Founding Partner Podcast

What makes someone leave a stable job, take four bar exams, and then launch a law firm with zero clients just weeks before a global pandemic? In this episode, I sit down with Roya Vasseghi, who did exactly that. We talk about starting over in a new state, why building relationships pays off years later, and the painful reality of partnerships that don’t work out. Her story made me ask: how do you know when to bet on yourself, and what’s the cost if you don’t?

What if the one thing holding your law firm back isn’t more cases, but the way you run the cases you already have? In my latest conversation with Tim McKey of Vista Consulting, we dug into the uncomfortable truth: top firms don’t rely on pixie dust or luck—they rely on vision, culture, and two numbers that most firms don’t even track. Could the difference between a good practice and a great one really come down to just intake conversion and client contact? Listen and decide for yourself.

What do you do when your very first case is one you’re not trained for, unpaid, and the stakes are someone’s freedom? Steven Goldstein leaned in, admitted to prosecutors “I don’t know what I’m doing—help me,” and turned vulnerability into strength. From hustling PI cases by walking Broadway, to playing basketball on the Knicks’ court, to winning a multimillion-dollar “jaywalking case” after a client was wrongfully jailed—his story left me asking: is the real secret to success in law about skill… or about hustle, humility, and connection?

What happens when you stop chasing every client… and start firing the wrong ones?For 20 years, Jeff Sladkus built a law firm that protects some of the world’s most famous brands. But it didn’t happen by playing it safe. From waking up at 5:30 a.m. every morning to serve Italian fashion houses, to freezing counterfeiters’ bank accounts before they even knew they’d been sued—his story forces you to ask:👉 Would your business grow faster if you focused less on saying “yes”… and more on saying “no”?

What can a personal injury lawyer teach you about negotiating with insurance adjusters, running a mid-size firm, going viral on LinkedIn, and flying first-class to Europe for $500? In this episode, I sat down with Matt Long — a lawyer who’s just as comfortable in the courtroom as he is at the poker table. His story will make you rethink how lawyers build influence, avoid burnout, and even travel the world. Would you run your practice the way he does?

What does it really take to be a good mom, a good wife, and still run a thriving law firm? 🌍 When Hurricane Katrina forced Elise Buie to rebuild her life from scratch—not once, but twice—she discovered resilience most of us can only imagine. Today, she leads a 40-person remote-first firm with a culture built on accountability, kindness, and something she calls “unreasonable hospitality.” But how do you balance family, leadership, and growth without burning out—or losing yourself along the way?

What happens when a top family lawyer says his real identity isn’t “attorney” at all?Hannibal Heredia has built a 20-year law firm partnership, navigated immigrant family expectations, and handled the toughest moments in clients’ lives — yet still calls himself “a hundred percent musician.”How do you balance courtrooms with chord progressions? What does it take to make a business partnership last decades? And why might the best lessons in law come from life on stage?Hannibal F. Heredia has practiced family law almost exclusively since 1994. He received his JD from Southwestern University, cum laude, in 1993, was the Editor in Chief of the Southwestern University Law Review, and received his undergraduate degree from Auburn University. In addition to practicing in all areas of family law, Hannibal also serves as a mediator and Guardian ad Litem in Courts throughout the metro Atlanta area.Since 2016, he has been named one of the Top 100 lawyers in Georgia by Atlanta magazine. Atlanta magazine lists Hannibal as a Super Lawyer, and Georgia Trend magazine recognizes him as “Legal Elite” in the area of Family Law. Hannibal also volunteers his time for the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, serving both as a legal representative for victims of domestic violence as well as a Guardian Ad Litem. He is also on the board of the Atlanta Bar Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the Atlanta Bar Association.

What happens when a Big Law partner walks away from the prestige… and builds something better? What if naming your firm after yourself is actually holding you back? In this conversation with Adam Marshall, we explore why culture beats ego, how smart firms grow without chasing, and what most lawyers get wrong about client service. Would your clients follow you if you left tomorrow? Adam found out. Here’s what happened next.

What if the billable hour isn’t broken… but obsolete?Kimberly Bennett didn’t just walk away from hourly billing—she built something better. A flat-fee law firm. A legal tech company. And a third business… just for fun.She nearly burned out doing it all.So how did she turn that chaos into clarity—and a platform that might just change how legal services are delivered forever?This one’s not about theory. It’s about what actually works.

