In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Jill Ferrari and Lindsey Johnson, partners at Schenck & Bruetsch in Detroit, Michigan. Jill and Lindsey lead Elevate, a practice group within the firm dedicated to supporting women business owners, executives, and entrepreneurs through comprehensive legal and personal services.

Lindsey explains how her early career in insurance defense evolved into a focus on employment and business law, while Jill shares her 25-year background in entrepreneurship, real estate development, and women’s business advocacy. Together, they created Elevate to meet the needs of women navigating careers, caregiving, business ownership, and personal challenges—offering a central place for assistance in business, employment, real estate, banking, and family law matters.

They also discuss the unique pressures women face in mid-career transitions, the importance of community, and how understanding your goals—not chasing the “unicorn job”—leads to better alignment between career, family, and wellbeing.

Topics covered:

• How Elevate provides holistic legal and personal support to women

• Mid-career transitions and finding fulfilling professional paths

• Real estate, employment, and business law services for women entrepreneurs

• The importance of community and peer support among women leaders

• Why purpose-driven legal practice creates better outcomes for clients

Connect with Jill Ferrari and Lindsey Johnson:

Phone: (313) 774-1000

Website: sbdetroit.com

Emails: jill.ferrari@sbdetroit.com

lindsay.johnson@sbdetroit.com