Beyond Billables

Today, our good friend (and powerhouse business mogul), Caralee Fontenele, joins us on the show. Caralee is the director of Scalable Law, a firm helping lawyers grow their business to new heights. She is also the director of Collective Family Law, founded in 2008. But wait – there's more. When she isn't busy running her two firms, Caralee is also a successful podcast host, author, and co-ordinator of business conference Law Biz Con and retreats! Like we said, powerhouse.  During the show, we discuss: How Caralee grew her law firm to multiple 7-figures Why she stated and grew Scaleable law and Caralee's passion for helping other law firms owners The importance of repeatable, scalable process and why that is the secret to a better firm The power of shared experience and enjoying the journey with other business owners Legal and content marketing, podcasting and trying new things Taking the plunge growing the business internationally  Why LawBiz Con was so successful in year 1 and what is to come in year 2 Managing the juggle of family life with multiple businesses

Our guest this week, Mollie Tregillis, coaches clever women to reconnect with themselves and find their own unique ways to thrive in work and life.  Mollie is also a facilitator, strategic advisor, former lawyer, and legal operations director – she's impressively worn many hats in the last few years, with all of her experience driving her passion to help other women.  On the show, we discuss Pursuing a career in law and legal operations What are legal operations, and how can they empower law firms Stress, anxiety, overwhelm and overwork Taking big career leaps Fear of publishing and perfectionism  

Fractional GCs are the rage right now. My awesome guest this week, Celeste Norman, happens to be one of the best!    Celeste owns Rayne Legal, a law firm delivering fractional legal, risk, compliance, and governance to financial services firms. Not just a great lawyer, Celeste deeply understands all commercial drivers of financial services businesses and has set out to create a business to help them launch and grow – in what is a pretty tough regulatory environment.    On the show, we discuss:   What is a fractional GC? Starting your own firm Focusing on your key clients' problems Being proactive and entrepreneurial  Positioning yourself as a trusted expert from the outset Juggling law with being a busy parent The Risk Reward Podcast   

Meet voice coach and public speaking sensation, Sally Prosser.  Sally's mission is simple: to help business owners find their authentic voice, speak with confidence, and land their message clearly.  With several impressive qualifications, including a licentiate diploma in speech & drama teaching, and a bachelor of laws and media communication (majoring in journalism); Sally is more than experienced when it comes to strategic speech. She even spent 8+ years as a TV and radio news reporter for several major networks! On today's show, you will learn: How Sally grew a great personal brand and built an international business on LinkedIn, Tik Tok and Instagram  How to improve your communication to make a greater impact when it's needed How to overcome the communication mental hurdles, manage stress and deal with stage fright  Practical ways to better communicate and hold attention How to empower your team and give them confidence in presenting  Thanks for joining us, Sally!  

If done well and from an authentic place, imagery can completely change the perception and success of your business.  Today, we host the brilliant Kate Karanges, owner of imagery and production agency The Latest. For full disclosure, Kate has taken our images for the last few years – and has also worked with our clients – so we know how significant the impact of her images can be.  This episode, however, is about more than just pretty photos. Kate explains why brand and strategy are vital for professional firms to differentiate themselves from competitors. It isn't just about landing more work; but increasing relatability and trustworthiness. In the end, a trustworthy brand converts more clients and creates a stronger team.  On today's show, you will learn: How to use imagery better to stand out from your competitors  Why you need a clear strategy and great branding to complement your imagery  How to get better results from your social media efforts The time and work it takes to make one beautiful image  Why excellence matters and how to continually pursue it and test yourself  Why you need to be kind to yourself as a business owner How to manage your expectations and maintain a long-term outlook  Managing the family juggle and running a business as a parent    Thanks for joining us, Kate!    At Beyond Billables, we help professional firms with their brand, marketing, and overall strategy. Check us out at https://www.beyondbillables.com/  

Meet John Farren, Partner and Co-Founder of Farren McRae Workplace Lawyers & Consultants – and one of the very best lawyers on LinkedIn! As a leading employment lawyer, John saw the opportunity LinkedIn presented to build relationships and leverage his time. Since then, he has made LinkedIn central to his business success.  John has quite the story, from professional trumpet player to business owner and now leading employment lawyer. John shares openly why he thinks other lawyers need to fully embrace their own stories. What makes John's approach to LinkedIn so noteworthy, is that it is achievable for anyone willing to put in the work. We delve into his strategy, his content creation process, and how others like you can start reaping LinkedIn success.  During the show, you will learn about: How over 50% of John's leads originate from LinkedIn, Practical strategies to grow on LinkedIn for all professionals, Content ideas and batching content, How firms can empower their people to grow their brands, How John and his partner Alison have created a firm culture that rewards success, Why their firm focusses on senior practitioners,  Finances and cash flow, Meditation and exercise   Thanks for joining us, John!  

