Beyond Billables (Beyond Billables)

On today's insight show we share a sneak peak of an upcoming episode with Wes Young, Co-Founder of Legally Yours. I also chat about leads, the way firms can attract more clients, and why you need a short, medium and long term plan. Finally we finish off the show with a short shoutout of a great blog post by Ian Whitworth all about the scourge of saying "I'm busy" and the need to connect with those around us. I share how a training friend who recently took his life made me reflect on this and what I can do to better connect with everyone. 

On the show this week Mike sat down with Ryan Loerh, a partner at Emanuel Whyboune. Ryan has over a decade of experience in the financial services industry, having worked for large retail banks, specialist investment firms, Macquarie Group and Morgan Stanley before moving to Emanuel Whybourne with its founders. Having previously studied law Ryan ended up embarking on a career in finance so it was a fascinating discussion on how he achieved this and what skills he learned in law school that helped along the way. Given the economic climate at the moment it was also a great chance to discuss inflation, interest rates and global markets and how someone like Ryan helps problem solve for his clients.

*** None of our discussion on this podcast should be taken as direct or implied financial advice of any kind and does not constitute personal advice to any person. The discussion may contain statements of opinion by the speakers which are a point in time evaluation current only at the date of publication and are not statements of fact or recommendations of any kind. To the extent permitted by law, neither the presenters or BB, employees or agents accept any liability whether arising in contract, in tort or negligence or otherwise, for any error or ommission in this podcast or for any loss or damage suffered by a recipient of this podcast or any other person acting in reliance upon the information or opinion in this podcast.***

This week on the show we sat down with the brilliant Anthony Curtin of Merton Lawyers. Anthony is not only the co-founder of a growing commercial firm but also the founder of multiple other businesses from Christmas trees to mineral exploration companies! He has some outstanding insight into what it means to understand your clients business and has put in place process in his practice to help his lawyers develop the type of commercial skills everyone talks about.

Anthony has an education spanning Business and Law and a professional career incorporating legal, operational, finance, product & business development, marketing and technology roles. His expertise is at the intersection of corporate law, emerging businesses and high-growth companies. This is a unique commercial perspective he brings to legal practice.

We spoke about the lessons he's learned, the power of great mentorship, and the personal journey it takes to build something from scratch.

It's a great discussion and we really hope you enjoy it.

https://www.mertonlawyers.com.au/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-curtin-88b880b/?originalSubdomain=au

On the show today I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Theo Kapodistrias, General Counsel of UpGuard, Key note speaker, director and Tasmanian ambassador! Theo has been a big supporter of ours over the years so it was terrific to be able to finally sit down with him and get to share his story. What makes Theo stand out so much is not just that he is a great guy, but he has been able to grow a personal brand and really invest the time and effort to make it work. He has gone on to use that to propel his speaking business and create real opportunities in a variety of different areas of his career. 

Theo Kapodistrias is a multi-award-winning lawyer and is the inaugural General Counsel of UpGuard. Prior to this, he worked for the University of Tasmania for almost 6 years.  He is an ACC Certified In-House Counsel (ICC) having completed the ACC In-house Counsel Certification Program in August 2020.

Theo has been recognized in Australia being named the 2020 Young Lawyer of the Year by the Law Society of Tasmania, the Academia, Training and Education Lawyer of the Year at the 2018 Corporate Counsel Awards, the 2017 and 2018 30 Under 30 (Corporate Counsel), and featured in the 2019 Legal 500 Australian Rising Stars Publication. In addition, he has been shortlisted for several other legal and community service awards.

In addition to his substantive legal role, Theo is a keynote speaker, trainer and facilitator where he assists individuals to be seen, be heard and make an impact. 

Theo is a Non-Executive Director and Tasmanian Divisional President of ACC Australia, a Tasmanian Ambassador and Industry Champion with Business Events Tasmania, an ambassador for World Idea Day, and the past Co-President of the Southern Young Lawyers Committee of Tasmania. 

