In this episode of Lead Counsel, host Tom Tona sits down with Christopher Nicolaysen, owner and CEO of Springs Law Group, to discuss law firm leadership, business growth, and personal transformation. From building a thriving personal injury firm to making the life-changing decision to go sober by choice, Chris shares insights on business systems, scaling a law firm, and overcoming limiting beliefs.

💡 Key Highlights: ✔️ Scaling a Personal Injury Firm: How Christopher built Springs Law Group from the ground up, growing to a four-attorney powerhouse. ✔️ Client-Centric Legal Services: Why personalized customer service in personal injury law is a game-changer. ✔️ Entrepreneurial Operating Systems (EOS): How using business frameworks like EOS and Scaling Up transformed his firm. ✔️ Sober by Choice: The personal and professional impact of eliminating alcohol, and why it's an underrated success strategy. ✔️ Empowering Your Team: Why fostering autonomy and eliminating micromanagement helps attract and retain A-players in your firm.

🚀 If you’re a law firm owner looking to scale, optimize, and build a lasting legal practice—this is the episode for you!

Are you looking for a trusted partner for New York personal injury referrals? Since 2001, Tonalaw has been the go-to personal injury law firm for attorneys and law firms across the U.S. We pay legal fee participation to referring attorneys in all jurisdictions where it's permitted.

📞 Refer a case today and experience the Tonalaw Difference! ✅ Call 844-TONALAW ✅ Visit tonalaw.com

👤 Christopher Nicolaysen – CEO, Springs Law Group 📞 Call/Text: 719-291-6346 📧 Email: [email protected] 🔗 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: Christopher Nicolaysen

Join us for the last episode of Season 1 of the Lead Counsel podcast! In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative power of masterminds. Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, or innovator, masterminds can be the key to unlocking solutions, forging connections, and fueling personal and professional growth. We'll discuss how masterminds bring together like-minded individuals who push each other to think bigger, act boldly, and achieve goals faster. From finding the right group to understanding how these collaborative communities can help you solve real issues, this episode is your guide to making the most of the mastermind experience. With 2025 just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start planning how you can incorporate masterminds into your strategy for success in the year ahead.

In this episode, you will hear about: 

• Masterminds are more than just meetings—they're a launchpad for growth and collaboration.
• Finding the right group can amplify your impact and help you see solutions from fresh perspectives.
• Start planning for 2025: how to identify, join, or even create a mastermind that aligns with your goals.

Resources from this episode:

• TonaLaw: https://tonalaw.com/
• LinkedIn: Tom Tona
• LuvvvSocials: [email protected]

Follow and Review:

Follow us if you haven’t yet by clicking the “+” in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love a 5-star rating and a quick review! Just select “Ratings and Reviews” and share your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a moment and helps spread the word about the podcast!

Welcome back to another episode of Lead Counsel! We’re thrilled to sit down with Sara Frasca, CEO of Point NorthEast and Trasca & Co Eatery, and a powerhouse in business innovation and growth strategy. With the curiosity of Galileo and the tenacity of a street fighter, Sara has honed her expertise in senior leadership roles across Corporate America and the startup world. Now, she’s helping businesses reach new heights by fostering accountability, nurturing human imagination, and solving complex challenges for sustainable success. Join us as Sara delves into key topics like harnessing employee energy, creating KPIs that inspire ownership, and empowering teams to play an active role in decision-making. Sara shares her insights on how organizations can stay competitive by adopting innovative systems for hiring, retention, and succession planning. Discover how her unique blend of Midwest warmth and sunny optimism fuels her mission to support leaders in navigating today’s fast-paced business landscape.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• Addressing the modern “energy crisis” in workplaces and strategies to help employees feel motivated and engaged.
• The importance of leadership structure and advisory boards for business growth.
• Techniques to approach and resolve complex challenges in an innovative and structured way.
• Sara’s perspective on building a legacy through kindness, trust, and leading with heart to foster lasting client loyalty.

