Skip to main content

Breaking Ground

How Successful Women Lawyers Build Thriving Practices

“Deborah Farone has hit it out of the park with this book. Bringing to bear her extensive knowledge of the legal and law firm landscape, Deborah has penned a brilliant and, at last, an insightful practical guide for women in the profession. It is full of candor and great tips, written with a liveliness that keeps you eagerly turning more pages. It is a must read for anyone serious about building a successful legal career.”

—Mary Jo White, Former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Chair of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission; current Senior Chair, Debevoise & Plimpton

Order Now

Discover how leading rainmakers develop their books of business.

Based on more than 60 interviews spanning four continents, Breaking Ground reveals how many of the world’s most successful women lawyers build powerful, sustainable practices—by cultivating client relationships, building trust, and leading with intention and authenticity.

This book is inspiring and tactical, offering a guide for all lawyers, firm leaders, and marketing professionals eager to understand and propel exceptional business development.

Why This Book Matters

Why do some lawyers consistently rank among the top business generators, while others seem to spin their wheels?  How do these superstar lawyers find time to develop business? How did they refine and promote their niche.

Breaking Ground uncovers the strategies behind their success—how they earn client trust, foster meaningful cross-border networks, and thrive amid complex organizational environments.

Order a copy from Amazon or PLI and be among the first to explore what makes a superstar rainmaker thrive.  Now available on audiobook, hardcover, softcover and Kindle.

Order NowOrder Now

What’s Inside

Inside Breaking Ground, you’ll discover:

  • How women approach business development in ways that make them stand out
  • Authentic strategies for balancing authenticity and marketing
  • The transition from transactional service provider to trusted advisor
  • The mindset shift, mentorship patterns, and resilience that drive success
  • Practical ways firms can support women in business development

This book is a must-read for:

Any lawyer interested in growing their book of business

All law firm partners and associates

CMOs, marketing or business development leaders

Managing partners and firm leadership teams

General counsel and clients interested in improving communication within their departments

Anyone passionate about business development in the legal profession.

Think Piece Authors

Ten fantastic professionals in the legal arena share their insights in their own think pieces at the end of each chapter.

Andrea Markstrom, Global Chief Information Officer, Cadwalader
Priya Lele, Co-Founder and Chair, She Breaks the Law
Cheryl Bame, Principal, Bame Public Relations
Nancy Myrland, President, Myrland Maketing
Melissa Davis, MD Communications
Bridget McCormack, President and Chief Executive Oficer, American Arbitration Association
Heidi K. Gardner, PhD, Author, Smart Collaboration and Smarter Collaboration, Distinguished Fellow, Harvard Law School
Sally Fiona King, Managing Director, The Alexander Group
Jordana A. Confino, Founder, JC Coaching & Consulting
Toni Jaeger-Fine, Senior Counselor, Fordham Law School

Recent Press

Podcast: K&L Gates: The Playbook with Deborah B. Farone

In this episode of The Playbook: Conversations With Craig Budner, Deborah joins Craig to discuss how lawyers—particularly women—can intentionally build sustainable, successful practices. Drawing on research and decades of industry experience, Deborah shares practical insights that resonate with women lawyers growing their books of business, firm leaders focused on long-term sustainability, and marketing and business development professionals shaping firm strategy.

Listen Here

Article: Lawdragon: Think Like a Woman: How Deborah Farone Has Redefined Rainmaking in the Legal World

In her new book, “Breaking Ground,” the legal marketing expert shares her best advice and that of 60 of the greatest rainmakers for lawyers looking to grow their book of business. In her book, Deborah Farone delivers a line that reads like both a challenge and an invitation: “It’s never too late to become a rainmaker.” Few are better qualified to make that claim. It’s a philosophy she’s espoused throughout her career. As the former Chief Marketing Officer of gold-tier law firms Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Debevoise & Plimpton, and a consultant to leading law firms, Farone turned business development into a defining craft.

Read Story

Podcast: Law. com’s Legal Speak: Deborah Farone Discusses Her New Book, Breaking Ground

Former Cravath business development and communications chief and current founder and president of Farone Advisors, Deborah Farone, discusses her new book, which lights a path for women attorneys looking to build their own sustainable legal practices. Hosted by Patrick Smith and Cedra Mayfield.

Listen Here

Publishers Weekly Review of Breaking Ground

Breaking Ground advocates for, above all else, authenticity over perfection, encouraging women to build long-lasting, purposeful client connections and a diverse workplace culture. Throughout, Farone highlights that business development is an ongoing, continuous tool to cultivate growth and success, and her straightforward guidance empowers female lawyers to know their value, be confident in what they bring to the table, and understand that “lawyers are not alone in their experiences, can learn from each other, and can support each other in achieving long-term success.”