On the show today we had the privilege of sitting down with Fionn Bowd, Founder of the recently launched Bowd Legal. Fionn has a great story of excelling in practice both in top firms and in-house, and share many great lessons on what she learned along the way.

Fionn has a true passion for empowering lawyers so that they can re-ignite their love for law and providing law firms with better solutions to their needs.

We spoke in detail about how we can empower partners to better service clients and ultimately build practices that they are proud of which don't result in the level of burnout that cripples many people. Having been to law school with Fionn it was fabulous to catch up and we certainly connected strongly in our joint belief that the profession can better serve all those that serve it, and that human centred solutions are critical to moving forward. 

https://www.bowd.legal/

We love to talk new law models on the BB podcast and this week we sat down with the Founder of another great Australian success story. Legally Yours is a lawyer matching platform that help connect clients with connect with lawyers on a fixed fee basis. It's another innovative model that seeks to increase access to legal services and also bring transparency to the way we all engage with legal services.

Most importantly Legally Yours offer another flexible platform for lawyers to work from in a far more flexible and nimble way. We had a great chat with Karen about her journey with Legally Yours, the future of distributed lawyer models and how new ways of delivering legal services is freeing up lawyers to work in a more flexible way and also be in control of their work flow.

Karen also brings an amazing career story to the table covering law, recruitment and now running a business like Legally Yours. She has a very unique skill-stack that she has developed and we talk a lot on the show about how this has helped her in her career to date.

We also do a deep dive into understanding what the future of practice might look like and also what the skill set of the future might look like for legal professionals.

Links:

https://www.legallyyours.com.au/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-finch-1b1568124/

Business development can be a minefield. How do you become great at it? Which strategies work? Which don't?

On the podcast this week, we dive into key questions surrounding BD with returning guest Matthew Hollings, Director of Clients and Marketing at Sky Discovery. While this discussion is largely focussed on business development, we also discuss Matthew’s background in law, the industry of many of our clients.

Matt shares some unique insights on the power of having the right BD strategy; as well as habits and consistency that professionals at all levels can take onboard and implement to help them win more work.

As for Matt himself check out his bio below! 

Matthew has been a part of the legal industry for over 12 years. First, as a practising solicitor working in litigation for a large national firm. Second, working in-house for a large financial institution in its disputes team, before moving into the world of legal technology. Matthew has spent the last 9 years using his practical experience as a litigator to support lawyers with eDiscovery solutions that help them to collect, analyse, manage and review the increasing volumes and types of data related to their disputes, regulatory responses and investigations. Working in close partnership with their clients throughout the entire matter lifecycle, Matthew and his colleagues use their legal and technological experience to develop solutions that make the technical, practical and the complex, simple so that those legal teams can focus on the law, and their clients.

This week on the insight show I drop some truth bombs around what to expect from your marketing spend, relive some epic advice from our recent show with Fiona from Girl Friday IP, and do a quick review of the awesome book "Can't Hurt me". 

Most firms struggle to understand exactly what they should be getting out of their marketing spend, so I tell it straight. From brand building to lead generation it's key to understand why you are spending your money and what you are going to get for it. 

In this week's Beyond Billables podcast I sat down with Devan King, founder of Ikigai Wealth. Devan has a fantastic story and shared his insights on business and life over the course of what was a very enjoyable show. Devan has a great philosophy that drives his business which I know will resonate with a lot of our listeners. 

Devan is a financial planner with over 15 years of industry experience. His career is marked by a significant achievement in building and subsequently exiting a successful wealth management business in South Africa.In 2016, relocating to Australia, and now doing it all again (but even better) with Ikigai Wealth. 

His extensive experience spans across various facets of the industry; including roles in corporate wealth management entities and boutique firms. This diverse background has equipped him with the skills to cater to a wide range of clients, from high net-worth individuals to ambitious young professionals and business owners.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of setting financial goals that will actually make you happy and pay off long term – and how to unlock those kinds of opportunities.