How come some businesses can scale, and others can't? Have you thought about advertising, but found it all too complex? On today's show, I sat down with Lauren Swidenbank, Founder of Cali Social and owner of Collabosaurus.    Lauren is truly a guru of all things online advertising, so I was excited to pick her brain on your behalf over Google Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn ads and everything in between. We discussed how critical strategy is, the role of content and your wider brand, and how to measure success. Lauren walked me through each step of the process in determining what type of advertising strategy could work, and highlighted some of the key differences between platforms that business owners need to know.    Today you'll learn:   The key basics of Google Search ads and what you need to know The type of ads she uses now to promote Cali Social How Cali Social used advertising to expand internationally  How to evaluate whether an ad campaign is working The importance of strategy and getting your messaging right Why a good ad campaign can take time to bare fruit and the key time frames to be aware of The power of collaboration and how Collabosaurus empowers businesses of all sizes The role of AI in online advertising now and into the future  How Lauren manages to run two businesses and the habits she has had to develop to stay healthy and well.    Thanks for joining us, Lauren!    To find out more about how we help professional services firms with their brand and marketing strategy, brand design, websites and content creation check us out at https://www.beyondbillables.com/  

Meet Leanne Hughes, self-proclaimed ‘thought breeder'; successful business strategist, author and podcaster! Leanne's biggest focus? To have a great business, you need a great team – and Leanne is an expert in helping grow them.  With a background in psychology, and experience working for a range of organisations; Leanne set out on her own as a consultant in 2019 and hasn't looked back. Her joy lies in helping everyday people create extraordinary experiences – for themselves, their teams, and their businesses and communities. Leanne offers 1-1 training with businesses, as well as courses and public speaking appearances.  On today's show, you will learn: - How to identify organisational and cultural issues in your business that are costing you money; - Practical steps to build a great team culture and process; - How Leanne has used LinkedIn to build an international personal brand where 80% of her work is overseas; - Why you should think about starting a podcast and writing a book; - The surprising difference becoming a published author can make;  - How to lean into your strengths and forget about the “haters”; - How great teams “market” themselves internally in organisations; - The power of “frentors” and why business leaders need to lean on their peers.  We're so grateful to have you join us, Leanne!  

Meet Steph Taylor, self-confessed corporate dropout turned online business entrepreneur. Steph is part of the Hubspot network; and the host of the Imperfect Action podcast, with over 800 episodes recorded.   So what does she actually do? Well, in a nutshell, Steph helps her clients build reliably profitable online businesses so they can spend less time on work and gain more time to enjoy their life. Steph's passion lies in helping other business owners and entrepreneurs become self-made superstars, following the same formula she used. If you've ever wanted to build a 7 figure online business, while still being able to live the life you want? Then this episode is for you.   Today, you'll learn:   What to do when you're just starting out in business, How shared purpose and connection can save your business, How to bounce back from a mega flop, Why strategy is so important when launching, The secret to building an engaged community, And so much more!   Thanks for joining us, Steph!   To find out more about how we help professional services firms with their brand and marketing strategy, brand design, websites and content creation check us out at https://www.beyondbillables.com/  

Today's smiling guest is the one and only Jason Malouin. Jason is a creative wizard, founder and incredible portrait photographer at Super Power Portraits. He also happens to be all around one of the most infectiously positive people I know. With his incredible energy and commitment to insanely good photos, Jason helps his clients show up at the top of their game. From portraits in Pennsylvania to being booked and busy in Brisbane Australia, Jason shares his incredible journey and the power of a big hearted commitment to helping real people portray themselves with authenticity, honesty and integrity. Today you'll learn: -How to get more clients by communicating what your real skills are - How to unlock your personal brand super power - Why imagery is so powerful and how to use it to stand out - How to make hard, life changing decisions in business and life - The power of rebranding and refocusing your message - Why everyone hates photos of themselves, and how to overcome it - Why mindset matters and how to get through tough times as a business owner Ever felt a little unsure of your place in the world, and your industry? Know the familiar pangs of imposter syndrome? Buckle up, this episode is for you! Thanks again, Jason!   

