Lead Counsel

In this episode, Mike Zapone and Tom Tona explore how clear communication, vision, and effective leadership are essential for business success. They discuss practical tools and mental models to align teams, delegate results, and build a cohesive organizational culture.   Key Episode Highlights Importance of clear communication in leadership The exercise of defining and sharing your vision Difference between delegating tasks and results Using EOS tools to align team and culture The role of core values and core focus in business The significance of organizational knowledge and documentation The impact of friction and conflict in decision making Strategies for effective prioritization and accountability   Featured Guest: Mike ZapponeProfessional EOS Implementer  & ProfitWorks Certified Coach®Website: https://eosworldwide.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelzappone/ Your Host: Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, Tonalaw Website: https://www.tonalaw.com LinkedIn: Tom Tona X: @NYPITrialGuy This podcast is sponsored by TonaLaw.

Tom Tona is joined by Mike Zappone for a practical conversation about why growing law firms stall, what a "ceiling" actually looks like, and how EOS helps leaders build something that runs beyond the founder. Mike brings real-world operator experience, including having built and exited a business to private equity, and Tom shares how those lessons are changing the way his firm communicates, delegates, and scales. In this episode, they unpack the difference between being a high-performing owner and building a true organization, why simplicity wins over complexity, and how accountability charts, scorecards, and Level 10 meetings create clarity without the owner being the bottleneck. They also get into the emotional side of growth, from burnout and fear to the relief of seeing the team step up. Key Episode Highlights Hitting the ceiling in business growth Identifying organizational bottlenecks The role of EOS in scaling law firms Effective delegation and leadership Simplifying processes to increase efficiency The importance of accountability and scorecards Strategies for organizational change and growth The impact of leadership styles on scaling   Featured Guest: Mike ZapponeProfessional EOS Implementer  & ProfitWorks Certified Coach®Website: https://eosworldwide.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelzappone/ Your Host: Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, Tonalaw Website: https://www.tonalaw.com LinkedIn: Tom Tona X: @NYPITrialGuy This podcast is sponsored by TonaLaw.

In this episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona and his guests dedicate the entire conversation to the single most critical asset in any business: its people. They discussed strategic hiring, structured onboarding, continuous training, investing in your people, and how talent management systems will power the firm's long-term success.   Your Host: Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, Tonalaw Website: https://www.tonalaw.com LinkedIn: Tom Tona X: @NYPITrialGuy This podcast is sponsored by TonaLaw.

In this special compilation episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona brings together key insights and foundational advice from top legal minds on what it truly takes to start, build, and sustain a successful business. Starting a business or opening a new law firm comes with severe challenges, from wondering if the phone will ever ring to learning how to avoid devastating financial mistakes. In this mashup episode, Tom Tona and his guests peel back the curtain on why mastering basic business fundamentals must happen long before you think about scaling. They unpack the dangers of stepping outside your lane of expertise, debunk the widespread myth of passive law firm ownership, and explain why joining the right peer network or mastermind can save you years of costly trial and error. Key Highlights Master Fundamentals Before You Scale: Focus on building your core foundation first. For any business under the ten year mark, making your first hire or putting basic processes in place is building, not scaling. Spend your first five years becoming an absolute expert in your domain and creating documented, repeatable systems. Stay in Your Lane of Expertise: Tom Tona candidly shares his biggest business mistake: venturing outside his primary area of legal expertise into an unfamiliar business venture. He discusses taking a massive financial hit that wiped out a multi seven figure net worth and the mindset required to get back on track. The Reality of Law Firm Ownership: A look at the persistent myth of absentee ownership marketed to overworked attorneys. Successful high revenue law firm owners put in continuous hard work, active leadership, and short term sacrifices for long term gain. Think Like a Marketer and a Lawyer: Guest Brian Glass discusses the critical balance between legal skill and business strategy. To increase revenue and profitability, law firm owners must understand how to leverage marketing, screen for higher value cases, and refine internal processes. The Value of Mentorship and Masterminds: This episode also discusses why new business owners should never operate on an island. Finding a collaborative tribe, finding experienced mentors, and investing in pay to play masterminds provide shortcut growth and keep you from repeating preventable mistakes.  Your Host: Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, Tonalaw Website: https://www.tonalaw.com LinkedIn: Tom Tona X: @NYPITrialGuy This podcast is sponsored by TonaLaw. TonaLaw is not just another law firm. They're defining what it means to fight for their clients. We get a lot of attorney referrals from across the country. We pay fee participation in all jurisdictions where it's permitted. We focus on integrity, innovation and relentless advocacy. TonalLaw is proving that the business of the law can scale without losing its heart. Do you want to see how a modern firm is built for impact and happy client referrals? Check out tonalaw.com mention again the Lead Counsel Podcast and I'm happy to get on the phone with you.

In this episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona sits down with Jimmy Lai, co-founder of Lai and Turner Law Firm and author of Quietly Influential. They dive deep into how introverted professionals can leverage LinkedIn to scale their businesses, build authentic networks, drive high-value attorney-to-attorney referrals, and recruit top-tier talent. Episode Highlights Maximizing B2B Referrals: Tom reveals how TonaLaw signed 22 new personal injury cases in 90 days strictly through LinkedIn networking. The Introvert Advantage: Jimmy breaks down how an introverted attorney used LinkedIn as a public diary to generate 80,000 dollars in referral revenue, recruit top team members globally, and land major podcast appearances. Overcoming Perfectionism: Why perfectionism is a socially acceptable form of procrastination that stops creators from posting, and why lived experience beats polished marketing every time. Strategic Commenting: How leaving thoughtful comments on key industry posts acts as a major coattail strategy to build an audience without the pressure of constant content creation. Authenticity vs. The Hater Effect: Embracing vulnerability, sharing failures alongside wins, and using your unique traits to attract ideal clients while repelling the wrong fit. Hidden Opportunities in DMs: Why checking your LinkedIn direct messages weekly can lead to massive revenue, strategic production partnerships, and key hires. Featured Guest: Jimmy LaiCo-Founder & Immigration Attorney, Lai & Turner Law Firm PLLCWebsite: https://www.laiturnerlaw.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmylai-jdmba/ Book: Quietly Influential Your Host: Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, Tonalaw Website: https://www.tonalaw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonalaw/ X: @NYPITrialGuy This podcast is sponsored by TonaLaw. TonaLaw is not just another law firm. They're defining what it means to fight for their clients. We get a lot of attorney referrals from across the country. We pay fee participation in all jurisdictions where it's permitted. We focus on integrity, innovation and relentless advocacy. TonalLaw is proving that the business of the law can scale without losing its heart. Do you want to see how a modern firm is built for impact and happy client referrals? Check out tonalaw.com mention again the Lead Counsel Podcast and I'm happy to get on the phone with you.