The Lawyer's Edge

Heidi Friedman is a partner in Thompson Hine's Environmental and Products Liability practice groups and Co-chair of the firm's ESG Collaborative. She serves as national environmental counsel for many large corporations, including Fortune 500 companies.

Heidi is also a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL), a Member of the International Association of Defense Counsel and DRI, and she's on the Board of Directors and Honoree Committee for Bellefaire JCB and DirectWomen, respectively.

As a mother, lawyer, and Founder and Former Chair of Thompson Hine's Women's Initiative, Heidi strongly advocates for diversity, equality, authenticity, and creating a culture of belonging. For Heidi, achieving these feats is all about crafting your unique course to success, both inside and outside of the workplace.

Oftentimes, lawyers are expected to fulfill cookie-cutter examples of success, incessantly working their way up the ladder in order to make partner. But what about entry-level associates, parents, and others who want to find success and happiness in their careers right now? Is there a way to achieve your goals while straying from the traditional path?

According to Heidi Friedman, the "you do you" philosophy can help anyone find happiness in their professional and personal lives regardless of age, gender, or experience. Based on prioritization, flexibility, and authenticity, this method allows you to chart your own path and find what works best for you. Instead of falling into the traps of comparison, begrudgingly following tradition, and feeding the voice in your head saying "you're not doing enough," Heidi suggests following the course that is genuinely and authentically you.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge Podcast, Elise Holtzman is joined by Heidi Friedman, Partner in Thompson Hine's Environmental Products and Liability sector and Co-chair of the firm's ESG Collaborative. Together, they talk about shaping your unique track to success in the legal industry by embracing authenticity, asking for what you want, and nurturing relationships. Heidi also describes her journey to success and shares inspirational advice from mentors along the way.

Neha Sampat is the Founder and CEO of BelongLab, a company that helps clients catalyze fundamental transformation in building cultures of belonging.

Harnessing the power of social-science data and stories, Neha helps BelongLab clients identify and align their personal and organizational values with their work. She's coached across industries, including legal, business, higher education, tech, startup, entertainment, and nonprofit fields. She is an expert on inclusive leadership and disrupting imposter syndrome, and she runs the top-rated "Owning Your Value" programs to cultivate confidence and nurture authenticity.

Through consulting, training, speaking, and writing, Neha helps organizations create inclusive teams by addressing hidden barriers to belonging. As a former lawyer, Neha has seen firsthand the costly mistakes organizations make regarding their people. That's why she's passionate about holistically closing the gaps in companies' diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives to create an empowered, inclusive team.

Recently, there has been a shift towards increased diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the hiring and recruiting stages. However, organizations are seeing a high churn rate among these employees because crucial components are missing in the day-to-day strategy. So, what exactly goes wrong after the hiring stage?

A significant factor that can diminish an employee's sense of belonging is imposter syndrome. Although imposter syndrome refers to an individual's feelings of fraud and self-doubt, it often manifests from being "othered" in the workplace. Imposter syndrome and anxiety are exacerbated by systemic racism, unconscious bias, and an employee implicitly being told they don't belong — thus, leading to a high churn rate for those diverse candidates who were revered in the hiring process. How do you tackle imposter syndrome and other factors that affect employees' sense of belonging?

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge Podcast, Elise Holtzman sits down with Neha Sampat, Founder and CEO of BelongLab, to talk about busting imposter syndrome for a greater sense of belonging and inclusivity. Neha shares why many DEIB initiatives fail, the importance of non-homogenous leadership and addressing employee pain points, and the tried-and-true strategies for cultivating belonging on an organizational and individual level.

Andrew Laver is a Business Development Manager for Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, a national law firm with a reputation for providing progressive, industry-leading legal, business, regulatory, and government relations advice to clients. He's also the Treasurer-Elect for the Legal Marketing Association's Board of Directors.

Before becoming the Treasurer-Elect, Andrew held other positions with the Legal Marketing Association (LMA). He was the President of the Metropolitan Philadelphia chapter, the Co-chair for the LMA Governance Committee, and the Co-chair for the 2019 LMA Annual Conference Advisory Committee. In these roles, he served as an advocate for advancing the industry and legal marketing professionals.