On the show today we had the great pleasure of interviewing the amazing Dr George Beaton. George is the Founder of Beaton, the pre-eminent ratings and review consultancy for professionals around the world. George has had a long and distinguished career in academia as well earning MBBCh, MBA and PhD degrees. George is a senior fellow in the Law School at the University of Melbourne and taught at the Melbourne Business School for decades. With a long career in academia and business George brings incredible insight to our discussions which covered client service, value based pricing and the future of practice.

George is presently Chair of the College of Law’s new Masters of Legal Business which is welcoming it’s first students in February. This is a world first program designed from the ground up to equip professionals with the skills in business to spearhead great organisations. We discussed why this program is so important, what the College is trying to achieve, and what legal and non legal professionals can expect.

We covered everything from client experience to branding, valued based pricing to the role of technology. Enjoy the show!

Check out the details on the Masters of Legal Business - https://www.collaw.edu.au/news/2018/09/25/master-of-legal-business-degree

Beaton - https://www.beatonglobal.com/

George Beaton - https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgerbeaton/

In this leaders in lockdown show I spoke with "The Remote Expert" and former podcast guest Emma Heuston! Emma's entire business is built on helping businesses work remotely so it was great to chat to her about how she does it, the difficulties of working remotely in the present environment, and what steps businesses of all sizes can take. As a lawyer and business owner Emma has great insight to share on how we can all better manage the juggle. 

https://www.theremoteexpert.com/

This week on the show Mike sat down with Kim Wiegand, Director of Business Development and Marketing at McCullough Robertson lawyers in Brisbane. Kim has experience working in Australia and in the UK with some of the largest law firms in the world and in a variety of BD and Marketing roles. We had a fabulous in depth discussion about how lawyers and law firms can improve their BD, get their brand messaging right, and stand out from their competition. We also discussed how law firms can attract the best other professionals and how as a profession we can more positively promote the opportunities that exist for non-lawyers.

This is a great episode for anyone who wants to refocus their BD efforts, understand the differences between business development, brand and marketing, and ultimately standout as a trusted expert where it matters (with clients!).

http://www.mccullough.com.au/

If there was ever a guest that shows us how to make the whole work and life thing work for you and not against you it's Emma Heuston. Lawyer, practice leader, author and speaker Emma is a leading figure in our industry providing crucial information about how to work flexibly and freely in the legal industry.

Emma is a the author of 'The Tracksuit Economy, How to work Effectively and Productively from Home'. This is an amazing book that provides a practical and easy to digest guide on how to work remotely and make it work for you and your employer. Having made the sea-change herself we were very fortunate to sit down with Emma and talk about her approach to work and how she makes it work.

Emma is a successful lawyer and currently Practice Leader at Legal Vision in Sydney. At the same time she enjoys a remote working arrangement that gives her the flexibility and freedom that we would all love. So how does she make it work and how can it work for you?

In this episode we talk with Emma about her personal and career journey in the law. We also talk about the amazing array of new law and working models available to lawyers but that we aren't seeing enough of.

Don't forget to get your copy of The Tracksuit Economy at the link below.

Links:

https://www.thetracksuiteconomy.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eheuston/
https://legalvision.com.au/meet-our-team/emma-heuston/

This week on the bite sized Beyond Billables Insight:

• Mike goes back to the archive and pulls out a cracking quote from Janelle Kerrisk on using technology in legal businesses.
• We highlight one of our favourite podcasts, the Joe Rogan Experience, and a recent episode on the catastrophic war on drugs and the realities of addiction.
• Finally we cover Facebook ads and why your firm probably has no idea how and why they can work for you.

That's it! Have an awesome law life this week!

On the Insight show today we cover quite some ground! 

In part one I chat about carving out time to do more stuff you love and give some tips on small changes that can make a big difference. It is a struggle as a busy professional but super important to find even small chunks of time for your own pursuits to make sure you never feel like you are missing out.  

Part two is a follow up from my recent interview with Michael Chesterman, Consultant at Helix Legal. Michael makes some great points on collaboration and investment. 

And finally in part three I chat Facebook ads, why most firms completely misunderstand them, and how you can use them to grow your brand and footprint. 

