The Lawyer's Edge

Scott Tiedemann first joined Liebert Cassidy Whitmore as an associate in 2000 and became a partner in 2004. When his tenure as managing partner concludes on September 30th of this year, he will be focusing his energies again full-time on his practice representing public safety agencies and building the firm's private investigations practice.

Melanie Chaney is an experienced labor negotiator and litigator and served as the managing partner of the Los Angeles office before moving into her new role managing firm-wide. She is taking over as managing partner of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, a firm of about 115 lawyers in five offices focused on representing public agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofits across California in their labor, employment, and education matters.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ABOUT SEAMLESS LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION

Most law firms struggle with leadership transitions, often waiting until the last minute to prepare a new managing partner (and creating chaos in the process). But Liebert Cassidy Whitmore has cracked the code on seamless succession planning. Since 1980, they've successfully managed four leadership transitions, each with a 15-year tenure, through a deliberate process that includes a full year of co-managing and a "long runway" for preparation.

Scott Tiedemann and Melanie Chaney reveal the secrets behind their firm's remarkable stability and growth from 40 to 115 attorneys. They share how their "firm first" philosophy, consensus-based decision making, and seven core values create a culture where everyone is "rowing in the same direction."

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge podcast, Elise Holtzman speaks with Scott and Melanie about their proven approach to leadership succession planning and what it really takes to build a partnership that works.

2:46 - How Liebert Cassidy Whitmore approaches leadership succession planning

7:26 - The consensus-based process for selecting the next managing partner

9:52 - What qualities the firm looks for in a managing partner (hint: it's not the "hard skills")

12:19 - Melanie's journey from "this wasn't my plan" to embracing leadership

16:32 - The specific steps they took during the co-managing transition year

18:20 - What has kept the firm stable and thriving for over 40 years

20:41 - The "firm first" culture and how founding partners gave up ownership for the next generation

23:53 - How they handle culture fit issues and removing people who don't align with values

26:27 - The top challenges facing growing law firms: AI and remote work culture

29:52 - Advice for law firms seeking to strengthen their partnership

34:30 - The importance of repeatedly discussing firm values at every meeting

39:37 - What Scott and Melanie have learned from each other

42:38 - Final advice: keeping your North Star and learning to delegate effectively

MENTIONED IN PASSING THE TORCH: TIPS FOR SEAMLESS LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION

Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

Connect with Scott Tiedemann on LinkedIn

Get connected with the coaching team: [email protected]

The Lawyer's Edge

SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE...

Today's episode is brought to you by the coaching team at The Lawyer's Edge, a training and coaching firm that has been focused exclusively on lawyers and law firms since 2008. Each member of The Lawyer's Edge coaching team is a trained, certified, and experienced professional coach—and either a former practicing attorney or a former law firm marketing and business development professional.

Whatever your professional objectives, our coaches can help you achieve your goals more quickly, more easily, and with significantly less stress.

To get connected with your coach, just email the team at [email protected].

Sandra Cohen is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Cohen & Buckmann, which specializes in executive compensation, employee benefits and pensions. Her firm is nearly ten years old and is highly ranked in Chambers USA Guide and The Legal 500, no small achievement for a young, small boutique firm. She is a frequent author and speaker and is a former adjunct professor at NYU Law School, where she taught pension law to the next generation of employee benefits lawyers. She's a big believer that although her business has a bench of deep expertise and scholarship, it's really relationships and referrals that built her firm.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ABOUT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT THAT ACTUALLY WORKS

Starting your own law firm takes much more than being a good lawyer, including the willingness and ability to master business development skills that many lawyers find intimidating or distasteful. But what if effective business development isn't about sales pitches or aggressive marketing? What if it's really about making friends and building genuine relationships over time?

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge podcast, Elise Holtzman sits down with Sandra Cohen, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Cohen & Buckmann. Sandra shares how she built her practice through relationships rather than traditional sales tactics, the power of content marketing for credibility-building, and why business development is like "watering a tree," slow, steady, and requiring patience for long-term growth.

Sandra also discusses practical strategies for thought leadership (even for younger lawyers who think they don't have anything original to say), the importance of peer networking groups, and how giving away business can actually strengthen your referral network.

