Founding Partner Podcast

What does it really take to be a good mom, a good wife, and still run a thriving law firm? 🌍 When Hurricane Katrina forced Elise Buie to rebuild her life from scratch—not once, but twice—she discovered resilience most of us can only imagine. Today, she leads a 40-person remote-first firm with a culture built on accountability, kindness, and something she calls “unreasonable hospitality.” But how do you balance family, leadership, and growth without burning out—or losing yourself along the way?

What happens when a top family lawyer says his real identity isn’t “attorney” at all?

Hannibal Heredia has built a 20-year law firm partnership, navigated immigrant family expectations, and handled the toughest moments in clients’ lives — yet still calls himself “a hundred percent musician.”

How do you balance courtrooms with chord progressions? What does it take to make a business partnership last decades? And why might the best lessons in law come from life on stage?

Hannibal F. Heredia has practiced family law almost exclusively since 1994. He received his JD from Southwestern University, cum laude, in 1993, was the Editor in Chief of the Southwestern University Law Review, and received his undergraduate degree from Auburn University. In addition to practicing in all areas of family law, Hannibal also serves as a mediator and Guardian ad Litem in Courts throughout the metro Atlanta area.

Since 2016, he has been named one of the Top 100 lawyers in Georgia by Atlanta magazine. Atlanta magazine lists Hannibal as a Super Lawyer, and Georgia Trend magazine recognizes him as “Legal Elite” in the area of Family Law. Hannibal also volunteers his time for the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, serving both as a legal representative for victims of domestic violence as well as a Guardian Ad Litem. He is also on the board of the Atlanta Bar Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the Atlanta Bar Association.

What happens when a Big Law partner walks away from the prestige… and builds something better? What if naming your firm after yourself is actually holding you back? In this conversation with Adam Marshall, we explore why culture beats ego, how smart firms grow without chasing, and what most lawyers get wrong about client service. Would your clients follow you if you left tomorrow? Adam found out. Here’s what happened next.

What if the billable hour isn’t broken… but obsolete?

Kimberly Bennett didn’t just walk away from hourly billing—she built something better. A flat-fee law firm. A legal tech company. And a third business… just for fun.

She nearly burned out doing it all.

So how did she turn that chaos into clarity—and a platform that might just change how legal services are delivered forever?

This one’s not about theory. It’s about what actually works.

What if the best thing you ever built started with a single text message? Meghan Freed never planned to start a law firm—let alone lead the largest family law practice in Connecticut. But what happens when you stop doing what you’re “supposed” to do… and start listening to what actually lights you up? In this episode, we talk about breakups (business and personal), niching down, uncomfortable feedback, and the moment you realize: I’m sick of this problem. I want a new one. What if your growth started with letting go?

What if the thing that makes you different is exactly what your clients are looking for?

Josh Hodges didn’t become a lawyer until he was 32. No Ivy League pedigree. No polished fast track. Just grit, DMV floors, and a daughter who changed everything. Today, he runs one of the most trusted personal injury firms in small-town Ohio—not by outspending the big guys, but by out-showing up.

What does it take to build real trust in a world obsessed with flash?

This story might make you rethink how you grow your firm.

What if the best law firm in your state wasn’t built by the smartest lawyer… but by the one who learned to let go?

Jay Ruane didn’t want 45 employees. He didn’t want to be a CEO. But somewhere between courtrooms and burnout, he built something bigger — and walked away from the work most lawyers cling to.

He says the key wasn’t money. It was dinner with his kids.

And AI? It’s already replacing hours of legal grunt work in his firm.

So the real question is: what are you still holding onto… that’s holding you back?

What happens when you risk everything on a case, with no offer on the table and $50K already spent on experts? For Howard Ankin, it wasn’t just a turning point—it was the moment that changed everything. From a folding table and 40 referrals to a 100-person law firm competing with national giants, Howard’s journey proves success doesn’t come from luck—it comes from showing up when it counts. But how do you scale without losing your soul? And what does it really take to lead a firm that lasts?

Laura Noble is the founder and Managing Partner of The Noble Law Firm, a recognized leader in employment law. With over 30 years of diverse legal experience, Laura’s approach combines powerful advocacy, empathetic client service, and technological innovation in all stages and aspects of employment disputes. Laura strives to cultivate a positive workplace culture built on the core values of collaboration, leadership, empathy, integrity, innovation, and equity. These values—combined with outstanding team members and advanced technology—allow The Noble Law Firm to help level the playing field for employees.

What happens when a missionary kid becomes a lawyer—and builds a firm that treats investigations like a path to healing, not just damage control?

Most attorneys avoid the messy, emotional work. Theresa Sidebotham built her entire practice around it. From child protection in churches to workplace abuse in nonprofits, she handles the cases no one wants… with a strategy most law schools never teach.

This is the story of how crisis, calling, and a volcanic eruption shaped one of the most unconventional law firms in the country.