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 Chair, 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