2:23 - Sandra's transition from large law firms to starting her own boutique practice 5:21 - How to track referrals and understand where your clients really come from 6:19 - The role of content marketing and thought leadership in building credibility 8:39 - Why lawyers need to show what they know, not just know it 11:41 - Advice for younger lawyers intimidated by "thought leadership" 15:04 - Getting started with writing: "Two big mistakes" instead of treatises 16:16 - How Sandra got involved in speaking opportunities through bar associations 18:01 - The power of repurposing content and LinkedIn for visibility 19:17 - Sandra's advice for senior lawyers: "Don't stumble over something that's behind you" 23:19 - The "know, like, trust, and remember" framework for relationship building 25:47 - Building peer groups that turn into 22-year referral relationships 27:21 - The power of giving away business to build your network 29:16 - How social media creates "top-of-mind awareness" for referrals 32:26 - Why business development for sophisticated practices is a long game 34:34 - Finding your audience: being in rooms full of people with problems you can solve

MENTIONED IN THE LONG GAME OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT THAT ACTUALLY WORKS

Cohen & Buckmann | LinkedIn

Get connected with the coaching team: [email protected]

The Lawyer's Edge

SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE...

Today's episode is brought to you by the coaching team at The Lawyer's Edge, a training and coaching firm that has been focused exclusively on lawyers and law firms since 2008. Each member of The Lawyer's Edge coaching team is a trained, certified, and experienced professional coach—and either a former practicing attorney or a former law firm marketing and business development professional.

Whatever your professional objectives, our coaches can help you achieve your goals more quickly, more easily, and with significantly less stress.

To get connected with your coach, just email the team at [email protected].

Anthony M. DeSimone is a leading advocate for integrating generative AI into the legal profession, specializing in helping law firms harness AI to enhance efficiency, profitability, and client service. With more than 25 years of experience as a CPA and CMA, Anthony began his career at Deloitte before transitioning to focus on business optimization. Today, he operates "You're the Expert Now, LLC" and serves as a faculty member at the University at Buffalo Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

In addition to delivering keynote presentations at national conferences, Tony leads AI accelerator courses and shares insights through his YouTube channel and podcast, "AI Mastermind." His groundbreaking work, including publishing a book in under 24 hours and producing AI-generated illustrations, underscores his expertise at the intersection of AI, data, and legal practice.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ON AI STRATEGY FOR LAW FIRMS

Many law firms are intrigued by AI, but unsure how to move forward. Questions about confidentiality, security risks, and the reliability of AI tools leave many lawyers hesitant, and expose firms to risks they don't fully understand.

But AI isn't about replacing lawyers. It's about amplifying their capabilities while safeguarding client trust. Firms that learn how to integrate AI strategically will not only protect sensitive data but also position themselves for greater efficiency, profitability, and resilience in a changing legal landscape.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge Podcast, Elise Holtzman talks with Anthony DeSimone, a CPA, CMA, and AI strategist who advises law firms on safe and effective AI adoption. Tony shares practical insights on the risks lawyers can't afford to ignore, how to train teams to use AI responsibly, and how the right AI strategy can streamline firm operations without sacrificing security or professionalism.

2:10 – How law firms are approaching AI today — early adopters versus laggards

4:20 – The hidden risks when lawyers use AI tools without firm oversight

6:00 – What AI hallucinations are and why they matter for law firms

8:42 – Practical ways lawyers are using AI now — drafting, research, and more

13:14 – How to safeguard client confidentiality when using AI

17:23 – The leadership role in encouraging smart AI experimentation

21:35 – Why large language models struggle with numbers and how that impacts legal work

24:50 – What's next — how AI will reshape law firm operations in the next five years

MENTIONED IN ANTHONY DESIMONE | MAKING AI WORK FOR YOUR LAW FIRM WITHOUT COMPROMISING SECURITY OR EXCELLENCE

You're the Expert Now, LLC | LinkedIn

AI Usage Policy Maker

Managing Partner Forum

Get connected with the coaching team: [email protected]

The Lawyer's Edge

SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE…

Today's episode is brought to you by the coaching team at The Lawyer's Edge, a training and coaching firm that has been focused exclusively on lawyers and law firms since 2008. Each member of The Lawyer's Edge coaching team is a trained, certified, and experienced professional coach—and either a former practicing attorney or a former law firm marketing and business development professional.

