Founding Partner Podcast

What happens when growing your law firm nearly breaks you financially, emotionally, and personally? Christopher Earley, founder of Earley Law Group Injury Lawyers, joins Jonathan Hawkins to share the painful realities behind scaling a successful practice, from declined credit cards and leadership departures to the one referral check that changed everything. In this candid conversation, Chris reveals why resilience, personal growth, and taking action matter just as much as business strategy, and how he learned to build a better firm by becoming a better version of himself.

What if the biggest threat to your law firm partnership isn't money, but the conversations you never had? In this episode, Jonathan Hawkins sits down with psychologist, mediator, and The Partnership Charter author David Gage to uncover why even successful partnerships fall apart, how small misunderstandings become expensive disputes, and why some business partners are better off walking away before they begin.

What does it take to build a 36-lawyer firm from a 500-square-foot office with no clients? In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, I sit down with Chris Murphy, founding partner of Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP, to explore how a former professional hockey player and boxer turned his competitive mindset into a thriving commercial real estate law practice. From building a firm with his brother to mastering relationships, finding the right people, and staying committed to one niche, Chris shares why lasting success takes more than ambition.

What if the billable hour is holding law firms back from their greatest potential? In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Jonathan Hawkins sits down with Bob Kopka, founder of an 80-attorney insurance defense firm, to explore why the future of law may depend on changing how firms bill, lead, and embrace technology. From building a culture where people feel valued to preparing the next generation of leaders, Bob shares what more than three decades of running law firms have taught him about growth, trust, and knowing when it's time to do things differently.

What does it take to build a law firm that stands out without chasing volume or spending millions on advertising?

In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Jonathan Hawkins sits down with David Craig of Craig, Kelley & Faultless to explore how creativity, specialization, team development, and consistent content helped shape his practice. From an ingenious Yellow Pages strategy to building a rapid response team and creating consumer-focused books and podcasts, David shares why lasting growth starts with becoming genuinely valuable to the people you serve.

What happens when you suddenly find yourself without a firm and need to build one almost overnight?

In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Jonathan Hawkins lays out a practical triage plan for attorneys who unexpectedly need to start a law firm. From forming the entity and opening bank accounts to protecting client relationships and building your public presence, he explains what needs attention first, what can wait, and why you do not have to solve everything at once.

Leaving a law firm can create tension for everyone involved, and the decisions made before and during that departure matter.

In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Jonathan Hawkins walks through three issues lawyers and law firms need to think about when someone makes a move: notice to the firm, communication with clients, and handling client files. The goal is simple, understand the potential trouble spots before you step on a landmine.

What happens to your law firm if you suddenly cannot run it?

In this solo episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Jonathan Hawkins breaks down what he calls the “Hit By a Bus Plan,” a practical approach for protecting your clients, family, employees, and firm if death or disability takes you away from the practice unexpectedly.

Does every law firm really need to scale?

In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Jonathan Hawkins sits down with New Orleans personal injury attorney David Vicknair to talk about building a firm on your own terms. David shares how intentional growth, memorable client hospitality, bold marketing, and investing in the right people helped shape his firm, and why growth only works when you know what you actually want to build.

What does it take to grow from a new law firm owner hiring an attorney off Craigslist to leading one of Washington’s largest family law practices?

In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Michelle Dellino shares how confidence, calculated risk, hard-earned lessons, and a willingness to let go helped her build Dellino Family Law Group. She also opens up about the difficult seasons behind the growth, why founders need a clear vision, and what it really means to build a firm around the life you want.