Founding Partner Podcast

What does it take to walk away from more than two decades of legal experience and build something completely different?

In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Jonathan Hawkins sits down with Steven Nassi, founder of Rock Point Law, to talk about his move from representing insurance companies to advocating for consumers, why he chose lemon law, and how intentional decisions around client service, culture, technology, and hiring are helping him build a firm designed for long-term growth.

How should equity partners be paid, and why do so many compensation systems create unintended problems? In this solo episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Jonathan Hawkins explores the strengths and weaknesses of common equity partner compensation models, explains why no system is perfect, and shares a practical framework for creating a compensation plan that rewards both ownership and performance.

What does success really look like for a law firm founder? For Jason DeSouza, it is not measured by having the biggest office or the largest headcount. It is about building a firm that delivers exceptional results for clients while protecting the people who make the work possible, including himself.

In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Jonathan Hawkins sits down with Jason DeSouza, founder of DeSouza Injury Lawyers, to discuss entrepreneurship, intentional growth, community relationships, and why knowing your definition of "enough" may be the most important business decision you ever make.

What does it really take to launch a law firm from scratch, grow it from six lawyers to thirty in just two years, and still keep your culture intact?

In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Jonathan Hawkins sits down with Vivek Tata, founding partner and General Counsel of Elsberg Baker & Maruri, to discuss why the best firms are built around people first, not growth targets. From leaving Big Law to launching a litigation boutique that's already earning national recognition, Vivek shares the mindset, systems, and leadership lessons behind building a firm designed to last.

What does it take to build a successful law firm when your path isn't the traditional one? In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Jonathan Hawkins sits down with attorney Dwayne Pennant to explore how persistence, service, and genuine relationships helped him build a thriving practice across North Carolina and Massachusetts. From failing the bar exam more than once to earning the trust of clients, judges, and court staff, Dwayne shares why success is less about having the perfect résumé and more about showing up with humility and determination.

What does it take to leave a comfortable law firm job and build something of your own?

In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Jonathan Hawkins sits down with trial lawyer Bryan Knight, founder of Knight Palmer, to discuss the realities of starting a law firm, developing business through relationships, building a trial practice, and growing a firm without losing its identity. From licking stamps in a one-office startup to handling nationwide class actions, Bryan shares the lessons he's learned over nearly fifteen years of law firm ownership.

What does it take to launch a law firm in today's legal landscape? For Oklahoma trial lawyer Rilee Harrison, the answer is not flashy marketing campaigns or pretending to be something you're not. It's relationships, authenticity, and a relentless commitment to helping clients get the outcomes they deserve.

In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Rilee shares how he transitioned from associate attorney to law firm owner, why social media became one of his most powerful business tools, and the vision behind the firm he's building today.

Private equity is entering the legal industry, and lawyers everywhere are asking the same question: what does it mean for my firm? In this solo episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Jonathan Hawkins breaks down what is actually happening behind the headlines, how MSOs fit into the picture, and why firm owners should focus less on fear and more on building valuable businesses. If you've been wondering whether private equity is a threat, an opportunity, or simply the next evolution of the legal market, this conversation provides clarity.

What happens when a small-town lawyer decides to walk away from a century-old law firm and build something entirely his own?

In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Jonathan Hawkins sits down with Georgia trial lawyer Chris Rodd to discuss entrepreneurship, niching down in a rural market, growing a personal injury firm from the ground up, and why some of the best business lessons come from flying airplanes. From courtroom battles to community impact, Chris shares the mindset that helped transform a one-lawyer practice into a thriving regional firm.

What does it take to build a law firm that grows by more than 60% in a single year while staying true to its mission?

In this episode of The Founding Partner Podcast, Jonathan Hawkins sits down with Jon David Huffman, Managing Partner of Poole Huffman, to explore the evolution of a litigation boutique that has grown from a small startup into a thriving firm of nearly 40 professionals. Along the way, they discuss fraud litigation, leadership, culture, mentorship, and why the biggest growth challenge wasn't marketing or hiring, it was changing the way Jon David thought about leadership.