Deborah Farone

After 60 in-depth interviews with some of the most successful lawyers in the world, I walked away with a clearer picture of what actually drives thriving practices. It challenged a lot of conventional wisdom. The answer is not a formula. It is not a checklist or a script. It comes down to three core principles that the best rainmakers consistently…

Great law firm marketing does not happen by accident. It happens when structure, culture, and leadership support are aligned. Often, when I am called into a firm to help them examine the structure of the department, we find misalignment due to the fact that the firm has grown quickly or leadership has changed. When I begin working with a CMO…

After 14 years at Cravath, Swaine & Moore and 14 years at another leading firm before that I made a call to a fellow CMO to share some exciting news: I was leaving and launching an advisory business. I also planned to write my first book. Her response? Congratulations. It was so nice knowing you. Full stop. End of conversation.…

I couldnt stop watching the video of Cherie DeVaux, the first female trainer to win at the Kentucky Derby. Shes jumping. Beaming. Completely overcome with joy. And it struck mewhen was the last time we had celebrations in a professional setting? We celebrate birthdays. Holidays. Milestones outside the office. But inside our organizations? When a firm lands a new client Wins a…

I've been talking with law firms about the important power of authenticity when it comes to business development. And I don't mean that in a vague, motivational way. Authenticity works because when you develop business in ways that feel genuine to you, you actually do more of it. Your prospects sense your enthusiasm. They can tell you're not putting on a performance.…

Ive been thinking about professional associations, like the Legal Marketing Association and how much they have evolved over the years. When I first started attending the annual LMA meetings, it felt like a collection of small chapters coming together once a year. It was collegial, a bit scrappy, and incredibly valuable. Fast forward a few decades, and its grown into…

Over the past few years, Ive had the chance to speak with dozens of extraordinary women rainmakers about how theyve achieved such incredible reputations and developed 5 star practices. Whats striking is that there isnt one pathbut there are some very consistent themes. Developing business takes longer than people expect. Trusted relationships matter more than almost anything else. And the…

Here are some business development secrets. I had the greatest time speaking with Lou Diamond CSP about professional services marketing and what makes lawyers become rainmakers. Some hints: 1. The most significant relationships between clients and their lawyers develop over time. That means - start lawyers early on in training them about business development, and help other to be persistent…

The following piece appeared on August 24, 2026 in Law360. By Deborah Farone Legal careers are often described in terms of milestones: admitted to law school, hired for a clerkship, accepted into a firm and made partner. But when speaking with lawyers who have gone on to lead significant practices or firms, a different story emerges. Their success is rarely…

This article was published in PLI Chronicle: Insights and Perspectives for the Legal Community, https://plus.pli.edu. Not for resale. June 2026  What does it take for a woman lawyer to build a thriving practice? That question has driven much of my research and work over the years, and recently I had the pleasure of exploring it on a PLI panel with…