Meet Ella Doyle, social media expert and founder of Social Cut agency. Ella may not have intended on being an agency owner, but that's what happened after she was begged to help with a friend's social content over 8 years ago.  Can you build a successful agency by accident? Yes! Are there still heaps of opportunities to grow your business using content? Absolutely! Fast forward 8 years, and Ella has quite the story to tell about growing an agency, surviving Covid and recessions, and all the ups and downs that go into running a business. Social Cut is an organic-first social media content agency. They help a broad range of businesses with content, social media and engagement. To say we covered some ground on this show is an understatement. When you listen you will learn: - Types of content for Instagram and TikTok, - Why professionals shouldn't be scared to make content, - Why you need to be strategic across platforms, - How Ella has never had to advertise because of great social media and SEO, - Why engagement is so important to build community and connection, - How to navigate tough economic times. - How your team comes first and clients second, - Why getting your team involved in your socials is critical, - Some great tools and processes for approaching your social media. Thanks for joining us, Ella! Want to take your business's brand and marketing to the next level? Download our free “better client” audit and identify the areas of opportunity where you can become more profitable and build a better business.  To find out more about how we help professional services firms with their brand and marketing strategy, brand design, websites and content creation check us out at https://www.beyondbillables.com/  

It's our last podcast episode of the current season! This week, we're joined by Dan Mackay and Michael Chapman from Melbourne-based firm Mackay Chapman. Mackay Chapman are high-stakes regulatory, financial services, insolvency and complex disputes lawyers – and they also happen to be two of our long-term, ongoing clients (and friends in business). Specialists at what they do and with 25 years of shared experience, Dan and Michael's work is focussed on understanding how key players in client matters think, feel and act, to provide the strategies and confidence needed to protect their interests.On today's episode, we discuss the journey of building an expert legal services firm while being comfortable in your points of difference. We also analyse the 'on the tools' vs working on your business question; and the realities of managing the lawyer/business/family juggle.

Brad Turville is a strategic advisor who works with business owners to better manage, grow and exit their business – something he successfully did himself before showing others how to do the same. Recently, his work has a specific focus on strategic planning and financial management consulting. Brad's portfolio is impressive, with experience in running workshops and group accountability programs. He can often be found speaking at conferences, strategy days, and virtual events with a focus on profit and cash flow improvement. On today's episode, we take a look at Brad's story; growing his own accounting and advisory firm and successfully exciting. He explains key financial issues for professional businesses, strategic decision making, and the importance of implementing the right tools and technology to help run your business.

Tyrone is an expert in Australian estate planning and wealth protection. He founded firm Empire Law with the goal of helping Australians protect their businesses and secure their wealth so that they may leave a legacy behind for their families. His passion for estate planning and belief that tailored estate planning isn't exclusively for the rich and famous – but for every Australian – is admirable. Tyrone has a talent for translating complicated and daunting legal jargon into plain language that can be understood, and more importantly, easily related to. Join us for a discussion around the importance of protecting your legacy, growing a business as a solo-preneur, evolving your skills and growing over time, taking advantage of the opportunities given to you and trying to make the most of them

Andrew Goldstein is Managing Director and Founder of Goldstein Legal, a boutique legal practice advising and supporting financial services businesses. Andrew's legal background includes several years in private practice with mid and top tier firms, and several years a senior in-house practitioner with Macquarie, Challenger, Australian Ethical and Ardea. Now, his focus is on the legal needs of investment managers, platforms and other regulated investors along with their adjacent counterparties and service providers. On the show we had a great discussion about the role of GC's, the financial services industry as a whole and how Andrew has developed a strong business having ventured out on his own. 

Chris Kondou works alongside driven & passionate CEO's to build financial strategies and unlock business growth. He has lend his guiding hand across a wide range of industries, from professional services, to manufacturing & wholesale.  Chris has recently embarked on his biggest challenge as founder of his own CFO Advisory firm, finding a new passion for business development & entrepreneurship. On the show, we discuss the importance of challenging ourselves both in business and life, how to build a new business from scratch in your 50's, and even get a peak into Chris' marathon training and his view on embracing forced discomfort.

On the show this week, we welcome Tim Whybourne, Managing Partner at Emanuel, Whybourne and Loehr, an investment advisory firm with offices in Sydney and Brisbane.   EW&L have also been an ongoing Beyond Billables client for the last eighteen months.  On the show we discussed Tim's career, how he and the team have grown EW&L, and the challenges all professional services firms face. We also discussed markets broadly and Tim's strategy  Tim has more than 15 years' experience at the sharp end of financial services and planning. His experience has been garnered from more than a decade in financial services including CommSec, FP Markets, UBS Wealth, and Morgan Stanley. Aside from investments, we also discuss building strong client relationships, and tailoring to high net-worth clients. Obviously, nothing discussed in the show should be taken as financial advice at all and all discussions were general in nature. 

