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096: Building Bridges After the Exit: Leadership, Loss, and Legacy in Law with Bill Umansky

Lead Counsel

Release Date: 04/03/2025

110: From Solo to Scale: Jenn Gore on Building a Legacy Law Firm and the Power of Strategic Mergers show art 110: From Solo to Scale: Jenn Gore on Building a Legacy Law Firm and the Power of Strategic Mergers

Lead Counsel

The discussion in this episode brings together highlights from our three past episodes featuring powerhouse personal injury attorney, business coach, and author Jenn Gore on the Lead Counsel podcast hosted by Tom Tona, founder and managing attorney of TonaLaw. In this riveting episode, Jenn and Tom dive deep into what it takes to move beyond the grind of solo practice and build a scalable, sustainable, and sellable law firm in today’s hypercompetitive legal market. Jenn opens up about launching her own law firm while raising a newborn, the pain points of growing under the $10M mark, and the...

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In this powerhouse episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, Tom Tona of Tonalaw is joined by Charley Mann of They Don’t Teach This in Law School, for a candid, tactical conversation about one of the most impactful – and often painful – aspects of scaling a law firm: hiring the right people at the right time. Why This Episode Matters: If you're a law firm owner, partner, or legal entrepreneur navigating the chaos of team-building, this conversation dives into the real-world hiring struggles and strategies that have shaped Tonalaw’s growth into a leading New York personal injury firm. From...

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In this high-impact collaboration between The Lead Counsel Podcast and They Don’t Teach This in Law School, hosts Tom Tona and Charley Mann tackle a fundamental pain point for every legal professional: time management. Drawing from personal experience and hard-earned lessons, Tom and Charley dive into how their approaches to time have evolved—from chaotic calendars and overloaded inboxes to streamlined systems that actually work. This episode doesn’t just scratch the surface; it delivers actionable strategies designed for law firm owners, entrepreneurs, and anyone feeling like they're...

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Episode 8 of the Lead Counsel podcast, in collaboration with They Don’t Teach This in Law School, delivers a masterclass in growing a law firm that lasts. Hosted by Charley Mann (Law Firm Alchemy) and featuring the raw and insightful Tom Tona (TonaLaw), this final installment of the Q&A series dives deep into what it really takes to scale a firm with precision, purpose, and profitability. Whether you're a solo attorney or running a multi-million dollar operation, this episode offers practical guidance on law firm branding, budgeting for growth, and managing dual practice areas. Tom’s...

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Jenn Gore has done something most lawyers will never do, monetized her law practice via an equity sale.  In this game-changing episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona reconnects with powerhouse attorney Jennifer Gore, now Partner at Sweet James Atlanta, to reveal the personal and professional transformation that led her from leading a multi-million dollar Georgia-based PI firm to merging with one of the newest and most dominant national law brands in the country. In a candid and revealing conversation, Jenn shares how she navigated a major business merger, overcame personal...

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In this powerful and deeply introspective episode of Lead Counsel, host Tom Tona, founder and managing attorney at Tonalaw, sits down with his long-time friend and fellow law firm leader, Bill "The Lawman" Umansky, to explore a transformative topic: what happens to your leadership legacy when team members leave your firm?

From million-dollar verdicts to zero-dollar losses, from surprise exits to long-standing professional relationships, Tom and Bill open up about the emotional rollercoaster of law firm leadership. This conversation goes beyond traditional office culture and dives into the often-overlooked emotional, psychological, and strategic aspects of team exit transitions. The episode centers around one compelling theme: "building the bridge before and after someone leaves your firm."

Listeners will gain practical tools and philosophical insights into:

  • The Three Phases of Employee Relationship Building: Recruiting with intention, leading with authenticity, and separating with grace.

  • Processing Fear and Loss in Law Firm Leadership: Emotional intelligence as a cornerstone of sustainable success.

  • The ROI of Emotional Investment: How post-exit relationships can become future business development channels or lasting friendships.

  • Leadership Mistakes to Avoid: Burning bridges, trash talk, and reactive behavior during exits—and how to rise above it.

Whether you're an attorney, law firm owner, or business leader, this conversation offers timeless lessons on emotional mastery, organizational culture, and personal growth.

This podcast is sponsored by Tonalaw.
Are you an attorney looking for a trusted partner for your New York personal injury referrals? Since 2001, Tonalaw has been the go-to New York personal injury law firm for attorneys and law firms across the U.S.
At Tonalaw, we pay legal fee participation to referring attorneys in all jurisdictions where it’s permitted.
Refer us a case today and experience the Tonalaw difference.
Call us now at 844-TONALAW or visit tonalaw.com.
Mention Lead Counsel when you call and you'll get directly connected with Tom.

Links and Social Handles

Host - Tom Tona

Guest - Bill Umansky ("The Lawman")