Whatever your professional objectives, our coaches can help you achieve your goals more quickly, more easily, and with significantly less stress.

To get connected with your coach, just email the team at [email protected].

Talk to any senior partner in a law firm, and you're likely to get a complaint or snide comment about the younger generation of lawyers being lazier, more entitled, and less interested in making partner or assuming leadership roles than their predecessors. On the flip side, some younger lawyers will be all too happy to tell you that senior lawyers are overly demanding, can't respect boundaries, won't share origination credit, and refuse to cede any responsibility or authority to those coming up behind them.

Generational differences are real. They are significant. And they are impacting both how law firms operate today and how they will be governed in the future.

Chris DeSantis is a speaker, author, and consultant specializing in workplace interventions. With nearly 30 years of experience as an independent organizational behavior consultant, Chris is a trusted partner to some of the world's largest companies in the professional services, tech, and pharmaceutical industries. When working with clients, his goals are to dig deeper, treat the root causes, and offer user-friendly solutions aligned with company initiatives.

Before becoming an independent consultant, Chris was the Director of Management Development and Training for the American Medical Association and a Human Resources Development Manager at Brunswick Corporation. Chris has a BBA from the University of Notre Dame, an MA in organizational behavior from Loyola University in Chicago, and an MBA from the University of Denver.

Chris is the Author of Why I Find You Irritating: Navigating Generational Friction at Work. He's also the Host of the Cubicle Confidential podcast, where he and Co-host Mary Abbajay share advice on outrageous workplace questions, comments, and concerns.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ON NAVIGATING GENERATIONAL FRICTION AT WORK

Many law firm leaders are grappling with generational tensions that quietly undermine collaboration, leadership development, and retention. But these conflicts aren't simply about age, they're rooted in deeper divides over authority, feedback, and what lawyers expect from the workplace.

Chris DeSantis, speaker, consultant, and author of Why I Find You Irritating: Navigating Generational Friction at Work, has spent his career helping organizations navigate workplace dynamics, and now helps law firm leaders understand how generational habits and mindsets can create hidden friction.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge, Chris joins Elise Holtzman to unpack how law firm hierarchies clash with younger lawyers' expectations of dialogue and inclusion. He shares why traditional "figure it out" leadership no longer works, and how shifting to a culture of open conversation can reduce friction, boost engagement, and strengthen leadership pipelines.

2:43 – Why law firm leaders can't ignore generational friction. Chris shares the challenges that inspired him to write his book.

4:55 – How generalizations shape perceptions and create blind spots in the workplace.

7:43 – The four generations in today's workforce and how their life experiences influence expectations at work.

11:02 – How different parenting models have shaped generational behaviors and workplace dynamics.

14:06 – Why younger attorneys struggle in tell-do workplaces, and how leaders can shift to an engage-discuss model.

19:02 – The hidden reasons adjacent generations experience the most friction, and how leaders can help defuse the tension.

26:01 – How gender, hierarchy, and generational differences collide in law firm environments.

33:10 – What leaders can do to foster dialogue over directives. Chris explains why this approach drives better performance and retention.

MENTIONED IN WHY I FIND YOU IRRITATING: NAVIGATING GENERATIONAL FRICTION AT WORK

Chris DeSantis | Chris DeSantis on LinkedIn

Cubicle Confidential Podcast

Why I Find You Irritating: Navigating Generational Friction at Work by Chris DeSantis

Different: Escaping the Competitive Herd by Youngme Moon

Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect by Matthew D. Lieberman

Mary Abbajay on The Lawyer's Edge Podcast

Get connected with the coaching team: [email protected]

The Lawyer's Edge

SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE…

Today's episode is brought to you by the coaching team at The Lawyer's Edge, a training and coaching firm that has been focused exclusively on lawyers and law firms since 2008. Each member of The Lawyer's Edge coaching team is a trained, certified, and experienced professional coach—and either a former practicing attorney or a former law firm marketing and business development professional.