Resources from this episode:

• TonaLaw: https://tonalaw.com/
• LinkedIn: Tom Tona
• LuvvvSocials: [email protected]
• https://www.sarafrasca.com/
• https://pointnortheast.com/books/
• Sara - [email protected]
• Reach out to Tom on LinkedIn for a FREE copy of Sara's book, Up and To the Right! *Only available for the first 10 people to reach out*

Follow and Review:

Follow us if you haven’t yet by clicking the “+” in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love a 5-star rating and a quick review! Just select “Ratings and Reviews” and share your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a moment and helps spread the word about the podcast!

Welcome back to another episode of the Lead Counsel podcast where we dive into lessons from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, discussing its impact on maintaining emotional regulation, the importance of building presence, and the pitfalls of emotional reactivity in high-stakes environments. With tips on using meditation apps and "phone bricking" tools like Focus Lock, we provide practical strategies to help leaders carve out mental space in an ever-connected world. This episode is a valuable listen for anyone navigating the challenges of a busy career and striving for personal growth. 

In this episode, you will hear about:

• Discover how daily meditation and mindful practices can drastically improve emotional regulation, focus, and interpersonal relationships.
• Tools like Focus Lock enable leaders to disconnect, enhancing presence with family and clarity in professional decision-making.
• Insights from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari highlight the importance of solitude, physical health, and self-reflection in living a balanced, fulfilling life.
• The rituals of radiant living from the book. 

Resources from this episode:

• TonaLaw: https://tonalaw.com/
• LinkedIn: Tom Tona
• LuvvvSocials: [email protected]
• The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
• https://apps.apple.com/us/app/focus-lock-block-apps-focus/id1494966346

Follow and Review:

Follow us if you haven’t yet by clicking the “+” in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love a 5-star rating and a quick review! Just select “Ratings and Reviews” and share your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a moment and helps spread the word about the podcast!

Welcome to the third part of our Stoic book series, where we dive into Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday. In this episode of the Lead Counsel podcast, we explore how unchecked ego often becomes the greatest barrier to personal and professional success. Listen as we dive into why overcoming ego is essential, sharing impactful stories from personal journeys and insights into how ego influences every stage of a career—from early struggles to career highs and even setbacks.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• How ego can distort our perception, leading us to overlook growth opportunities.
• The importance of humility in building and maintaining strong leadership.
• How adopting an ego-free approach empowers resilience in the face of challenges.
• Lessons from iconic figures like Howard Hughes, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Bill Belichick, who achieved greatness by mastering their own egos.

Resources from this episode:

• TonaLaw: https://tonalaw.com/
• LinkedIn: Tom Tona
• LuvvvSocials: [email protected]

• https://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Obstacle-Timeless-Turning-Triumph/dp/B07VPJ1DLX/ref=sr_1_7?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.eOrzmc2D7n0Tg0eTgimykRSgemvto4X859gRfwqK3HM3LrCozKf2mXXxfdldlGAo4HbDCfdU4VxARya3Yeqs9bTygKfSLUOoGjGj80Uljm6alN8Shc6uwNj02cr9fZGEla3L0Pr80LudmQAndoJhj7xbyZv-xsFsejgj8sCzSygKu3A3scGlqQSopYMLA5zPpyq02qsAAaCF-JUK6--PDdYGUT1a8NDLSnnwLSOd8pc.TJGrSrG_qyqgeeV7O8QGocK7UxkDe85QHlRGKslaY5o&dib_tag=se&hvadid=694498255344&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9004510&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=8460608276773386388--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8460608276773386388&hvtargid=kwd-299163406706&hydadcr=21903_13324203&keywords=the+obstacle+is+the+way&qid=1727903667&sr=8-7

   

• https://www.amazon.com/Stillness-Key-Ryan-Holiday/dp/0525538585

• https://www.amazon.com/Ego-Enemy-Ryan-Holiday/dp/1591847818

Follow and Review:

Follow us if you haven’t yet by clicking the “+” in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love a 5-star rating and a quick review! Just select “Ratings and Reviews” and share your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a moment and helps spread the word about the podcast!

