The Esq Marketing Podcast

Brandon Leopoldus is the Founder of Leopoldus Law, a firm that works with professional athletes and businesses to increase their revenue streams while protecting their legal rights. Currently, Brandon is working with businesses to tackle COVID-19 economy issues, including applying for PPP loans, finding creative ways to remain open for business, and restructuring future agreements to plan for unexpected and uncontrollable events. Brandon is an advocate and lawyer for athletes and sports officials at all levels. He has represented a two-time NFL All-Pro with his off-field business and personal endeavors, resolved a six-figure personal dispute for a Super Bowl champion, and protected the intellectual property rights of an eight-year NBA veteran, among many other accomplishments. He is a Regional Captain of the Sports Lawyers Association, a part of the Athlete Outreach Committee for Merging Vets and Players (MVP), and more. In this episode… Your connections are a vital part of gaining referrals, building your client base, and growing your business. However, it's important to remember that you're not always in competition with anyone else. There are certain steps you can take to develop your network while fostering positive relationships with everyone inside and outside of your industry. According to Brandon Leopoldus, the best way to grow your business is through honesty and trust; when you create a strong relationship with clients and those surrounding your work, you'll be able to provide better solutions and gain more referrals. Plus, you don't have to stay within your industry to make connections. When you network with those outside of your expertise, you can expand your referral map and supply your clients with a range of resources — a win for everyone. In this episode of the Esq.Marketing Podcast, Matthew Laurin is joined by Brandon Leopoldus, Founder of Leopoldus Law, to talk about building your network. Brandon discusses how he scales his firm using connections, his steps for creating a strong virtual network, and how to create a "reciprocal value" network that benefits everyone. Stay tuned!

Allison C. Shields Johs is the Founder and President of Legal Ease Consulting, Inc., where she provides business development, marketing, social media, and practice management coaching and consulting services. Allison helps lawyers improve their productivity, increase profits, and attract higher-value clients. Allison is a former practicing lawyer with experience as a law firm manager. Currently, she holds workshops and presentations for law firms, bar associations, and other organizations on topics including time management, social media, legal marketing, and law firm operations. In addition to the services she offers at Legal Ease Consulting, Inc., Allison provides writing and editing services to lawyers, law firms, and other professionals. In this episode… Your clients are the foundation of your law firm, and they can heavily impact the profitability and performance of your business. So, how do you identify which clients aren't right for you? And if you've already taken on a client who isn't a great fit, how do you handle it? Your law firm is not going to be profitable if every client is taking up twice as much time and energy as they should be. In addition to this, bad clients will distract you from focusing on higher-value clients who will bring you more referrals. According to Allison C. Shields Johs, you can avoid bad clients by following your gut instinct, enlisting the help of your associates and partners, and putting systems in place to communicate with all of your clients. In this episode of the Esq.Marketing Podcast, Matthew Laurin talks with Allison C. Shields Johs, Founder and President of Legal Ease Consulting, Inc., about finding the best clients for your law firm. Allison explains how to identify red flags with potential clients, tips for setting boundaries and expectations, and finding tools and systems to help you better communicate with your clients. Stay tuned.

Natalie Harris is a Partner at Baron Harris Healey, a law firm dedicated to serving clients in the areas of advertising and marketing, intellectual property, media, e-commerce, and more. Natalie has nearly 20 years of experience defending clients who create, publish, and broadcast content in all forms of media.  Natalie is a member of many organizations, including the Media Law Resource Center (MLRC), the Legal Network for Gender Equity, Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET) Alumni Association, and the Coalition of Women's Initiatives in Law. Natalie has spoken at various conferences and seminars, and she has appeared in many publications, including the MLRC Media Law Letter and the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) IP Newsletter. In this episode… Have you ever thought about starting your own law practice? Do you want to find ways to grow your firm and generate more leads? If so, you don't want to miss this episode of the Esq.Marketing Podcast! Natalie Harris has started her own law firm — and she's here to share her expert tips on establishing your practice, discovering your niche, and gaining clients. According to Natalie, starting a firm requires more than just being a great lawyer; you have to examine finances, master outreach, and create a business development strategy. So, how can you In this episode of the Esq.Marketing Podcast, Matthew Laurin is joined by Natalie Harris, a Partner at Baron Harris Healey, to talk about developing your practice. Natalie discusses her experience of working in media law and starting her firm, top strategies for growing your network and gaining leads, and the goals her firm is setting to create a better environment for women and people of color in the business of law. Stay tuned.

