McCormick Group

October 1, 2025Episode 1131 min

Interview with Jonathan Greenblatt, Co-Founder of Legal Innovators

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Steve interviews Jonathan Greenblatt, Co-Founder and Chair of Legal Innovators, which is changing the game when it comes to the recruitment of junior and mid level talent in the legal industry. Among the topics addressed are: Why the current system of recruiting and training junior associates is flawed; Legal Innovators' process for selecting law graduates; Why the firm's training program is superior to that of most law firms; The firm's record of transitioning its attorneys to full-time employment at client firms; The firm's separate Performance Coaching program; The firm's relatively new track featuring JAG Corps attorneys; How the current disruption affecting government lawyer is impacting Legal Innovators Contact Steve McCormick Group

August 5, 2025Episode 1033 min

Law Firm Partner Compensation---An Interview with Tim Corcoran

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Steve's Rules, Steve has a conversation with Tim Corcoran of the Corcoran Consultant Group, a leading consultant on law firm compensation. Among the topics discussed were: The primary issues that are leading firms to retain your services? The most frequent flaws in law firm compensation systems Balancing the contributions of rainmakers and key subject matter experts. How firms handle compensation of laterals, particularly in situations that those attorneys are not bringing all of their originated business to their new firms. How firms should design bonus programs for laterals Contact Steve McCormick Group

May 27, 2025Episode 916 min

The Impact of the Trump Administration's Executive Orders on Law Firm Recruiting

Send us Fan Mail The Trump Administration’s executive orders aimed at various law firms has resulted in the most significant issue that the country’s leading law firms have faced in recent memory. Some pundits in the mainstream media have even predicted the demise of the firms that settled with the Administration. In this episode of Steve’s Rules, Steve and his McCormick Group colleague Dave Ris provide some insights on the impact of these orders and the law firm responses, with a particular focus on lateral partner hiring. Subscribe Key topics covered in this episode: Immediate impact on law school, associate and partner recruiting. Which litigators might be affected How corporate clients might react Impact on the DC offices of the Wall Street and other elite firms that have settled Possible chasm between “transactional” and “litigation” firms How this may impact Government Relations practices in DC *Discussed in the podcast is Microsoft’s decision to drop one of the settling firms in shareholder litigation in Delaware. https://www.reuters.com/business/microsoft-swaps-law-firms-shareholder-case-hiring-trump-adversary-2025-05-01/ *In the conclusion, Steve attributed a Bette Davis quote to the movie “It Happened One Night.” In reality, it was from “All About Eve.” Contact Steve McCormick Group