As a legal marketing and business development executive with over 25 years of experience, Andrew knows what it takes to build a team, develop procedures, and find innovative solutions. Since the pandemic hit, Andrew has been transforming his personal and professional spaces. He's taking advantage of new opportunities, finding the motivation to attain his goals, and bringing fresh ideas to elevate proven strategies.

How can you blend existing principles with new ideas to achieve your personal and professional goals?

As a business development executive and father of two, Andrew Laver initiated significant changes in his professional and personal life at the start of the pandemic. With the opportunity to step away from work now and then, Andrew found the motivation to run a 15K, stick to his fitness goals, and discover strategies to stand out in the workplace. According to Andrew, transforming your life doesn't require a reinvention of the wheel. You just need to take old ideas and put a new spin on them, reshaping the ideas to work best for you or your clients.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge Podcast, Elise Holtzman interviews Andrew Laver, Business Development Manager at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC and Treasurer-Elect of the Legal Marketing Association. Andrew shares the inspirational story behind his 15K race, the opportunities legal professionals can take to differentiate themselves, and how to combine proven principles with fresh ideas to transform any area of your life.

Tim Corcoran is a keynote speaker, author, legal commentator, and the Principal of Corcoran Consulting Group.

Tim is also a Trustee and Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management, former President of the Legal Marketing Association and a member of its Hall of Fame, an American Lawyer Research Fellow, a Teaching Fellow at the Australian College of Law's Master in Legal Business program, and a frequent presenter at lawyer retreats and legal conferences.

Tim's mission is to guide law firms and leaders through the profitable disruption of outdated business models — including compensation. With over two decades as a senior corporate executive and a deep understanding of the psychology and economics of change, he knows how to navigate challenging discussions masterfully using actionable advice.

Many compensation models were put into place generations ago — and haven't been updated since. Why is it so important to adjust your compensation plan with the evolving industry, and how can you transition?

The market is changing, forcing law firms of all sizes to demonstrate their expertise in order to sell against steeper competition. Nowadays, compensation should be based more on an individual's skillsets and contributions — rather than seniority. Although a compensation model is not a one-size-fits-all approach, your firm should be looking to reward innovation and talented employees who are winning more work for the company. Fortunately, Tim Corcoran says adjusting a compensation plan is not as complicated as you might think.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge Podcast, Elise Holtzman is joined by Tim Corcoran, Principal at Corcoran Consulting Group, to talk about the best ways your firm can update its compensation model. Tim discusses the outdated compensation methods — and why it's important to evolve with the market, changes that impact how law firms should compensate, and where to begin when looking to update your model.

Katie Larkin-Wong is an Associate General Counsel in the Competition and Regulatory Team for Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Reality Labs.

Before joining Meta, Katie spent nearly a decade at Latham & Watkins. She has also held internships at The State of Illinois - Department of Child and Family Services and the US District Court, where she provided support for various legal cases.

Throughout her entire career, Katie has been a champion for diversity and inclusion. She was on the board of directors at Ms. JD, was appointed to the American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession, and was on the board and Chair of Women's Recruitment for The Associates Committee. Katie is now a voice for many underrepresented lawyers, promoting the advancement of women and minorities in the legal industry.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts have been a growing topic as people realize the urgency for change. So how can you play an active role in this change and help the legal industry develop?

Katie Larkin-Wong, who has been working diligently to promote the advancement of minority groups in the legal space, knows precisely how you can move the needle. Whether you're a senior partner, a young lawyer, or anyone in between, Katie says listening to the community and hearing their needs is vital to drive change. The systemic issues may be significant, but as long as you focus on small steps, you'll make an impact and help push the industry forward.

On this episode of The Lawyer's Edge Podcast, Elise Holtzman converses with Katie Larkin-Wong, Associate General Counsel in the Competition and Regulatory Team for Meta. Together, they talk about tips for promoting the advancement of women — and other minorities — in law. Katie emphasizes the importance of building a strong community, creating space for underrepresented voices, and issuing an invitation to get a range of people involved in change.

David Kamien is the CEO of Mind-Alliance Systems, which develops software solutions to improve law firms' marketing, business development, and knowledge management.