Whatever your professional objectives, our coaches can help you achieve your goals more quickly, more easily, and with significantly less stress.

To get connected with your coach, just email the team at [email protected].

Sophie Lechner is a former practicing lawyer turned business coach, speaker, and author with two decades of LinkedIn expertise. She helps mission-driven professionals turn marketing from a chore into a joy, enabling them to attract clients like a magnet rather than chase them down. Sophie is the creator of The MAGNET Model, a framework that simplifies client attraction and relationship-building on LinkedIn.

She has spoken globally, including at Oxford University, and has been featured in Forbes. Her corporate background spans industry leaders such as BP, Pfizer, and Bayer. Sophie recently published her new book, Unlock Your Impact, where she shares her proven client-attraction framework.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ON LINKEDIN STRATEGY FOR LAWYERS

Many lawyers feel uneasy about marketing, and even more uncertain about how to use LinkedIn effectively. Misconceptions about self-promotion, limited time, and discomfort with visibility often prevent lawyers from showing up online in a meaningful way.

But LinkedIn isn't about shouting the loudest. It's about building genuine relationships, sharing valuable insights, and establishing credibility in the professional community you serve.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge podcast, Elise Holtzman speaks with Sophie Lechner, a former lawyer and business coach who helps professionals attract clients with purpose and authenticity using her proprietary MAGNET Model. Sophie shares practical, sustainable strategies for lawyers to show up on LinkedIn consistently, whether you're ready to create original content or prefer to engage thoughtfully with others. She also explains how to tailor your presence so it reflects your values, highlights your expertise, and fosters long-term client relationships.

2:10 – Sophie's international background and transition from lawyer to business coach 5:06 – Why she left law—and how disillusionment led to reinvention 9:22 – Why many lawyers feel uncomfortable marketing themselves 11:33 – Why LinkedIn is the best platform for relationship-based professionals 14:13 – A realistic time commitment for meaningful LinkedIn engagement 17:21 – The power of content curation (if you don't want to post your own!) 21:46 – The must-have profile updates lawyers often overlook 25:14 – An introduction to The MAGNET Model and what makes it work

MENTIONED IN SOPHIE LECHNER | LEVERAGE THE POWER OF LINKEDIN WITH THE MAGNET MODEL

Sophie Lechner | LinkedIn

Unlock Your Impact - Sophie Lechner

Get connected with the coaching team: [email protected]

The Lawyer's Edge

SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE…

Today's episode is brought to you by the coaching team at The Lawyer's Edge, a training and coaching firm that has been focused exclusively on lawyers and law firms since 2008. Each member of The Lawyer's Edge coaching team is a trained, certified, and experienced professional coach—and either a former practicing attorney or a former law firm marketing and business development professional.

Whatever your professional objectives, our coaches can help you achieve your goals more quickly, more easily, and with significantly less stress.

To get connected with your coach, just email the team at [email protected].

Jennifer Gardner is a Los Angeles-based trial lawyer and persuasive communications consultant. Her three-decade career spans entertainment litigation, serious criminal cases, and business and real estate disputes.

Jennifer teaches high-performing professionals how to grow their influence, impact, and executive presence through her programs The Art of Influence and The Power Lab. She also consults lawyers on courtroom presence and strategic messaging, and delivers CLE workshops including Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins and How You Can Have Bad Facts and Bad Law and Still Win Your Case.

She has received Certifications in Influence and Persuasion, Leadership, and Using Neuroscience to Obtain Better Business Results from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ABOUT THE ART AND SCIENCE OF INFLUENCE TO BE A MORE PERSUASIVE LAWYER

What separates a good lawyer from a truly persuasive one? According to trial lawyer and communications consultant Jennifer Gardner, it's the ability to harness both the art and science of influence. Mastering persuasion isn't just about confidence or charisma, it's about emotional intelligence, neuroscience, and your ability to create real human connection.

Jennifer draws on decades of courtroom experience and advanced training in storytelling, behavior, and communication to help lawyers tap into their full persuasive potential. She shares how legal professionals can elevate their impact by learning to regulate emotions, read others more effectively, and challenge the cultural norms that prioritize intellect over influence.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge Podcast, Elise Holtzman talks with Jennifer about how to become a more powerful communicator, why emotions drive decision-making, and what it takes to lead in a way that's both strategic and authentic.