Stefanie Costi is a speaker, writer and lawyer whose true passion lies in advocating for a safer and more inclusive future of work.

After an experience with bullying left Stef with workplace PTSD, she decided to share her story to help make a real difference.

Stef has delivered keynotes on workplace bullying, psychological safety at work and mental health at the National Press Club of Australia, the University of Technology, Sydney and Canva. She has also been a guest speaker at The College of Law Australia.

In this episode, we discuss navigating workplace bullying, creating a safe workplace for all, and of course reflect on Stef's personal journey.

On the show this week, we welcome Tim Whybourne, Managing Partner at Emanuel, Whybourne and Loehr, an investment advisory firm with offices in Sydney and Brisbane.  

EW&L have also been an ongoing Beyond Billables client for the last eighteen months. 

On the show we discussed Tim's career, how he and the team have grown EW&L, and the challenges all professional services firms face. We also discussed markets broadly and Tim's strategy 

Tim has more than 15 years’ experience at the sharp end of financial services and planning. His experience has been garnered from more than a decade in financial services including CommSec, FP Markets, UBS Wealth, and Morgan Stanley.

Aside from investments, we also discuss building strong client relationships, and tailoring to high net-worth clients.

Obviously, nothing discussed in the show should be taken as financial advice at all and all discussions were general in nature. 

Jahan may refer to himself as a “little guy lawyer”, but we think he is an absolute legend of a lawyer and human. Head of Litigation at Executive Legal, a human rights activist, Tik Tok trailblazer and all around brilliant content creator, Jahan is a leading light in the legal industry.  On the show we chatted about all of this, his journey in law and the struggle we all go through finding balance and managing our own expectations.  What did I get out of it? A realisation that the authentic and real Jahan that shows up in my Tik Tok is the same passionate person IRL and that a focus on service and value with your content and not sales is the best way to build real connection.  

This week on the show I sat down with the one and only Alex Su, Head of Community Development at Ironclad, and the hands down most entertaining lawyer on Tik Tok!  Alex was a lawyer at a leading US firm before running his own practice and then making the move into legal tech sales and business development. You may however know Alex from his short video content which he has used to build a remarkable following on Tik Tok, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Alex brilliantly uses humour to make some serious points about what it is like to practice and some of the biggest issues facing the profession including technology change, mental health, overwork and burnout. We had a wide ranging discussion about social media, content creation, the opportunities to reach an audience and the stresses of “putting yourself out there”. Alex is a true leader and it was an absolute highlight to get him on the show.

Legal marketing in a recession! Ok, no one wants to hear the big R word, but we wanted to get out in front of it because with rising rates and inflation there is a good chance growth will turn negative this year. The key question is what does that mean for law firms, and for us what does that mean for law firm branding and marketing! In this show Mike dives into three key factors that firm owners need to remember, how to best prepare and the key to pivoting messaging during any time of uncertainty. Historically, recessions and downturns have been great for brands who stay committed to their medium and long-term goals and act strategically, not just reflexively.

On the show this week, we welcomed back the always outstanding James d'Apice, founder of Gravamen, and 'Coffee and a Case Note'. Today, we answer one fundamental question I get a lot - can social media help you grow a real business?

For James, the answer is "absolutely"! As one of Australia's most prolific professional services content creators, James has been building a personal brand across social media for the last 5 years, and this ultimately has given him the ability to recently launch his law firm, Gravamen.

We discuss his motivations for launching the firm, what he hopes to achieve professionally and personally, and what he has learned in the first 6 months in business.

James spills many insights on social media for lawyers, and what he would do if he was starting out in 2024.

Aside from business, we also discuss our motivations as parents, trying to create businesses that fit with our family lives, and how the 'juggle' is a constant WIP.

What a crazy last few weeks right? For most of us around the world our lives and work have been turned upside down. In these tough times it's clear that we need people who can lead to step up. Especially all of you in professional services, your clients need you now more than ever. While that might be hard when we feel a bit knocked down, that's ok you can lead by supporting as well. So in the show today I covered 10 ways to be a leader and a supporter in this time of crisis.