Stefanie Costi is a speaker, writer and lawyer whose true passion lies in advocating for a safer and more inclusive future of work. After an experience with bullying left Stef with workplace PTSD, she decided to share her story to help make a real difference. Stef has delivered keynotes on workplace bullying, psychological safety at work and mental health at the National Press Club of Australia, the University of Technology, Sydney and Canva. She has also been a guest speaker at The College of Law Australia. In this episode, we discuss navigating workplace bullying, creating a safe workplace for all, and of course reflect on Stef's personal journey.

In this week's Beyond Billables podcast I sat down with Devan King, founder of Ikigai Wealth. Devan has a fantastic story and shared his insights on business and life over the course of what was a very enjoyable show. Devan has a great philosophy that drives his business which I know will resonate with a lot of our listeners.  Devan is a financial planner with over 15 years of industry experience. His career is marked by a significant achievement in building and subsequently exiting a successful wealth management business in South Africa.In 2016, relocating to Australia, and now doing it all again (but even better) with Ikigai Wealth.  His extensive experience spans across various facets of the industry; including roles in corporate wealth management entities and boutique firms. This diverse background has equipped him with the skills to cater to a wide range of clients, from high net-worth individuals to ambitious young professionals and business owners. In this episode, we discuss the importance of setting financial goals that will actually make you happy and pay off long term – and how to unlock those kinds of opportunities.

On the show this week, we welcomed back the always outstanding James d'Apice, founder of Gravamen, and 'Coffee and a Case Note'. Today, we answer one fundamental question I get a lot - can social media help you grow a real business? For James, the answer is "absolutely"! As one of Australia's most prolific professional services content creators, James has been building a personal brand across social media for the last 5 years, and this ultimately has given him the ability to recently launch his law firm, Gravamen. We discuss his motivations for launching the firm, what he hopes to achieve professionally and personally, and what he has learned in the first 6 months in business. James spills many insights on social media for lawyers, and what he would do if he was starting out in 2024. Aside from business, we also discuss our motivations as parents, trying to create businesses that fit with our family lives, and how the 'juggle' is a constant WIP.

In this episode of Beyond Billables, Mike engages in a candid conversation with Claire Styles, founder of C Legal and Co. Claire shares her journey of building a successful legal services business over the past two and a half years. The discussion delves into the key elements of her business development strategy, encompassing branding, social media, content creation, and marketing. As a solo entrepreneur specializing in asset protection and tax minimization for high-net-worth individuals and business owners, Claire provides valuable insights into the evolution of her brand and the lessons learned along the way. The episode explores the importance of networking and relationship-building in the legal profession, with Claire emphasizing the significance of strategic connections over sheer quantity. The conversation also touches on Claire's transition to working from home and how it influenced the refocusing of her business. Listeners gain valuable advice on the delicate balance between personal fulfillment and business success, with Claire encouraging aspiring legal entrepreneurs to align their professional pursuits with their true passions. The episode concludes with a glimpse into Claire's exciting future plans and upcoming guests for Beyond Billables in 2024.  

Business development can be a minefield. How do you become great at it? Which strategies work? Which don't? On the podcast this week, we dive into key questions surrounding BD with returning guest Matthew Hollings, Director of Clients and Marketing at Sky Discovery. While this discussion is largely focussed on business development, we also discuss Matthew's background in law, the industry of many of our clients. Matt shares some unique insights on the power of having the right BD strategy; as well as habits and consistency that professionals at all levels can take onboard and implement to help them win more work. As for Matt himself check out his bio below!  Matthew has been a part of the legal industry for over 12 years. First, as a practising solicitor working in litigation for a large national firm. Second, working in-house for a large financial institution in its disputes team, before moving into the world of legal technology. Matthew has spent the last 9 years using his practical experience as a litigator to support lawyers with eDiscovery solutions that help them to collect, analyse, manage and review the increasing volumes and types of data related to their disputes, regulatory responses and investigations. Working in close partnership with their clients throughout the entire matter lifecycle, Matthew and his colleagues use their legal and technological experience to develop solutions that make the technical, practical and the complex, simple so that those legal teams can focus on the law, and their clients.  