What if the best thing you ever built started with a single text message? Meghan Freed never planned to start a law firm—let alone lead the largest family law practice in Connecticut. But what happens when you stop doing what you’re “supposed” to do… and start listening to what actually lights you up? In this episode, we talk about breakups (business and personal), niching down, uncomfortable feedback, and the moment you realize: I’m sick of this problem. I want a new one. What if your growth started with letting go?

What if the thing that makes you different is exactly what your clients are looking for?Josh Hodges didn’t become a lawyer until he was 32. No Ivy League pedigree. No polished fast track. Just grit, DMV floors, and a daughter who changed everything. Today, he runs one of the most trusted personal injury firms in small-town Ohio—not by outspending the big guys, but by out-showing up.What does it take to build real trust in a world obsessed with flash?This story might make you rethink how you grow your firm.

What if the best law firm in your state wasn’t built by the smartest lawyer… but by the one who learned to let go?Jay Ruane didn’t want 45 employees. He didn’t want to be a CEO. But somewhere between courtrooms and burnout, he built something bigger — and walked away from the work most lawyers cling to.He says the key wasn’t money. It was dinner with his kids.And AI? It’s already replacing hours of legal grunt work in his firm.So the real question is: what are you still holding onto… that’s holding you back?

What happens when you risk everything on a case, with no offer on the table and $50K already spent on experts? For Howard Ankin, it wasn’t just a turning point—it was the moment that changed everything. From a folding table and 40 referrals to a 100-person law firm competing with national giants, Howard’s journey proves success doesn’t come from luck—it comes from showing up when it counts. But how do you scale without losing your soul? And what does it really take to lead a firm that lasts?

Laura Noble is the founder and Managing Partner of The Noble Law Firm, a recognized leader in employment law. With over 30 years of diverse legal experience, Laura’s approach combines powerful advocacy, empathetic client service, and technological innovation in all stages and aspects of employment disputes. Laura strives to cultivate a positive workplace culture built on the core values of collaboration, leadership, empathy, integrity, innovation, and equity. These values—combined with outstanding team members and advanced technology—allow The Noble Law Firm to help level the playing field for employees.

What happens when a missionary kid becomes a lawyer—and builds a firm that treats investigations like a path to healing, not just damage control?Most attorneys avoid the messy, emotional work. Theresa Sidebotham built her entire practice around it. From child protection in churches to workplace abuse in nonprofits, she handles the cases no one wants… with a strategy most law schools never teach.This is the story of how crisis, calling, and a volcanic eruption shaped one of the most unconventional law firms in the country.

Aaron Minc is the founding partner of Minc Law and a nationally recognized leader in Internet defamation who tackles the most challenging online crises with innovative legal solutions. Under his leadership, Minc Law has successfully litigated over 200 Internet defamation lawsuits across 22 states and 3 countries, removing tens of thousands of defamatory websites and search results. His practice helps individuals, businesses, celebrities, and organizations combat anonymous attacks, online harassment, revenge porn, sextortion, and other digital threats.A sought-after media commentator on Internet privacy issues, Aaron applies his 15+ years of experience to uncover anonymous users and provide clients with peace of mind during digital crises. As the visionary founder who built Minc Law from the ground up, Aaron has transformed how legal services address online reputation challenges. When not fighting online battles, this Northeast Ohio native enjoys skiing, golf, and spending time with his wife and two sons in Moreland Hills.

What would you do if you were diagnosed with leukemia just as your law firm was starting to take off, and your wife was seven months pregnant? James P. Joseph faced exactly that. In this episode, we dive into how he built a thriving firm, overcame life-threatening illness, and redefined success in the process. But the real story? It’s what he let go of along the way. What if the key to growth isn’t doing more, but learning to say no?