Jocelyn Brumbaugh is the Founder of Builden Partners, a company that helps law firms develop and execute marketing strategies to better engage with clients, prospects, and talent. The team at Builden Partners offers professional marketing solutions to firms of all sizes, with clients ranging from premier boutique Chicago law firms and other B2B companies to some of the best-known law firms in the world.  Jocelyn has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications roles at top law and financial services firms. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Legal & Professional Services Council, a 500 member organization focused on best practices in business development and marketing at professional services firms. In this episode… Are your marketing strategies getting you the results you want? Is your law firm leveraging content efficiently and exponentially? If not, Jocelyn Brumbaugh has a tried-and-true marketing process to help your firm broadcast engaging content across multiple networks.  Jocelyn's process is called the Marketing Infrastructure Model, made up of the five steps your firm needs to consistently take to grow your outreach network. These steps include expanding on what your firm is doing well, utilizing LinkedIn and internal communication effectively, and creating a continuous stream of news that will attract clients — and future clients — toward your business.  In this episode of the Esq.Marketing Podcast, Matthew Laurin talks with Jocelyn Brumbaugh, Founder of Builden Partners, about the essential marketing steps your firm needs to take. Jocelyn shares all of the details behind the Marketing Infrastructure Model, how to curate and circulate appealing content, and the importance of putting thought leadership at the forefront of your firm. Stay tuned.

Chris Mullins is the "Phone Sales Doctor" and Founder and CEO of Intake Academy, where she educates lawyers and law firm staff on how to convert callers and qualify good cases. For over 25 years, she has helped law firms around the country convert prospects into clients. At Intake Academy, Chris serves consumer law firms, specialty dental practices, and other select businesses through lead conversion staff training, customized lead conversion scripts, call center performance assessments, and much more. Previously, Chris was the CEO of Mullins Media Group, which offered consultation, training, online seminars, and motivational seminars. In this episode… For any law firm, great marketing is not enough if your prospects don't convert. So, what are the best intake strategies for creating a positive intake experience? And how can you support your intake team to convert more prospects into clients?  According to Chris Mullins, if you don't have an intake team, you don't have a law firm. With over 25 years of experience helping law firms with their intake process, Chris knows what works—and what doesn't—when it comes to intake calls. Using her tried-and-true approach, Chris shares how to self-critique calls, seek out opportunities for improvement, and build relationships with call centers.  In this episode of the Esq.Marketing Podcast, Matthew Laurin sits down with Chris Mullins, "Phone Sales Doctor" and Founder and CEO of Intake Academy, to discuss everything your firm needs to know about intake processes. Chris talks about how to use scripts as a guide, monitoring calls as a leader and learner, and the best tips for supporting your intake team. Plus, Chris shares a special offer just for Esq.Marketing Podcast listeners! Stay tuned.

Toni Y. Long is the Managing Partner and Founder of The Long Law Group, PC. She specializes in corporate and entertainment transactional work with a focus on corporate governance, maintenance and formation, and asset/stock purchases and sales. Toni works with a spectrum of clients, ranging from sole proprietors and emerging businesses, to nonprofits and mid-market companies. Before founding The Long Law Group, PC, Toni worked as a corporate attorney, was the Director of Business and Legal Affairs for an international film distribution company, and served as a litigation associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and Zevnik Horton. Toni has been recognized as a "Top Attorney" for Corporate Law by Pasadena Magazine and a Southern California "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers in Los Angeles Magazine. In this episode… If you're thinking about starting a business with someone else, there are certain things you need to consider. According to Toni Y. Long, one of the most important aspects of a partnership is your agreement. So, what exactly goes into a partnership agreement—and why is it so important? With 20 years of experience in the business of law, Toni has witnessed plenty of companies lose time and money over the absence of a partnership agreement. Toni advises that every company should have an agreement—even if you think you don't need it. A partnership agreement is advanced planning for you and your business, and it will help you efficiently work through obstacles and disagreements when they arise. In this episode of the Esq.Marketing Podcast, Matthew Laurin talks with Toni Y. Long, Managing Partner and Founder of The Long Law Group, PC, about the importance of partnership agreements. Toni shares what exactly goes into partnership agreements, how they can help your business, and what you should look for in a partner. Stay tuned.

