A strong professional relationship can lead to more than a new client. It might also open the door to the right attorney joining your firm.

Jonathan S. Goodgold, managing member of Goodgold West Maitlin & Klein LLC, shares how his firm develops referral relationships, builds around distinct attorney practice areas, and looks for partners who fit its operating model.

In this conversation:

• Networking and speaking opportunities that lead to new referrals
• How practice niches make attorneys easier to refer
• Different ways partners can develop their own business
• The COO's role in supporting Jonathan's legal work and rainmaking
• What makes a prospective partner a fit for the firm

About the guest:

Jonathan S. Goodgold, Esq. is the Co-Managing Member of Goodgold West Diaz & Klein LLC, where he leads the firm’s collections practice while advising businesses on employment law, contracts, and litigation. With decades of experience as both a practicing attorney and law firm leader, Jonathan brings a firsthand understanding of the challenges of running a successful firm while helping clients protect their bottom line.

A trusted resource for business owners and fellow attorneys, he has also contributed to the New Jersey Law Journal and frequently speaks on legal and business matters for organizations including the National Business Institute and Lawline.

Guest links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathangoodgold/

Firm website: https://gwd-law.com/

About The Managing Partners' Table
The Managing Partners' Table is where firm leaders talk growth, leadership, and the business of law. Hosted by Amanda Sexton, founder of FocusWorks Marketing, who's spent more than a decade helping law firms grow.

About FocusWorks Marketing
FocusWorks Marketing helps law firms grow by bringing in more of their best clients through SEO, paid ads, and content.

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• (00:00) - Jonathan Goodgold’s Path to Managing Partner
• (08:43) - Finding Your Strengths and Learning to Network
• (12:25) - How a COO Frees Up the Managing Partner
• (15:42) - Lessons from Hiring, Expansion, and Profitability
• (18:33) - Automation and AI in Legal Practice
• (23:23) - Leading Without Micromanaging
• (26:05) - Building a Collaborative Firm Culture
• (28:15) - Growing the Firm with Solo and Experienced Attorneys
• (32:30) - Finding the Right Partners
• (35:52) - Breaking Through a Growth Plateau
• (38:34) - Bringing in Business Through Referrals and Relationships
• (43:28) - How Clear Practice Niches Drive Referrals
• (45:57) - Staying True to the Firm’s Core Principles

A growing firm can create an unexpected problem: the managing partner has more people, but every important decision, client issue, and operational question still comes back to them.

Shann M. Chaudhry, Principal Attorney & Managing Member at The Law Offices of Shann M. Chaudhry, ESQ., shares how he has solved that problem at his firm.

Key takeaways:

• The hires that moved key responsibilities off the managing partner
• His calendar-management system for protecting time for firm growth
• How client communication boundaries reduced interruptions without hurting responsiveness
• How to build law firm roles around operational needs and team strengths
• The service standards behind a more memorable client experience

Resources mentioned:

Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
View the book from Penguin Random House

About the guest
Shann M. Chaudhry founded his firm in 2012 with a focus on providing more personal, empathetic representation and a client experience that breaks from the traditional law firm model. He advises business owners and families on business planning, asset protection, estate and gift tax planning, and multigenerational wealth preservation.

Guest links:
LinkedIn: Shann Chaudhry on LinkedIn
Firm website: The Law Offices of Shann M. Chaudhry, ESQ.

About The Managing Partner's Table
The Managing Partner's Table is where firm leaders talk growth, leadership, and the business of law. Hosted by Amanda Sexton, founder of FocusWorks Marketing, who's spent more than a decade helping law firms grow.

About FocusWorks Marketing
FocusWorks Marketing helps law firms grow by bringing in more of their best clients through SEO, paid ads, and content.

─────────

🎧 Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts
📬 Get more FocusWorks insights in your inbox → Sign up here
🌐 More from FocusWorks Marketing → FocusWorks Marketing

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (00:23) - Meet Shann Chaudhry
• (00:50) - From Attorney to Law Firm Owner
• (03:27) - Hiring Earlier and Getting Expert Support
• (05:04) - The Director of Attorney Operations Role
• (08:32) - Delegating and Letting Go of Control
• (13:17) - Setting Boundaries to Prevent Burnout
• (15:22) - Time Blocking and Protecting Focus
• (17:58) - Setting Client Communication Expectations
• (20:54) - Building a Brand That Stands Out
• (26:57) - Creating a Memorable Client Experience
• (32:21) - Making Time for Strategy and Growth
• (37:14) - Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
• (38:44) - Building a Five-Year Vision
• (40:33) - Closing and Resources

What are other managing partners doing that could work for your firm?

The Managing Partners' Table takes you inside how other firm leaders are approaching the decisions you face, from growing profitably and building a strong team to figuring out where the firm goes next.

Each conversation gets into the specifics:

• How the firm has changed over the years and why
• How they made it work and what they had to adjust
• What they’d recommend to another managing partner

Step outside the day-to-day of your own firm and leave with a fresh perspective, practical ideas, and experience you can draw on when making your next decision.

Whether you’re working through a decision or looking for a better way forward, pull up a chair.

Hosted by Amanda Sexton, founder of FocusWorks Marketing, who has spent more than a decade helping law firms grow.