David has over 25 years of experience delivering consulting and technology solutions to global law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, and NGOs. Through his firm, David offers a weekly newsletter on legal technology and innovation, which is read by hundreds of innovation and knowledge management professionals.

David believes that in-house counsel and their outside law firms and service providers need to share information continuously in order to mitigate legal risk proactively. That's why he created Mind-Alliance Systems — to build knowledge hubs for lawyers and their firms so they can facilitate a shared situational awareness.

Why are law firms struggling to collaborate effectively across all people and departments? The answer may lie in a firm's technological solutions and processes.

According to David Kamien, collaboration is often a challenge for law firms because information is not widely — and quickly — accessible. Luckily, Mind-Alliance Systems has a solution that uses machine learning and AI technology to filter news and alerts and pull up relevant information to further knowledge sharing. Their system also offers smart folders with various filters, which is an accessible tool that holds everything a firm knows (and wants to know) about a client. What other developments can help your firm communicate, collaborate, and drive the bottom line?

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge Podcast, Elise Holtzman talks with David Kamien, CEO of Mind-Alliance Systems, about investing in solutions to improve business development. David discusses how knowledge sharing is beneficial to firms, the importance of analyzing data to identify growth potential, and the key roles your firm might be missing. David also shares how Mind-Alliance Systems can help your firm work more efficiently, collaborate across areas, and act on a shared solution!

Anca Munteanu is the Marketing Director at Moses & Singer LLP, a firm that provides legal services to prominent companies, individuals, and families. In this role, Anca is responsible for overseeing all aspects of marketing and business development.

Anca has a long successful track record of driving growth and building a corporate brand, with expertise in strategic marketing, niche and industry marketing, marketing training for professionals, among many other areas. Before joining Moses & Singer, Anca was a Marketing Director for NRI, Citrin Cooperman, Mahoney Cohen & Company, and Lazar Levine & Felix LLP.

Not even her 25 years of industry experience could prepare Anca for what would happen in 2020: the global pandemic. On top of that, Anca encountered severe health issues that heavily impacted her work and personal life. However, she turned these misfortunes around to shift her priorities, strengthen relationships, and put health first.

Across the globe, people have seen their work-life change due to the pandemic. But are these changes permanent? And how do you seek out the good when catastrophe strikes?

For Anca Munteanu, it's all about strengthening relationships, putting self-care first, and using passion to drive your work. In addition to the shock of a global pandemic, Anca had to undergo brain surgery at the beginning of 2020. This event forced her to reflect and shift her priorities. Instead of overworking herself, Anca found that it benefitted everyone (clients included) to implement a more wellness-centered work-life balance. Her advice to lawyers? Don't put off the health of yourself, your clients, and your business when a crisis hits — use it to deepen the connection of your network and lift each other up.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge Podcast, Elise Holtzman is joined by Anca Munteanu, the Marketing Director at Moses & Singer, to talk about turning crisis into opportunity. Anca shares her personal story of turning a health scare into powerful personal development, how to continue developing amidst the pandemic, and the value of integrating wellness practices into your daily life.

Emily Hirsekorn is a Career Confidence Coach at Hirsekorn Coaching, where she helps lawyers and law students confidently navigate their careers, develop as conscious leaders, and live balanced lives.

After practicing law, Emily quickly moved into law school career development, where she helped hundreds of mid-career and emerging lawyers navigate their careers and confidence over the course of seven years. In January of 2020, she felt compelled to coach others in transforming their lives, so she created Hirsekorn Coaching. Since then, she's helped countless people make decisions consciously and confidently.

Emily's work is rooted in Positive Psychology's hope theory and iPEC's energy leadership principles, designed to help people shift their energy and start to live on their terms. Whether you're figuring out the next steps in your law career, battling self-doubt, or looking to develop a healthy work-life balance, Emily knows precisely how to guide you through any stage of your career.

When you're feeling imposter syndrome or self-doubt creep in, it may be time to focus on a critical element of success: confidence. Building this trait is easier said than done, but Emily Hirsekorn is here to guide you through her strategies. So, what can you do to eliminate self-doubt, boost confidence, and grow your legal career?