AI is changing the SEO game forever. Is your business ready? Today on the show, I chat with James Banks, Founder of Rankmax.AI. Rankmax is an AI SEO business that assists enterprises looking to leverage the power of AI, and ultimately grow website traffic. Having worked in the industry for 15 years, James recognised the huge changes AI was bringing which drove him to launch Rankmax in 2023. Today, we dive into everything you need to know about AI, SEO, content and how technology is shaping search engine optimisation. If your business utilises SEO to generate leads, this is a must listen. More than a business discussion, James also opens up in candid detail on his journey as an entrepreneur. He shares about some of the incredibly tough times that have shaped him as a leader and the pursuit of happiness in business that led him to this point. https://www.rankmax.ai/  

In this week's show, Mike dives into the  "Net, Lure and Spear" marketing framework as a way to make better decisions on where you invest your marketing, BD and content investments.  Mike dives into the significance of distinguishing between these three elements when investing time and resources in marketing your business. Net fishing involves broad messaging and brand building, creating a lasting impression. Lure fishing targets specific industry problems with tailored content, while spearfishing is highly focused on individual relationships, often involving personalized communication. Mike emphasizes the importance of making clear decisions regarding where to allocate time and money within these elements.   

On this week's show I sat down with my friend and incredibly successful online business strategist Steph Taylor. Steph helps service-based business owners build profitable and sustainable online businesses that continue to grow even when they're offline.  This was a great discussion on Steph's business journey, what's worked and what hasn't, and how she has managed to find success. Steph and I worked together for 2 years, so it was great fun to revisit that time, reflect on her journey and hear all her insights on online business. From business to mental health, this is a great discussion on business and life.  In 12 months, Steph took her online business from $100K to $1 million, and the best bit? This didn't come with the trade-off of more hustle and more time. In fact, by creating a solid online business and sales engine, she was able to take weeks off to hike around the outback with a tent on her back, and be off the grid for a month in a camper van with her furry best pal, Archie. By leaning on strategy over tactics, value over the hard sell, and longevity over quick wins, Steph believes that a successful online business shouldn't feel like you're pushing an elephant up the hill, but instead should feel fun, flowy, and fulfilling. Through her podcast Imperfect Action that's clocked over 2 million downloads and in supporting over 4,000 paid students and counting, Steph today teaches online businesses how they too can create financial, choice, time, and location freedom through her framework that blends strategy, content, sales, systems, and mindset.  

This week, Mike sits down with founders of Oh My Digital, Kaitlyn Gillies & Hayley Peters to chat all things business evolution! Katy & Hayley are a dynamite duo that have grown their agency through hard work and a commitment to constant evolution. We discuss their history, how they tackle the big issues that all business owners face, and how those issues impact on them personally. Join us for a deep-dive into the reality of running an agency, the personal toll of owning a business, and how embracing constant change can help (in all aspects of life). Oh My Digital are your marketing cheerleaders. We help passionate brands kick marketing goals, backed by a #cheersquad of besties, whether you're a rookie, a pro or anywhere in between! We will educate, inspire & empower you to demystify your marketing once and for all (and have a lot of fun along the way). We offer DIY and done-for-you options, so your brand can grow with us - whatever stage you're at! We love a good 2000s throwback movie, Friday night cosmos & helping businesses grow with no BS digital marketing advice and strategy.

On the first interview show this year Mike spoke with Dominic Woolrych, Co-founder of Lawpath Australia's number one online legal platform that has helped over 400,000 small businesses across Australia and the US. On the show we discussed Lawpath and Dom's journey, how they have scaled the business and some of the big questions business owners have to grapple with. Dom shared openly about the challenges of being a non-technical founder, how he has developed as a leader and how he manages it all. More details on Dom's bio can be found below! Dom's mission is to transform and digitalize the legal industry to make it accessible to all small businesses and show lawyers that there are many non-traditional opportunities in the legal sector. Dom is on the advisory board and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology and a director of the Australian Legal Technology Association (ALTA). In 2022, Dom became the finalist at SmallBiz Week Young Hero Awards in the Young Innovator category and was voted the top 20 University of Technology Alumni. As a young entrepreneur, Dom first cut his teeth as a commercial lawyer at Minster Ellison, Australia's largest law firm, where he realized that only a select handful of businesses could afford top legal advice. This experience and his subsequent work representing vulnerable people through Legal Aid gave him the insights and skills needed to disrupt and revolutionize the legal industry. Together with his co-founder Tom Willis, he witnessed how other industries moved their services online and applied this principle to the legal sector. With the automation of tasks and cutting-edge technologies (including AI), he bridged the gap and made gaining legal advice accessible to everyone, especially small businesses. Dom's vision is to continue to build his digital platform and help small businesses globally to access legal support at a fraction of the traditional system's time, cost, and complexity. Today, Lawpath is recognized as one of the top 10 legal start-ups in Australia and the top 50 globally. It is the fastest-growing online legal platform with over 400,000 small business users and has started 5 percent of all companies in Australia.