Welcome to the second part of our Stoic book series, where we dive into Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday. In this episode of the Lead Counsel podcast, we discuss the transformative power of meditation and stillness. Tom shares personal stories of how meditation has shifted his leadership mindset and helped him navigate high-pressure situations while scaling his law firm. Drawing on examples from history, philosophy, and his own experience, Tom explains why stillness is essential for both personal growth and professional success.

In this episode, you will hear about: 

• How taking time to pause and reflect leads to more effective decisions rather than avoiding problems.
• Learn how emotional regulation and mental clarity can improve leadership in both business and life.
• The importance of operating systems in business, and how mental discipline contributes to scaling successfully.
• Practical lessons from leaders like JFK during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Steve Jobs, who found clarity in stillness.

Resources from this episode: 

TonaLaw: https://tonalaw.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonalaw/

LuvvvSocials: [email protected] 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliet-accomando/

https://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Obstacle-Timeless-Turning-Triumph/dp/B07VPJ1DLX/ref=sr_1_7?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.eOrzmc2D7n0Tg0eTgimykRSgemvto4X859gRfwqK3HM3LrCozKf2mXXxfdldlGAo4HbDCfdU4VxARya3Yeqs9bTygKfSLUOoGjGj80Uljm6alN8Shc6uwNj02cr9fZGEla3L0Pr80LudmQAndoJhj7xbyZv-xsFsejgj8sCzSygKu3A3scGlqQSopYMLA5zPpyq02qsAAaCF-JUK6--PDdYGUT1a8NDLSnnwLSOd8pc.TJGrSrG_qyqgeeV7O8QGocK7UxkDe85QHlRGKslaY5o&dib_tag=se&hvadid=694498255344&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9004510&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=8460608276773386388--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8460608276773386388&hvtargid=kwd-299163406706&hydadcr=21903_13324203&keywords=the+obstacle+is+the+way&qid=1727903667&sr=8-7

https://www.amazon.com/Stillness-Key-Ryan-Holiday/dp/0525538585

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Welcome back to another episode of Lead Counsel, join us as we sit down with settlement planning expert Michele Fuller, founder of Michigan Law Center and Advocacy. Michele shares her insights on how law firms can protect both themselves and their clients through strategic settlement planning, especially in cases involving disability or large settlements. From avoiding the "lottery effect" to ensuring clients maintain their government benefits, Michele breaks down her approach to minimizing risks for plaintiffs' firms and making settlements last for clients in need. Tune in for a detailed conversation on why every plaintiff’s attorney should have a settlement planner in their corner.

In this episode, you will hear about: 

• Key areas of concern including protecting government benefits and preventing clients from mismanaging large settlements.
• Michele's approach and how to maximize benefits for both the firm and the client, ensuring settlements improve lives in the long term.
• How to mitigate risks for personal injury firms during settlement distribution.
• Ways to safely hold settlement money while resolving liens and structuring distributions.
• Michele’s work on high-profile cases like the Flint Water Crisis and the Hawthorne class action, where her expertise ensured a smooth settlement process for all involved.

Resources from this episode: 

TonaLaw: https://tonalaw.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonalaw/

LuvvvSocials: [email protected] 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliet-accomando/

https://www.michiganlawcenter.com/michele-fuller

https://sntsymposium.com/snt-speakers-2021/michele-fuller/

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

In this episode of Lead Counsel, we sit down with Mark Powers, the founder of Atticus, a pioneering law firm coaching company. With over 35 years of experience in helping attorneys build successful practices, he shares the essential foundations that drive long-term success in law firms. Mark shares how Atticus has transformed the careers of countless attorneys by focusing on the fundamentals that drive sustainable growth and profitability. From building strong business foundations to the critical importance of time management and delegation, Mark’s wisdom goes beyond traditional law firm management practices. Whether you’re an attorney looking to scale your firm, improve work-life balance, or implement a succession plan, this episode offers actionable insights that will inspire and challenge you to rethink your approach.