2:03 – What sparked Jennifer's pursuit of influence and persuasion

4:49 – How early messaging shaped her sense of power and self-expression

7:23 – The neuroscience behind why storytelling works

10:02 – Lawyers as leaders and why emotions matter more than logic

11:53 – Why Jennifer launched The Art of Influence and The Power Lab

14:02 – Cultural programming and lawyers' resistance to emotion

17:01 – How to start developing persuasive power

20:23 – What marketers know about influence that lawyers need to learn

Mentioned In Using the Art and Science of Influence to Be a More Persuasive Lawyer

Jennifer B. Gardner | LinkedIn

Chris DeSantis | Why I Find You Irritating: Navigating Generational Friction at Work

Get Connected with The Coaching Team at [email protected]

The Lawyer's Edge

SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE…

This episode is brought to you by the coaching team at The Lawyer's Edge, a training and coaching firm that has been focused exclusively on lawyers and law firms since 2008. Each member of the team is a trained, certified, and experienced professional coach—and either a former practicing attorney or a former law firm marketing and business development professional.

Whatever your professional objectives, our coaches can help you achieve your goals more quickly, more easily, and with significantly less stress.

To get connected with your coach, email the team at [email protected].

Coaching is often misunderstood in the legal profession. It's not about giving advice, cheerleading, or fixing a problem. It's about creating space for clarity, growth, and meaningful change. In this solo episode, Elise Holtzman shares what lawyers need to know about professional coaching, including how it works, when it's most effective, and how law firms are using it to support top talent.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge, Elise draws on her experience as a certified coach and former practicing attorney as she explains how coaching helps high-performing lawyers overcome both internal and external barriers, sharpen leadership and business development skills, and follow through on the goals that matter most. She also outlines what a typical coaching engagement looks like, what results attorneys can realistically expect, and why experience inside the legal profession makes such a difference in the coaching relationship.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ABOUT COACHING FOR LAWYERS

1:14 – Why this episode is all about answering lawyers' most common coaching questions

2:00 – What coaching really is—and how it helps you clarify goals and overcome obstacles

4:27 – Coaching vs. consulting, mentoring, and training: Understanding the differences

6:25 – The importance of customization and implementation in coaching

7:57 – Is coaching a licensed profession? What credentials actually mean

12:24 – Who coaching is really for, and why top lawyers are increasingly embracing it

14:17 – How coaching engagements typically work at The Lawyer's Edge

19:37 – What kind of results can you expect from coaching (and what to avoid)

22:30 – Why coaching lawyers requires legal industry experience

26:03 – How to explore coaching for yourself or your team

MENTIONED IN COACHING FOR LAWYERS: WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT ISN'T, AND WHY IT WORKS

International Coaching Federation (ICF) Get Connected with The Coaching Team at [email protected] The Lawyer's Edge

SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE…

This episode is brought to you by the coaching team at The Lawyer's Edge, a training and coaching firm that has been focused exclusively on lawyers and law firms since 2008. Each member of the team is a trained, certified, and experienced professional coach—and either a former practicing attorney or a former law firm marketing and business development professional.

Whatever your professional objectives, our coaches can help you achieve your goals more quickly, more easily, and with significantly less stress.

To get connected with your coach, fill out our contact form.

Pat Gillette is one of the country's leading voices on gender equity in the legal profession. A seasoned employment litigator, rainmaker, and law firm leader, Pat spent 40 years in practice before shifting her focus to empowering women lawyers through speaking, writing, and consulting. She is a sought-after advisor on advancing women and diverse attorneys in leadership and business development.

During her legal career, Pat was recognized as a top employment litigator and trial lawyer by Chambers and other industry rankings. She served as a rainmaker and firm leader before leaving Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in 2015 to devote herself to changing the legal landscape for women. She also joined JAMS as a mediator, bringing her deep expertise to complex employment disputes.