Welcome back to the Beyond Billables podcast! It's been a hot minute and a lot has been happening, but we are excited to once again be making the show. In this first episode of the year Mike shares candidly on the evolution and growth of the Beyond Billables agency, the decision to put the show on hold during his wife's cancer treatment and the excitement about being back in the podcast chair! It wouldn't be a BB show without insight on some key professional services strategies and in the second half Mike dives into the “Work on vs Work in” your business conundrum and shares a 5 step process to help owners, executives, and senior leaders work out what balance suits them.

From Associate in the Supreme Court to playing packed out comedy shows around the world, this week Mike caught up with the incredibly talented Josh Glanc just before Edinburgh Fringe! Josh shared openly about his journey in comedy and the real challenges anyone faces who embarks on a career in a creative field. We spoke about the impact of the pandemic, how he approaches his standup and the reality of getting work as a comedian around the world. This was a very personal, engaging chat with a hugely talented Australian who is destined for great things.

On the show this week Mike spoke with Law Firm SEO expert, Chris Dreyer, CEO and founder of Rankings.io.  Rankings.io is an SEO agency that specializes in helping personal injury law firms dominate first page rankings. This was a really interesting discussion on SEO, Content, niching down and the power of brand across everything law firms do. Chris also shared on his own interesting personal journey and how he built his brand through content and the strategies he helps clients implement. Mike also discussed the upcoming launch of Chris' first book called: Niching up: The narrower the Market, The Bigger the prize.

On the show this week Mike spoke with the brilliant Rob Dos Santos from Cape Town, South Africa! Once upon a time many moons ago, Rob was a lawyer, practicing Commercial and Corporate law. However, he had a higher calling in life to make films. So one day he decided to ditch the courtroom for the camera and live his dream of being a filmmaker. This was a great show exploring what it means to have passion for your work and the tough journey many people need to go on to find something they love to do. Rob shares candidly and with great humour about his journey and everything it has taken to make it work.

On the show this week Mike sat down with the one and only Clarissa Rayward, law firm owner, podcaster, author and known as the Happy Family lawyer! As well as being the host for the last 6 years of the Happy Lawyer, Happy Life podcast Clarissa is also the Owner of Brisbane Family Law Center, an accredited Family Law Specialist, Mediator, Collaborative Lawyer & all-around superhuman. Over the past 15 years, Clarissa has worked with thousands of families during separation and divorce. She specializes in assisting her clients in experiencing a dignified divorce - staying away from the Court process and finding sustainable agreements for the future. Clarissa published her first book, Splitsville: How to Separate, Stay Out of Court and Stay Friends in 2015 (4.6-star review on Amazon) Launched her podcast in 2016 the Happy Lawyer, Happy Life Happy Lawyer Happy Life: How to Be Happy in Law and in Life published in 2017 Provides webinars and teaches courses to lawyers  

On the show this week Mike sat down with Ryan Loerh, a partner at Emanuel Whyboune. Ryan has over a decade of experience in the financial services industry, having worked for large retail banks, specialist investment firms, Macquarie Group and Morgan Stanley before moving to Emanuel Whybourne with its founders. Having previously studied law Ryan ended up embarking on a career in finance so it was a fascinating discussion on how he achieved this and what skills he learned in law school that helped along the way. Given the economic climate at the moment it was also a great chance to discuss inflation, interest rates and global markets and how someone like Ryan helps problem solve for his clients. *** None of our discussion on this podcast should be taken as direct or implied financial advice of any kind and does not constitute personal advice to any person. The discussion may contain statements of opinion by the speakers which are a point in time evaluation current only at the date of publication and are not statements of fact or recommendations of any kind. To the extent permitted by law, neither the presenters or BB, employees or agents accept any liability whether arising in contract, in tort or negligence or otherwise, for any error or ommission in this podcast or for any loss or damage suffered by a recipient of this podcast or any other person acting in reliance upon the information or opinion in this podcast.***

On today's insight show Mike reflects on what they don't teach you in law school! Having worked in the industry for over two decades now in practice, in recruitment and in marketing what stands out for us is that young lawyers aren't coming out of law school with some key skills that can help them over their career. Mike focuses in on three key issues around Client Experience, Communication and Business skills that all great lawyers need but that law schools (and many law firms own training and development) just aren't providing.