1. Use everything at your disposal

2. Be an ally to your clients

3. Have a clear plan

4. Be bold and brave

5. Take responsibility for your team

6. Work hard on the home front

7. Stay well

8. Do your bit for your country

9. Don't hoard resources

10. Get help if you are overwhelmed 

On the first interview show this year Mike spoke with Dominic Woolrych, Co-founder of Lawpath Australia's number one online legal platform that has helped over 400,000 small businesses across Australia and the US. On the show we discussed Lawpath and Dom’s journey, how they have scaled the business and some of the big questions business owners have to grapple with. Dom shared openly about the challenges of being a non-technical founder, how he has developed as a leader and how he manages it all. More details on Dom’s bio can be found below!

Dom’s mission is to transform and digitalize the legal industry to make it accessible to all small businesses and show lawyers that there are many non-traditional opportunities in the legal sector. Dom is on the advisory board and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology and a director of the Australian Legal Technology Association (ALTA). In 2022, Dom became the finalist at SmallBiz Week Young Hero Awards in the Young Innovator category and was voted the top 20 University of Technology Alumni.

As a young entrepreneur, Dom first cut his teeth as a commercial lawyer at Minster Ellison, Australia's largest law firm, where he realized that only a select handful of businesses could afford top legal advice. This experience and his subsequent work representing vulnerable people through Legal Aid gave him the insights and skills needed to disrupt and revolutionize the legal industry. Together with his co-founder Tom Willis, he witnessed how other industries moved their services online and applied this principle to the legal sector. With the automation of tasks and cutting-edge technologies (including AI), he bridged the gap and made gaining legal advice accessible to everyone, especially small businesses. Dom's vision is to continue to build his digital platform and help small businesses globally to access legal support at a fraction of the traditional system's time, cost, and complexity. Today, Lawpath is recognized as one of the top 10 legal start-ups in Australia and the top 50 globally. It is the fastest-growing online legal platform with over 400,000 small business users and has started 5 percent of all companies in Australia.

In this short insight show Mike discusses 20 key tips to help you kickstart your 2021. From having a mentor, to guarding your time and everything in between, this 20 minute show will help you get the year off to a great start. While it focuses on business owners there are a heap of tips for anyone looking to move ahead in their career. 

On today's show I sat down with Brad Vinning, corporate and commercial partner at Sparke Helmore Lawyers. Brad was one of my first ever guests three years ago and after our first podcast Brad went and started his own! 

He shared on the journey of starting and marketing a podcast, what he learned and what he gained both for his practice and personally. 

We chatted at length about the ups and downs of the last year, how he managed his practice and what we are looking forward to in 2021.

Chris Kondou works alongside driven & passionate CEO's to build financial strategies and unlock business growth. He has lend his guiding hand across a wide range of industries, from professional services, to manufacturing & wholesale. 

Chris has recently embarked on his biggest challenge as founder of his own CFO Advisory firm, finding a new passion for business development & entrepreneurship.

On the show, we discuss the importance of challenging ourselves both in business and life, how to build a new business from scratch in your 50's, and even get a peak into Chris’ marathon training and his view on embracing forced discomfort.

In this leaders in lockdown episode I had the pleasure of catching up with my friend and former podcast guest Fionn Bowd of Bowd Legal. Fionn is one of the deepest thinkers about the legal industry and we were able to have a really interesting chat about the good and bad of the industries response to date. We also discussed where see larger firms heading on the back of the rapid changes brought on by the crisis, opportunities for lawyers to become central decision makers in business, remote work and how new models will be increasingly embraced as firms see they can have success being nimble. 

www.bowd.legal 

If done well and from an authentic place, imagery can completely change the perception and success of your business. 

Today, we host the brilliant Kate Karanges, owner of imagery and production agency The Latest. For full disclosure, Kate has taken our images for the last few years – and has also worked with our clients – so we know how significant the impact of her images can be. 