Pat is the author of Rainmakers: Born or Bred, a research-based exploration of the characteristics that drive successful business development in law firms. Beyond her work in practice, she co-founded the Opt-In Project, a national initiative designed to increase the retention and advancement of women in law firms. She was also part of the 2016 Diversity Lab Hackathon team that developed the Mansfield Rule.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ABOUT WOMEN AS RAINMAKERS AND LAW FIRM LEADERS

For many women in Biglaw, the message has long been you can be a rainmaker or a leader, but not both. Pat Gillette disagrees.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge, Elise Holtzman sits down with Pat Gillette to discuss why women lawyers must advocate for themselves, step into leadership, and take control of their careers. Drawing on her decades of experience and groundbreaking research on rainmakers, Pat unpacks the systemic barriers that hold women back, the myths about business development, and the practical strategies women can use to break through.

She shares why firms must do more than talk about diversity—they must remove the structural obstacles that keep women from developing business and taking on leadership roles. She also reveals how women can successfully build books of business while balancing other responsibilities.

2:02 – Pat's legal career and why she transitioned from practice to advocacy 6:21 – The slow evolution of gender equity in law firms—and what still needs to change 8:09 – The hidden structural barriers that impact women's rainmaking potential 10:55 – How the Mansfield Rule is redefining leadership opportunities in law firms 14:00 – The biggest misconception about business development—and why women are built for it 19:36 – How prioritization and compartmentalization are key to long-term success 22:43 – Why women must actively seek mentorship and sponsorship 27:05 – The simple but powerful career advice Pat gives every woman lawyer: Just ask!

MENTIONED IN JUST ASK! HOW WOMEN CAN SUCCEED AS RAINMAKERS AND LAW FIRM LEADERS

Pat Gillette | Pat Gillette on LinkedIn Rainmakers: Born or Bred by Patricia K. Gillette

Get Connected with The Coaching Team at [email protected]

SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE…

Today's episode is brought to you by the Ignite Women's Business Development Accelerator, a 9-month business development program created BY women lawyers for women lawyers. Ignite is a carefully designed business development program containing content, coaching, and a community of like-minded women who are committed to becoming rainmakers AND supporting the retention and advancement of other women in the profession.

Early Bird Registration is now underway for our 2025 Ignite cohorts. If you are interested in either participating in the program or sponsoring a woman in your firm to enroll, learn more about Ignite and sign up for our registration alerts by visiting www.thelawyersedge.com/ignite.

Denise Baker is a Co-Managing Partner of one of Canada's oldest and most prestigious firms, WeirFoulds. In addition to that role, she advises on complex municipal and land use planning law issues that appear before multiple courts and tribunals. She also participates in mediations and negotiations to effectively resolve disputes before they get to court.

Denise chairs numerous land use and municipal law-related committees, including serving as a past chair of the municipal law section of the Ontario Bar Association. She speaks frequently for organizations like the Law Society of Ontario, the Ontario Professional Planners Institute, and the Ontario Bar Association, and has been teaching land use law for years. She's repeatedly recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada, in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, and is ranked by Chambers Canada.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ABOUT LEADING A LAW FIRM

As a managing partner of a law firm who still maintains a busy legal practice, you often have to wear many hats, such as leading your firm, making critical decisions, managing different personalities, and ensuring top-tier client service. Connecting with peers who share similar challenges can be invaluable. This is what drew Denise Baker to the Managing Partner Forum's conference at the end of 2024, where she and Elise Holtzman, the host of The Lawyer's Edge podcast, met as faculty members.

In this episode, Elise speaks with Denise about the pressing issues, tough decisions, and key leadership lessons she has encountered as a law firm leader. Denise discusses the challenges of training and motivating lawyers, the evolving role of AI in legal practice, the decision to adopt a co-managing partner structure, and the critical importance of addressing toxic behavior within a firm.

