Financially Legal

In this episode of Financially Legal, Confido Legal co-founder Emery Wager sits down with Trisha Rich and Josh Porte of Holland & Knight to explore the legal ethics behind the rise of Management Service Organizations (MSOs) and private equity investment in law firms.With over 100 law firm MSO transactions closed or in progress at Holland & Knight, Trisha and Josh bring a firsthand perspective on how these deals are structured and where the ethical boundaries lie.The conversation covers ABA Model Rule 5.4, what MSOs can and cannot control, how management fees are structured without violating fee-sharing rules, and the growing regulatory activity in states like Illinois and Colorado. They also discuss why private equity is entering the legal industry now, what law firms should watch out for when considering an MSO partnership, and how these arrangements could ultimately impact the client experience.As the legal industry attracts more outside capital and technology, this episode explores how law firms can pursue growth while protecting lawyer independence and the attorney-client relationship.

What is your law firm actually worth? And why are investors suddenly paying attention? In this episode of Financially Legal, Confido Legal co-founder Emery Wager sits down with Chris Hildreth, an investment banker specializing in law firm M&A, to explore the growing interest in law firm investments, private equity, and MSO deals. They break down how law firms are valued, what makes a firm attractive to investors, how MSO transactions work, and what law firm owners actually walk away with after a deal. Chris also shares why personal injury firm valuations have risen from 4–5x EBITDA to 6–7x in just two years, and where he sees the market heading next. This episode kicks off our three-part series, So, You Want to Sell Your Law Firm, exploring the financial, ethical, and practical considerations of selling or transitioning a law firm.

In this episode of, Emery Wager sits down onsite at Bundy Law in Tulsa, Oklahoma with founder and managing partner Aaron Bundy to talk about what it looks like to treat pricing as part of the client experience. The conversation covers evergreen retainers, billing twice a month, charging for consults, and why getting the money systems right can actually improve quality of life for the entire team.

What if your case management system could also handle billing and payments seamlessly?In this episode, James Betzold, CEO of Prim.Law shares how firms can simplify client payments, automate trust accounting, and eliminate confusing processing fees with built-in tools.Confido and Prima's partnership

How do law firms really decide what partners get paid?Partner compensation is one of the most important and controversial topics in the legal industry. The way firms structure pay doesn’t just impact income; it shapes firm culture, collaboration, and long-term profitability.In this episode of Financially Legal, Emery Wager sits down with Hugh Simons (former BCG consultant, law firm CEO, and prolific writer on law firm economics) to unpack:The major compensation models (lockstep, points-based, and eat-what-you-kill)Why open vs. closed pay systems matter more than you thinkHow incentives drive collaboration, culture, and firm growthWhere partner compensation is headed in the next decadeWhether you’re a managing partner, CFO, or simply curious how partner pay really works, this episode pulls back the curtain on a system that defines the legal industry.

Checks are slow, risky, and outdated. So why are so many law firms still using them? In this episode, Emery Wager sits down with Jayne Reardon to explore how law firms can transition to digital disbursements while staying compliant with the Rules of Professional Conduct. We break down the ethical considerations, share a practical checklist for moving to electronic payments, and explain why modernizing your payment processes is not just smart, but the right thing to do for your clients.To learn more about digital disbursements, visit confidolegal.com or check out our article in the link below.https://confidolegal.com/financiallylegal/can-law-firms-disburse-money-from-a-trust-or-iolta-account-electronically

What really happens when a client calls their bank and says they didn’t get the legal services they paid for?In our upcoming episode, Emery Wager sits down with Amos Chapman, and the duo dives deep into one of the most misunderstood and often frustrating financial challenges law firms face: chargebacks.Check out some of Confido Legal’s resources below: - Chargeback Checklist- What Happens if a Law Firm Refunds a Credit Card Payment with a Check?

How should law firms handle tax debt?There are ways to avoid common tax pitfalls, make taxes less stressful, and even pay pennies on the dollar to resolve tax debt. In this episode of Financially Legal, host Emery Wager sits down with Stephen Weisberg of the W Tax Group to discuss tax debt resolution.

How much time do you spend tracking your hours? What if you could increase your profitability, reduce stress, and provide better client service—all without billing another minute? The hourly billing model isn’t the only way to run a successful law firm. In this episode of Financially Legal, host Emery Wager sits down with Brita Long to explore the mindset shift required to transition to flat fee legal services.

How much time are you wasting on repetitive tasks? What if you could significantly cut those hours, increasing your firm’s profitability? AI isn’t just a buzzword now—it’s a tool transforming the economics of running a law firm.In this Financially Legal episode, host Emery Wager sits down with Tim Sawyer and Patrick Maddigan of Faster Outcomes to discuss AI's role in modern law firms and how firms can leverage technology to impact profitability.