Tip of the Law

In this episode of Tip of the Law, Joe Giovannoli, founder and CEO of 9Sail, interviews Domenic Romano, founder and managing partner of Romano Law. The episode covers how law firms can adopt entrepreneurial strategies to thrive in a competitive market. Romano discusses his transition from big law to building a business law firm that prioritizes client communication, talent retention, and innovative thinking.Key Takeaways:Hiring and retaining top talent ("A players") is critical for scaling a professional services firm like a law firm. The "always be hiring" mentality and thorough vetting process are important.Adopting an entrepreneurial mindset and continuously challenging assumptions is crucial for a law firm leader, rather than just focusing on the practice of law. Embracing innovation and change is key.Emphasizing clear, responsive communication and follow-up is a differentiator in the legal industry and important for both client service and the hiring process.

In the latest episode of Tip of the Law, Joe Giovannoli, CEO of 9Sail, is joined by Mike Mellor, founder of 742advisors, to discuss how law firms can prevent revenue leakage and improve operational efficiency. The conversation covers topics such as inefficient processes, technology integration, and the cultural changes necessary for implementing lasting solutions.Key Takeaways:Revenue leakage and inefficient processes: Law firms experience significant revenue leakage due to inefficient processes, such as recreating pitches, lack of centralized data, and poor coordination between teams.Importance of data organization and technology: Implementing the right technology solutions, like CRM systems and experience management platforms, can help law firms streamline operations, improve win rates, and reduce revenue leakage. However, firms need to be strategic in their approach and tailor solutions to their specific needs.Cultural change and buy-in: Driving change in law firms requires overcoming cultural resistance and getting buy-in from partners and associates. Firms need to create frictionless experiences, build trust, and demonstrate the value of new processes and technologies.Practice area-specific approaches: A one-size-fits-all approach to marketing and technology often falls short in law firms. Firms should consider the unique needs and dynamics of different practice areas and develop customized solutions to address their specific challenges.

In the latest episode of the Tip of the Law podcast, host Joe Giovannoli, CEO and founder of 9Sail, interviews Charley Mann, founder of Law Firm Alchemy. Charley specializes in coaching law firm owners to maximize their practice’s potential as a business. Their conversation ranges over essential strategies for law firm leaders, focusing on self-management, effective delegation, and the importance of proactive business development.Key Takeaways:Developing a personal modus operandi and self-management skills is crucial for law firm leaders, alongside implementing practice management systems like EOS. Ignoring personal development can lead to issues like elevating unqualified people to leadership positions too early.Delegation and determining roles is critical for law firms, especially those with multiple partners of similar stature. Conducting "start, stop, continue" conversations can help establish open communication and address challenges.Law firm owners need to be willing to invest in the growth of their practice, even if it means sacrificing some of their current lifestyle. Overcoming this barrier is key to scaling the business.Don’t underestimate the importance of making the ask and being proactive in business development and marketing. Law firm owners need to take initiative, follow up with potential clients, and not wait for opportunities to come to them. This entrepreneurial mindset and willingness to put themselves out there is crucial for the growth and success of a law firm.

In this episode of the "Tip of the Law" podcast, Joe Giovannoli, founder and CEO of 9Sail, discusses effective legal marketing strategies with Ron Latz from LegalFenix. They talk about setting clear expectations for marketing goals, managing client relationships, and the importance of personal branding for attorneys. Here’s a detailed recap of their insightful conversation.Key Takeaways:Agencies and law firms need to set clear expectations upfront about goals, metrics, and what success looks like. Both sides need to be on the same page.Agencies should not ignore red flags or take on clients with unrealistic expectations just to chase revenue. They should be willing to walk away from bad fits.Law firms should review their progress towards goals for the first half of the year and make necessary adjustments. Attorneys should also consider building their personal brand on LinkedIn to showcase their expertise.

In this episode of the Tip of the Law podcast, host Joe Giovannoli, founder and CEO of 9Sail, talks with Lynn Tellefsen-Stehle, an experienced legal marketer and business development expert. Lynn shares her unique journey in the legal industry and offers practical insights into effective legal marketing and business development strategies.Key Takeaways:Using the "five whys" technique can help identify the root causes of challenges and issues in order to drive organizational change. Asking "why" five times gets to the underlying reasons for problems.Providing lawyers with the insights, information, and tools they need can help address the challenge of lack of lawyer engagement in business development. Easy-to-use solutions that deliver timely relationship intelligence are important. Building and managing an effective legal marketing team requires experience in different roles, adapting lessons learned, and assembling specialists to meet the needs. It's also important to help the team work smarter through training and focus.Prioritizing tasks, owning one's time, and limiting distractions through techniques like using a timer can improve productivity and focus on what matters most.

In this episode of the Tip of the Law podcast, host Joe Giovannoli, founder and CEO of 9Sail, sits down with Howard Matalon, an employment law expert and partner at OlenderFeldman. Howard shares his journey into employment law, his passion for working with wolfdogs, and practical strategies for effective employee onboarding and engagement.Key Takeaways:Effective onboarding of new employees is critical but often overlooked, especially in law firms. It takes 12-18 months for new hires to truly learn the culture and be productive.Training, feedback, and making employees feel included are important for employee satisfaction and retention. This contributes to a firm's success.Living up to stated core values through actions like hiring and promotions is vital for maintaining a positive culture and reputation.Spend more time getting to know the people who you're going to rely upon to help you develop and run your business. Putting the extra effort in pays extraordinary dividends. 

In this episode of Tip of the Law, host Joe Giovannoli, founder & CEO of 9Sail, discusses innovative legal practices with Eric Gros-Dubois, founder of EPGD Business Law in Miami. Eric shares insights into his unique approach to the business of law, emphasizing direct client relationships and innovative billing practices.

In this episode of the Tip of the Law podcast, host and founder/CEO of 9Sail, Joe Giovannoli, speaks with Jennifer Cona, a leading elder law and estate planning attorney based in New York. As founder of Cona Elder Law, Jennifer shares her professional trajectory in the field, her approach to client service, and the fundamental role of core values in her practice.

In a recent episode of the Tip of the Law podcast, host Joe Giovannoli, founder and CEO of 9Sail, engages in a compelling conversation with Elise Holtzman, former practicing attorney, founder of The Lawyer’s Edge and the Ignite Women's Business Development Accelerator, and host of the Lawyer’s Edge podcast. Elise shares her unique journey into legal practice and business development, offering invaluable advice and insights for attorneys looking to excel in these areas. Tune in to hear about overcoming challenges, the importance of business education for lawyers, and practical strategies for career growth in the legal field. 

In this episode of the Tip of the Law podcast, host Joe Giovannoli, founder and CEO of 9Sail, engages in an insightful conversation with Roy Sexton, Director of Marketing at Clark Hill and past president of the International Legal Marketing Association board. Roy shares his journey into legal marketing, his strategic insights, and the importance of focused and repetitive marketing efforts.