Lawyers tend to stay in their comfort zones and avoid taking risks, but this can leave many feeling unsatisfied with their career growth — or lack thereof. No matter the stage of your career, when your confidence wanes and you're feeling stuck, Emily says it's vital to shift your mindset. Recognize the opportunities in front of you, acknowledge the small wins, and let that energize your confidence. To effectively initiate change, you have to gain a fresh perspective about learning and growth: the unknown can be exciting.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge Podcast, Elise Holtzman sits down with Emily Hirsekorn, Career Confidence Coach at Hirsekorn Coaching, to talk about why confidence matters. Emily shares how lacking confidence impacts performance, why it's essential to root yourself in a set of values, and her five strategies to boost confidence and achieve the career you desire.

Debbie Epstein Henry is a consultant, podcast host, best-selling author, and public speaker. She is the Founder of DEH Consulting, Speaking, Writing. For the last 20 years, Debbie has traveled across the globe to consult with companies, law and professional service firms, nonprofits, bar associations, law schools, and individuals. She's had engagements in The Hague, the French Senate, London, Vienna, and many other cities.

Debbie's work has been featured in The New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR. In October 2020, she launched her podcast Inspiration Loves Company, where she explores how to do better in life, work, and everything in-between.

Debbie is an expert speaker on careers, workplaces, women, and law. She's a longtime advocate for people in the legal industry who feel buried by their careers. Through her consulting and speaking engagements, Debbie's empowering those who are historically stigmatized to discover new opportunities and enter back into their profession in a healthy manner.

The legal profession has a reputation for being overly traditional and, although change comes, it can often feel painfully slow. Under those circumstances, what can progressive, forward-thinking lawyers do to encourage the shift away from conventional, and often outdated, behaviors and policies?

Early in Debbie Epstein Henry's career, she had a serious health scare. Instead of surrendering to the fear, she used the experience to confront the fragility of life and generate change. Debbie began taking more risks and shaping the career she desired. Once she reached out to lawyers in her local area, she realized she was not alone in her desire for an industry transformation. So, Debbie took a plunge and began following her passion for guiding others through work-life issues — building up her 150-person network to over 10,000 lawyers across the nation.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge Podcast, Elise Holtzman is joined by Debbie Epstein Henry, consultant, podcast host, author, speaker, and Founder of DEH Consulting, Speaking, Writing. Together, they discuss work-life challenges in the industry, how to take more risks, and what you can do to bring more value to your firm. Plus, Debbie shares how she's reshaping the style of leadership and embracing vulnerability.

Stephen Seckler is a seasoned marketing coach, career coach, and legal recruiter. He is the President of Seckler Attorney Coaching, where he advises attorneys on how to advance their careers and coaches them to take action towards their goals.

Stephen has over 25 years of experience working with hundreds of partners, associates, and in-house counsel. He has been the Author of the blog Counsel to Counsel since 2005 and more recently started the Counsel to Counsel Podcast, where he interviews leading attorneys and consultants.

Stephen founded The Next Stage coaching program to help senior lawyers determine what comes next. Succession planning can be challenging, especially for lawyers whose passion and purpose is their career, but Stephen knows precisely how to work with them and help them discover opportunities in life outside of their firms.

There's a bottleneck in the law firm environment because senior lawyers no longer want to retire. However, reluctance to succession planning can be a strategic mistake for lawyers and their firms. So what are the consequences of not planning for succession? And how can senior attorneys find the drive to prepare for their exit?

Succession planning allows lawyers to make sure that the firm they have today continues to exist in the future with the same — or more — strength. If you don't take the opportunity to plan for succession, clients may leave, behind the scenes lawyers may go, and your firm will cease to exist. Stephen Seckler, an expert and coach in succession planning, reminds us that leaving a firm is not the end of the world. There are so many opportunities out there for senior lawyers, and your firm will be better off when it's prepared for your exit.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge Podcast, Elise Holtzman talks with Stephen Seckler, President of Seckler Attorney Coaching, about the best practices for succession planning. Stephen shares why succession planning is essential, how senior lawyers can overcome their fears of retirement and help their firms transition, and the value of mentorship and peer-to-peer conversations. Stay tuned!