Justin Spizman is an award-winning and bestselling author, ghostwriter, editor, and proposal writer. Since beginning his career as a writer while in law school, Justin has worked on numerous non-fiction books and successful book proposals. Justin prides himself in his ability to work with people from all different backgrounds, upbringings, and expertise. Through working closely with some of the most successful people in their respective industries, Justin has gained strong insight and understanding into the most efficient and effective means to create a fantastic and marketable story primed for exciting opportunities.He has collaborated on books in the areas of self-help, business, leadership, sports, entertainment, law, and other non-fiction. Justin has developed distinctive and marketable book proposals reflective of his clients’ personalities. His communication skills, focus, flexibility, professionalism, writing ability, and desire to create a complete and high-quality product help to fuel the success of his clients. He collaborates with his clients not just to write books, but to strengthen brands, build legacies, and create enormous opportunity. Justin dedicates the time and attention necessary to create winning projects by creating a manuscript representative of an author’s most heartfelt and meaningful message. His experience in the marketing and promoting of numerous award-winning books of his own and those written by his clients greatly assists them in navigating the ins and outs of the industry.
 Some of Justin’s clients include five-time Heavyweight Boxing Champion Evander Holyfield, NCAA Championship-winning basketball coach Jim Valvano and The V. Foundation for Cancer Research, climate activist, hip-hop artist, and powerful voice on the front lines of global youth-led movement Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, sports agent Molly Fletcher, former General Manager of the Denver Broncos Ted Sundquist, branding and marketing genius Joey Reiman, and numerous other entrepreneurs, self-help gurus, CEOs, coaches, entertainers, and thought leaders in their respective industries. Justin is always on the lookout for the next game changer with which he can collaborate.
During the course of his writing career, his various books have included amazing interviews from the likes of renowned actor Mark Ruffalo, respected actress Shailene Woodley, commentator and author Van Jones, educator, author, and businessman Stedman Graham, NCAA basketball world champion coach Tom Izzo, MLB future Hall of Fame coach Bobby Cox, activist Suzy Cameron, actor Adrien Grenier, environmentalist and author Bill McKibben, filmmaker and photographer Jeff Orlowski, and many more. Over the years, his ability to capture the true heart and soul of these interviews and weave them into the book manuscript has become a great strength of his writing.He has published numerous major book projects within the past 15 years as a professional writer. The most recent includes the book We Rise: The Earth Guardians Guide to Building a Movement that Restores the Planet, co-written with Xiuhtezcatl Martinez and published by Rodale. Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is a 16-year-old climate activist, hip-hop artist, and powerful new voice on the front lines of a global youth-led movement. We Rise includes powerful interviews with Mark Ruffalo, Van Jones, Shailene Woodley, Adrian Grenier, Suzy Cameron, and even an endorsement from Leonardo DiCaprio.Justin also recently collaborated with ECOfashion and internationally recognized ECOlifestyle entrepreneur Marci Zaroff for a 2018 Atria/Enliven release, entitled ECOrenaissance: A Lifestyle Guide for Co-creating a Stylish, Sexy, and Sustainable World. With a forward by Aveda Founder Horst Rechelbacher, ECOrenaissance provides inspiring...

Steven Gursten of Michigan Auto Law has recovered the largest ever auto and truck accident settlement of any Michigan lawyer or law firm. He has also received the top reported auto accident and truck accident settlements and jury verdicts in Michigan over multiple years, according to Michigan Lawyers Weekly and Verdict Reporter.Steven has been selected a Lawyer of the Year by both Michigan Lawyers Weekly newspaper and Best Lawyers. He has been voted consistently among the top 50 attorneys in Michigan (out of over 65,000 lawyers) by Super Lawyers.Steven is a past-President of three American Association for Justice (AAJ) Litigation Groups - the AAJ Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, the AAJ Distracted Driving Litigation Group, and the AAJ Truck Accident Litigation Group. Steve is also a past-President of the Belli Society and a past-President of the Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association. He has also been selected annually since 2018 as a JD Supra Readers’ Choice Award winner – Top Author in the Insurance category for his writing on Michigan’s auto No-Fault laws and insurance litigation.Steve speaks throughout the country, teaching lawyers on such subjects as trial advocacy, traumatic brain injury, truck accident litigation, and on maximizing auto accident settlements.

Kevin McManus, a Kansas City native and attorney dedicated to helping those who have been injured or wronged seek justice. After starting my career representing large corporations and insurance companies, I realized my passion was advocating for individuals—particularly those facing personal injury and disability challenges. Since then, my firm has worked tirelessly to empower clients with the legal knowledge and representation they deserve.Beyond my legal practice, I’ve served my community in public office, including two terms on the Kansas City, Missouri City Council, where I was honored to serve as Mayor Pro Tem. Prior to that, I represented our region in the Missouri House of Representatives. My experience in law and public service gives me unique insight into the legal system and how to make a difference for my clients and community.I'm licensed in both Missouri and Kansas, a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and have been recognized as a Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer in Missouri. When I’m not in the courtroom or advocating for my clients, I enjoy spending time with family. My wife, Alex, and I have two sons, and we spend a lot of time watching them play soccer in our hometown of Kansas City.