On the show this week Mike had a great discussion with Rizwana McDonald, Founder of Foundd Legal. Riz started Foundd as a way to make all of that boring, scary, overwhelming legal stuff both accessible and affordable to entrepreneurs, creatives and designers, so they can have the best shot possible of creating a legal, lucrative, kick-arse brand and business. Marketing pitch aside, Riz has an excellent and unique story of resilience and perseverance. Having been pulled out of school by her family at a young age, Riz was able to ultimately find her own path into the law which has culminated in her very own thriving practice. A truly inspiring entrepreneur and business owner Riz story is for anyone who thinks they can't make it.

Legal marketing in a recession! Ok, no one wants to hear the big R word, but we wanted to get out in front of it because with rising rates and inflation there is a good chance growth will turn negative this year. The key question is what does that mean for law firms, and for us what does that mean for law firm branding and marketing! In this show Mike dives into three key factors that firm owners need to remember, how to best prepare and the key to pivoting messaging during any time of uncertainty. Historically, recessions and downturns have been great for brands who stay committed to their medium and long-term goals and act strategically, not just reflexively.

On this weeks insight show, Mike discusses social media and what's happening right now on our favourite platforms. From LinkedIn to Tik Tok we dive into what is working now and what we see coming in the future. One thing is certain, you need to be smart about taking advantage of reaching your audience and making content that is both authoritative and relatable.

On this week's episode of the Beyond Billables Podcast, Mike had the pleasure to interview Francesca Chang. She is certainly an attorney on a journey! Francesca is a blogger, vlogger and life coach who has transformed her life, moved to Taiwan and now helps other lawyers. Francesca has a fascinating story of embracing a better life for herself and her family heritage while working to empower others to do the same. As a travel blogger and vlogger, she also works to promote Taiwan and the slow travel scene. On the show we discussed Francesca's career, her motivations and the opportunities lawyers have to embrace multi-faceted careers.

On this week's episode of the Beyond Billables Podcast, Mike had the pleasure to interview the fabulous Dr Joanne Redburn, Director of NFP Lawyers. This was a great in-depth discussion about the not-for-profit sector and the challenges and opportunities that exist. Joanne is a true leader in the NFP space in Australia and has worked across some of the most complex NFP projects so it was great to be able to go into detail. Joanne also has a great story having started as a research scientist before transitioning into law because of her love for IP. We discussed this move, managing the juggle of growing practice with a busy family life and how Joanne has built NFP Lawyers from the ground up.

Jahan may refer to himself as a “little guy lawyer”, but we think he is an absolute legend of a lawyer and human. Head of Litigation at Executive Legal, a human rights activist, Tik Tok trailblazer and all around brilliant content creator, Jahan is a leading light in the legal industry.  On the show we chatted about all of this, his journey in law and the struggle we all go through finding balance and managing our own expectations.  What did I get out of it? A realisation that the authentic and real Jahan that shows up in my Tik Tok is the same passionate person IRL and that a focus on service and value with your content and not sales is the best way to build real connection.  

On the show this week was a brilliant discussion I recorded recently with Scott Simmons, Director of Legal Balance. We had a great in depth chat about "selling", "business development" and even the role of pricing. Diving into more of the "business of law" we discussed both the mental approach to growing a practice and the practical steps all lawyers can take.  After a successful career in law where he faced similar situations to the lawyers of today, he discovered a love of coaching and training that has seen him coaching young professionals on how to build their own careers, as well as more senior executives to become rainmakers.   Scott has spent the last 8 years coaching and training lawyers and regularly writes and speaks on the subject of professional services business development.    

This week on the show we had a great conversation with Adam Pascarella, former Attorney and Founder of Second Order Capital Management in the US. Adam is also the author of a great new book, Reversed in Part:15 Law School Grads on Pursuing Non-Traditional Careers.   Adam wrote "Reversed in Part" with a desire to help others looking to transition their careers. The book is packed with great stories and we were lucky enough to dive into some on the show.  As a former Baker McKenzie associate and graduate from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School Adam has a great story to tell himself and we hope you enjoy hearing it! 

Good friend of the podcast Peter Moran joins us on today's episode! Peter is the Founder of Peer Legal, a leading commercial firm in Australia. Peter shares his insights on growing Peer Legal into a thriving team, along with the challenges of operating during the pandemic. As a forward-thinking, progressive firm Peer Legal has grown with purpose and Peter discusses how his deliberate intention to deliver better client service has been behind their success.