In this episode, you will hear about: 

• Mark emphasizes that success in law, like in martial arts, starts with mastering the basics. Whether it's managing staff, improving cash flow, or optimizing marketing efforts, a strong foundation is essential for long-term success.
• Why most succession plans fail and shares a more practical approach to ensuring your firm thrives beyond your leadership.
• How time management is a top priority. By scheduling and time-blocking, you can find the freedom to focus on high-level tasks while empowering your team.
• Mark and Tom explore the importance of hiring top-tier talent, especially in leadership roles. They highlight that while the price tag may be high, the right investment in people leads to exponential growth and success.

Resources from this episode: 

TonaLaw: https://tonalaw.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonalaw/

LuvvvSocials: [email protected] 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliet-accomando/

https://atticusadvantage.com/our-team/mark-powers-president/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-powers-9a648ba/

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Welcome back to another episode of the Lead Counsel podcast where we discuss the power of doing difficult things and why it matters in both personal and professional growth. Juliet shares her experience training for the Chicago Marathon, and Tom dives into his passion for Stoicism, highlighting key takeaways from Ryan Holiday's book, The Obstacle is the Way. Whether you're interested in self-improvement, overcoming adversity, or understanding Stoic philosophy, this episode provides valuable insights and practical advice to help you grow in both your business and personal life.

In this episode, you will hear about: 

• Why taking on challenges, like running a marathon or training in Jiu-Jitsu, builds resilience and mental toughness.
• How Stoicism can provide a framework for dealing with obstacles, focusing on the four virtues: courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom.
• The importance of turning setbacks into opportunities, and why resilience is essential for long-term success.
• Practical lessons from historical figures, like John D. Rockefeller and Steve Jobs, on navigating obstacles with a Stoic mindset.

Resources from this episode: 

TonaLaw: https://tonalaw.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonalaw/

LuvvvSocials: [email protected] 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliet-accomando/

https://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Obstacle-Timeless-Turning-Triumph/dp/B07VPJ1DLX/ref=sr_1_7?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.eOrzmc2D7n0Tg0eTgimykRSgemvto4X859gRfwqK3HM3LrCozKf2mXXxfdldlGAo4HbDCfdU4VxARya3Yeqs9bTygKfSLUOoGjGj80Uljm6alN8Shc6uwNj02cr9fZGEla3L0Pr80LudmQAndoJhj7xbyZv-xsFsejgj8sCzSygKu3A3scGlqQSopYMLA5zPpyq02qsAAaCF-JUK6--PDdYGUT1a8NDLSnnwLSOd8pc.TJGrSrG_qyqgeeV7O8QGocK7UxkDe85QHlRGKslaY5o&dib_tag=se&hvadid=694498255344&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9004510&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=8460608276773386388--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8460608276773386388&hvtargid=kwd-299163406706&hydadcr=21903_13324203&keywords=the+obstacle+is+the+way&qid=1727903667&sr=8-7

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

In this episode of the Lead Counsel podcast, we sit down with special guest Allen Boulos, founder of Evernest CRE. Allen shares his journey from the restaurant industry to becoming a leading figure in the real estate market, focusing on what sets his brokerage apart: authenticity, relentless work ethic, and a personalized approach to client service. We discuss his success in both small and large commercial real estate deals, his philosophy of treating every client with the same dedication—whether it’s a 1,000-square-foot lease or a 40,000-square-foot development—and why he believes that the power of connections is essential to succeeding in the industry. He also touches on his experiences working with major developers, curating tenant spaces, and building long-lasting business relationships based on trust and integrity. Tune in to hear Allen’s insights on market trends, commercial real estate challenges, and the importance of being true to yourself while navigating a competitive field.

In this episode, you will hear about: 

• How being genuine and authentic with clients and partners is a superpower in the business world.
• Insights into the current real estate landscape in New York, particularly in industrial and multifamily spaces, and how inflation and interest rates are shaping the market.
• The importance of perseverance and adaptability in business.
• How the right connections and partnerships can help you grow your business to new heights.

Resources from this episode: 

TonaLaw: https://tonalaw.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonalaw/

LuvvvSocials: [email protected] 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliet-accomando/

 https://evernestcre.com/

Allen Boulos email: [email protected]

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.