3:36 – Key issues that managing partners and law firm leaders face today 6:13 – Use of AI and the importance of carefully weaving it into legal practices 11:48 – Why WeirFoulds decided to adopt the fairly new co-managing partner framework 15:41 – The importance of balancing management responsibilities while in a busy practice 17:28 – How Denise has evolved as a leader since becoming co-managing partner 19:56 – The challenge of managing difficult people and why dealing with toxic behavior in your firm is a necessity 31:01 – Denise's final piece of advice that can pay dividends for your organization's culture

MENTIONED IN LEADING A LAW FIRM: HOT TOPICS, TOUGH CALLS, AND LEADERSHIP LESSONS

Denise Baker (WeirFoulds LLP) | LinkedIn

WeirFoulds LLP | LinkedIn | YouTube

Managing Partner Forum | Conference Overview

Above the Law

Get Connected with The Coaching Team at [email protected]

The Lawyer's Edge

SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE…

Today's episode is brought to you by the Ignite Women's Business Development Accelerator, a 9-month business development program created BY women lawyers for women lawyers. Ignite is a carefully designed business development program containing content, coaching, and a community of like-minded women who are committed to becoming rainmakers AND supporting the retention and advancement of other women in the profession.

Early Bird Registration is now underway for our 2025 Ignite cohorts. If you are interested in either participating in the program or sponsoring a woman in your firm to enroll, learn more about Ignite and sign up for our registration alerts by visiting www.thelawyersedge.com/ignite.

Christa Brown-Sanford is a partner at Baker Botts in Dallas and chair of its Intellectual Property department. She also serves on the firm's Executive and Diversity and Inclusion committees and is an adjunct professor at SMU's Dedman School of Law, where she speaks regularly on patent matters. At every stage, she provides guidance on patent procurement, patent portfolio development, patent litigation, and patent licensing–particularly involving cutting-edge technologies in telecommunications, blockchain, electronics, AI, semiconductors, software, and personal mobility.

Outside of the office, Christa is actively involved in several organizations in the Dallas community. She's a member of the Charter 100 and Charity Crystal Ball, serves on the advisory board for the State Fair of Texas and the Innovation Council for Southern Methodist University, and serves on the boards of SMU, SMU's Dedman School of Law, Rice University George R. Brown School of Engineering, the Baylor Scott & White Foundation, and New Friends New Life (an organization focused on empowering trafficked women and girls). She was also the President of the Junior League of Dallas during the League's Centennial year and was recently honored as a top rainmaker by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA).

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ABOUT ACHIEVING RAINMAKER SUCCESS

Today, it's common for lawyers to move from firm to firm in search of better opportunities. Whether you're staying put for the long haul or keeping your options open, staying connected to your core motivators and mission can be the key to long-term success—both as a partner and a rainmaker.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge podcast, Elise Holtzman sits down with Christa Sanford, Partner and Intellectual Property Chair at Baker Botts, to talk about the impact of leading with purpose. Christa shares her journey to leadership, her commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, and the pivotal moments that shaped her career. She also reflects on the challenges and rewards of balancing a demanding legal practice with one's personal life—and why staying true to her mission has made all the difference.

2:34 – Why Christa has remained at Baker Botts long-term and what's driven her to take on so many roles 8:57 – The biggest key to Christa developing her business and how she became aware of the rainmaking space 14:31 – The rewards of investing time, money, and energy into business development 17:26 – The factors that helped Christa evolve and step into leadership 21:32 – The low point that changed Christa's approach to failure and perfectionism in business development 28:01 – The challenges Christa faced on her journey to partner and rainmaker as a mom of three young kids 32:25 – Practical advice for building strong client relationships

MENTIONED IN WHY STAYING TRUE TO YOUR MISSION IS CRUCIAL TO ACHIEVING RAINMAKER SUCCESS

Christa Brown-Sanford (Baker Botts) | LinkedIn

Baker Botts LLP | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X | YouTube

Get Connected with The Coaching Team at [email protected]

The Lawyer's Edge

SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE…

Today's episode is brought to you by the Ignite Women's Business Development Accelerator, a 9-month business development program created BY women lawyers for women lawyers. Ignite is a carefully designed business development program containing content, coaching, and a community of like-minded women who are committed to becoming rainmakers AND supporting the retention and advancement of other women in the profession.

Early Bird Registration is now underway for our 2025 Ignite cohorts. If you are interested in either participating in the program or sponsoring a woman in your firm to enroll, learn more about Ignite and sign up for our registration alerts by visiting www.thelawyersedge.com/ignite.