Season 3 of the Beyond Billables podcast is back and this season is all about how you can develop your skills and your reputation as an expert in your field. From interview shows to insight episodes this season is focused on giving everyone the tools they need to stand out for all the right reasons.  Kicking off Mike spends this short episode talking about 4 key points that define expertise for him. 

On the show this week is a great interview with the one and only James Diamond, founder of Diamond law. James is a lawyer from Queensland who certainly rode the wave of starting his own practice. James has quite the following on social media and we spent a big part of the interview discussing his crazy growth on Tik Tok and other channels. As much as I enjoy the marketing chat what I got most out of this interview was James' honesty and openness in discussing the benefits and difficulties of starting out on your own, the hard choices we have to make as business owners and how he has managed that. We also spent some time chatting about the present rights discourse in Australia and the difficulties of discussing rights in the Covid context. James is a really insightful, entertaining lawyer and business person with a keen sense of making the most of his life and opportunities. 

This week on the show I welcomed a very special guest, Kristal Naividi, Founder of Coastal Lawyers. Kirstal has an incredible and inspiring story for anyone looking to live their best life. Having grown up in public housing, made her way through university while working full time as a legal secretary and ultimately starting her own practice with three kids and a husband who had just been diagnosed with testicular cancer, Kirstal is a massive inspiration.  On the show we discussed her journey to become a lawyer from such a tough upbringing, the impetus to start her own firm and how she has managed to make it a success so rapidly. Kirstal shares very openly about the hurdles and how she worked to overcome them in her own, incredible way.  Upbeat, infectiously positive and incredibly open Kristal has a unique story that certainly makes me question the things I complain about!  

This week on the show I sat down with the one and only Alex Su, Head of Community Development at Ironclad, and the hands down most entertaining lawyer on Tik Tok!  Alex was a lawyer at a leading US firm before running his own practice and then making the move into legal tech sales and business development. You may however know Alex from his short video content which he has used to build a remarkable following on Tik Tok, Instagram and LinkedIn.  Alex brilliantly uses humour to make some serious points about what it is like to practice and some of the biggest issues facing the profession including technology change, mental health, overwork and burnout. We had a wide ranging discussion about social media, content creation, the opportunities to reach an audience and the stresses of “putting yourself out there”. Alex is a true leader and it was an absolute highlight to get him on the show.  

On the show this week I welcomed back one of the most knowledgeable and engaging experts in legal business development I have ever spoken to, Kim Wiegand, Founder of Julip Advisory and Partner at beaton. Kim has worked in Australia and Internationally for a range of leading legal service providers and brings deep expertise to our discussions on business development and what it means to deliver an outstanding client experience. Armed with both practical and quantitative insight Kim's advice during our chat is hugely valuable if you want to grow your practice or business.

With the present mental health crisis in Australia, and following the recent suicide of a colleague, Mike speaks openly in this insight show about his struggles with anxiety and the need to keep asking the "r u ok"? question and really mean it.   Mike shares a little about his journey with what is at times crippling anxiety and stress. From the lessons learned in the fight ring, to those shared by friends that motivated him to finally seek help from a mental health professional, this is a personal show about the negative impacts of anxiety and ways to ultimately manage it. The take home? Help is there if you put your hand up, and we can all do a better job of continuing to articulate that and actively supporting those around us. 

Rap music, horror movies, slow drip coffee and equity disputes - what do they all have in common? The one and only lawyer and host of Coffee and a Case Note, James d'Apice! James is a Special Counsel at Chamberlains with a practice that straddles commercial and litigation work. As well as being a great lawyer James has built a strong personal brand in the last few years by leveraging the power of great content. Whether you have come across James on LinkedIn, Instagram or Tik Tok, his passion for the law and for sharing the journey is unrivalled. James not only makes valuable things, but he does it with a consistency that is truly impressive driven by an impressive long term strategy.  On the show, we spoke about all of this and had a great discussion around what we can do to improve the profession now and in the future. James is a passionate advocate for change so it was great to get his insight into what we can do right now and the role we can all play.   

On the show this week we hosted the brilliant Gemma Bunner & Kerri Shaw of Shaw & Bunner Legal. As the founders of a fast growing personal injuries law firm in regional Australia Gemma and Kerri have a unique and fascinating story to tell. We spoke about the challenges and benefits of starting your own firm, how they grew the business within the local community, and their ability to manage it all parenting! Gemma & Kerri have demonstrated the value of building great relationships, investing in growing a brand and reputation, and having foresight to look forward to where they want the business to go (and take action to make it happen).