Paul Samakow is the Founder of The Law Offices of Paul A. Samakow, P.C. Paul has been a practicing plaintiff's personal injury lawyer since 1980, helping over 20,000 clients in Virginia and Maryland. He is a member of numerous plaintiff organizations that focus on educating and helping victims. During his career of over 40 years, Paul has become a well-known attorney in his local Hispanic community, creating numerous safety campaigns and contributing to multiple causes and events. Paul is also a frequent lecturer to community, civic, school, and professional groups. In this episode… If you're looking to market to and serve your local Hispanic community successfully, it's best to learn how from someone who has been doing it for over 40 years: Paul Samakow. But there's a caveat.  You can't expect that you're going to start building up a large, consistent caseload after three, four, or five months. Paul says it's a commitment of at least a couple of years that includes spending your budget on the suitable advertising medium, backend personnel, follow-up system, and a lot more. Want all the details? Learn about how to successfully build up your Hispanic client base on this episode of Matthew Laurin's Esq.Marketing Podcast featuring Paul Samakow, Founder of The Law Offices of Paul A. Samakow, P.C. They discuss viable markets, overcoming language roadblocks, what type of advertising works (and why), and more. 

Janet Falk is a Speaker, Writer, and Consultant at her firm, Falk Communications and Research. She is a communications professional who advises attorneys at small law firms and solo practices on media relations and marketing communication. With her expertise, lawyers are able to attract new clients, remain top-of-mind with prior clients, and help recruit new associates to their firms. She has published articles in The New York Law Journal, The New Jersey Law Journal, and Marketing The Law Firm. In this episode… As attorneys, you often get your best clients from referrals. And where do those referrals come from? They come from your network, but networking in the age of COVID doesn't seem like a promising venture. There is a way to make your networking efforts successful and extract the rewards that come along as a result, even if most networking events are now virtual. It begins with a small mindset change. According to Janet Falk of Falk Communications and Research, you've got to get into networking to win it. For success, you have to put yourself out there, provide solutions to people, connect with them, and earn the referrals you deserve. Unsure how to take the first step?  Join the conversation on this episode of the Esq.Marketing Podcast with Matthew Laurin and Janet Falk of Falk Communications and Research as they talk about tips for networking successfully in a pandemic. Highlights include networking best practices, joining a networking group, getting the best out of virtual networking events, crafting an effective elevator pitch, and more.

Lars Daniel is a Practice Leader of Digital Forensics at Envista Forensics. Lars is a qualified expert witness in the field of digital forensics and has testified in both state and federal courts. He is an EnCase Certified Examiner (EnCE), a Cellebrite Certified Logical Operator (CCLO), and provides Continuing Legal Education (CLE) classes for attorneys nationwide. Outside of the courtroom, Lars is the Co-Author of the book Digital Forensics for Legal Professionals: Understanding Digital Evidence from the Warrant to the Courtroom. In this episode… In today's digital world, we're constantly leaving behind a trail of digital footprints. As lawyers, some of those footprints could come in handy as evidence in any legal practice. But the problem is that there aren't many lawyers who understand digital forensics—or how to deploy it to their advantage.  Take a listen to this episode of the Esq.Marketing Podcast with Matthew Laurin and Lars Daniel, Practice Leader of Digital Forensics at Envista Forensics. Lars breaks down the concept, process, and essence of digital forensics for lawyers. He sheds light on what to do when you need evidence from a phone, how to source proof from social media, the devices you need when you're looking for digital evidence, and more.

Lem Garcia is the Founder of Lem Garcia Law, one of the fastest-growing personal injury law practices in California. In 2014, he decided to venture out on his own and founded his personal injury practice with just a couple thousand in the bank and a lot of donated time and effort from his family. Now, Lem Garcia Law has grown to three locations, employs 15 employees, and has recovered millions of dollars for their clients.  Lem was working as a photographer for the L.A. Clippers when he decided to shift gears into law. He earned his law degree from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, where he received the full scholarship, was a member of the Law Review, and graduated in the top 20% of his class. After law school, Lem worked as an independent consultant at several law firms. In this episode… The personal injury (PI) law practice is one of the most competitive areas—but that didn't stop Lem Garcia from choosing to dive in and thrive in that space.  According to Lem, what makes a difference is building a brand strategy that sets you apart, leverages successful client relationships, hires and fires right, as well as being present and helpful in your community. Easy enough, right? Learn how to build a brand strategy that'll differentiate your personal injury law firm on this episode of The Esq.Marketing Podcast with Matthew Laurin and his guest, Lem Garcia of Lem Garcia Law. They discuss what it takes to create an effective and successful brand strategy, how to piggyback on flourishing client relationships, mistakes to avoid when starting your law firm, and more.