Deborah Farone

It’s a question someone asked me after a session with a group of law firms from Asia. We were talking about outreach strategies, and I mentioned how an American lawyer might say, quite directly, “I’d love to earn your business.” That kind of candor works well in the U.S.—it’s seen as confident and clear. But in many parts of Asia,…

Your Friends and Neighbors (Not the Apple+ series with Jon Hamm, where trust breaks down…) In real life — and in business development — your “friends and neighbors” are everything. Law firms often wait too long to train associates on how to build a network. But the most valuable relationships — the ones that lead to future business — are…

They had the tools. They had the talent. So why weren’t they winning the work? Many years ago, I knew of a brilliant law firm. They had everything going for them. A smart, dedicated marketing team A best-in-class CRM Terrific research and analytics tools Even a pitch process that looked great on paper But they still weren’t landing the business.…

Last week, I had the honor of speaking at a fantastic program started by the incredibly talented Andrea Markstrom, CIO of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP. The group – i.WILL (Inspiring Women Igniting Leadership and Learning) – has a mission to help women advance in their careers— and it was a privilege to be part of it. I joined Nicole…

Between client work and writing a second book, it was amazing to take a few days off. This photo was taken in the Luxembourg Gardens, one of my favorite spots in Paris. It reminded me how powerful it can be to pause, whether in a beautiful place like this or back at the office. In a world of constant deadlines…

According to a study by Heidi K. Gardner, a thought leader in professional services, and Anusia Gillespie, a brilliant innovator, integration is essential for success. With 47% of lateral partners leaving their new firms within 5 years, it’s important to pay attention. Firms bring on lateral partners with high hopes—for new clients, expanded practices, and fresh energy. But almost half…

As a CMO, I remember sitting in my office close to midnight. I was still working — eyes blurry — trying to finish refining an RFP for a prospective client we likely wouldn’t land. It was directory season, and I was drowning in submissions and strategy. There was also a PR issue we were trying to mitigate. Then the phone…

Every single day, law firms are making leadership changes. It’s great to see succession at work. The tough thing is, stepping into leadership means more than just overseeing legal work—it means driving growth. Business development and marketing are no longer side functions; they are core to your firm’s success. To position your firm for sustainable growth, here are a few…