Read Full Review

Podcast: BD Talks

What does it really take to build a book of business — and why are so few women leading law firms despite outnumbering men in law school? In this episode of BD Talks, Deborah Farone shares the strategies from her new book Breaking Ground that are helping lawyers turn authenticity into their greatest business development asset.

Listen Here

Article: JD Supra: How Lawyers Really Develop Business: Lessons from Leading Rainmakers

After decades of advising lawyers and law firms, I noticed that the same question constantly rose to the surface again and again. Sometimes it was asked quietly and sometimes more urgently, but the sentiment was the same.

Read Story

Podcast: Be That Lawyer: Developing Clients, Confidence, and Career Control

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Deborah Farone explore how intentional business development can empower lawyers—particularly women—to gain greater autonomy, influence, and long-term career control. Their conversation focuses on building authentic relationships early, aligning marketing efforts with personal strengths, and cultivating trust through long-term client engagement.

Listen Here

For all inquiries related to Breaking Ground by Deborah Farone, please contact:

Emily Willette

emily.willette@smithpublicity.com

Lirona Wainer-Yaffe

lirona.yaffe@smithpublicity.com

Early Praise for Breaking Ground

“Deborah Farone has hit it out of the park with this book. Bringing to bear her extensive knowledge of the legal and law firm landscape, Deborah has penned a brilliant and, at last, an insightful practical guide for women in the profession. It is full of candor and great tips, written with a liveliness that keeps you eagerly turning more pages. It is a must read for anyone serious about building a successful legal career.”

Mary Jo WhiteFormer United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Chair of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission; current Senior Chair, Debevoise & Plimpton

“Breaking Ground is a must-read for anyone serious about the future of legal practice. Through thoughtful interviews and deep research, Deborah Farone has uncovered what truly drives success for women lawyers—and the lessons here extend to all ambitious lawyers. With her unmatched experience advising law firms and professionals at the highest levels, she brings insight, candor, and practical wisdom to every page. Law firm leaders, take note: this book isn't just about individual achievement—it's about the cultural and strategic shifts our profession needs.”

Heidi K. Gardner PhDDistinguished Fellow, Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession Co-founder, Gardner & Co

“Deborah Farone has taught me more about nourishing the relationships that fuel business than any course in business school possibly could, and she practices what she preaches. From her vast experience leading cutting-edge business development efforts at the world's most globally significant firms, Deborah understands that women lawyers have unique superpowers that make them exceptionally well-suited to grow thriving practices. She's created a playbook that weaves together insights from the exceptional women she's learned with along the way, infused with the generosity and pragmatic wisdom that define what makes her great at what she does.”

Jennifer Leonard, Esq.Founder & Principal, Former Chief Innovation Officer, Univeristy of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

“There is nothing harder than trying to be someone else and nothing more freeing than owning who you are and being yourself. Deborah Farone proves in her research that being yourself is the true magic to building business. Own who you are, what your life looks like as a woman professional and trust that it will draw the clients to you. Include, of course, excellent lawyering and you are guaranteed to attract clients for life. Deborah gives every reader permission to be authentic, to demonstrate confidence in who you are, what you can do. Wherever you are in your career, it will take you steps further into your business development future. You deserve it. Just read it! In fact, gentlemen, don't lose out. There are so many ideas in here, there will definitely be something to add to your business development toolkit too.”

Natalie LoebFounder, Co CEO & Leadership Coach, Loeb Leadership

About the Author

Deborah Farone founded Farone Advisors to help marketing leaders do what she has spent her career mastering: build high-performing marketing organizations, develop growth strategies that actually get executed, and coach the teams responsible for delivering results. She works with firm leadership and CMOs on restructuring and elevating marketing departments, creating strategic and implementation plans, and facilitating practice planning sessions and leadership retreats. Each year she takes on a select group of individual coaching clients, and also designs and delivers larger scale business development training programs in partnership with another large coaching firm.

Deborah Farone is a leading consultant to law firm executives and the former CMO of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP and Debevoise & Plimpton. She authored the widely used Best Practices in Law Firm Business Development and Marketing (PLI, 2019) and is a sought-after speaker at legal industry conferences worldwide.

For media inquiries, or speaking opportunities around Breaking Ground, Contact Diane O’ Donnell at diane@faroneadvisors.com. For bulk sales, contact Alexa Robertson at arobertson@pli.edu

Receive a free chapter of Breaking Ground.

Farone Advisors LLC