This episode, however, is about more than just pretty photos. Kate explains why brand and strategy are vital for professional firms to differentiate themselves from competitors. It isn’t just about landing more work; but increasing relatability and trustworthiness. In the end, a trustworthy brand converts more clients and creates a stronger team. 

On today’s show, you will learn:

• How to use imagery better to stand out from your competitors 

• Why you need a clear strategy and great branding to complement your imagery 

• How to get better results from your social media efforts

• The time and work it takes to make one beautiful image 

• Why excellence matters and how to continually pursue it and test yourself 

• Why you need to be kind to yourself as a business owner

• How to manage your expectations and maintain a long-term outlook 

• Managing the family juggle and running a business as a parent 

Thanks for joining us, Kate! 

At Beyond Billables, we help professional firms with their brand, marketing, and overall strategy. Check us out at https://www.beyondbillables.com/

It's our last podcast episode of the current season!

This week, we're joined by Dan Mackay and Michael Chapman from Melbourne-based firm Mackay Chapman. Mackay Chapman are high-stakes regulatory, financial services, insolvency and complex disputes lawyers – and they also happen to be two of our long-term, ongoing clients (and friends in business).

Specialists at what they do and with 25 years of shared experience, Dan and Michael's work is focussed on understanding how key players in client matters think, feel and act, to provide the strategies and confidence needed to protect their interests.On today's episode, we discuss the journey of building an expert legal services firm while being comfortable in your points of difference.

We also analyse the 'on the tools' vs working on your business question; and the realities of managing the lawyer/business/family juggle.

In this episode Mike discusses the creation of the Beyond Billables Branding business, the struggles everyone finds with positioning(yes, even us) and the role of ego and status in decision making. 

It's been a wild ride bringing this podcast together for the last 4 years so we wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has been with us on the journey so far! 

Adam wrote "Reversed in Part" with a desire to help others looking to transition their careers. The book is packed with great stories and we were lucky enough to dive into some on the show. 

As a former Baker McKenzie associate and graduate from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School Adam has a great story to tell himself and we hope you enjoy hearing it! 

Today on the show we sat down with the remarkable Michael Chesterman, Consultant of Helix Legal. Michael brings his decades of knowledge of the construction industry to the Helix team, and he's not even a lawyer! Michael is in fact an industry expert that is a huge part of why Helix can deliver such a client centric approach to their service. Michael shares on the parallels between the construction and legal industries, the disruption happening in both, and the way law firms can better service clients by deeply understanding their business.

Check out his bio below!

Having worked for the building industry regulator in Queensland for 22 years, Michael was the inaugural BSA Compliance Manager, responsible for investigating contractor’s compliance with the financial requirements and other licensing criteria.

In 2000, he undertook extensive research, policy and legislation development and consultation with industry stakeholders regarding the need to introduce legislation that provided contractors with an alternative to the courts to rapidly recover outstanding payments for work done.

In 2004, he was appointed the inaugural Adjudication Registrar under the Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004 (BCIPA), a position he held until March 2017.

Michael has demonstrated a record of fighting for improved payment outcomes for all parties who have carried out construction work or supplied related goods or services in the Queensland building and construction industry. However, in particular he has consistently worked to achieving security of payment for subcontractors.

Michael brings a depth of practical experience and industry knowledge, complementing the legal skills within Helix, ensuring we deliver the right solutions for clients, not just the legal answer.

https://helix.legal/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-chesterman/

In rare company is today's guest who makes her second appearance on the show! I recently caught up with Marianne to chat about the last two years at Legalite, how she has grown the firm so successfully, and what the future holds.

Marianne is the founder and principal lawyer of Legalite - a new kind of law firm that aims to simplify legal services. Since establishing the firm in 2017, Marianne has successfully led Legalite in becoming a market-leading firm in the business and franchising space.

In 2018, she was awarded Sole Practitioner of the Year at the Lawyer’s Weekly Australian Law Awards, and more recently, she was named Partner of the Year (SME) in the 2019 Lawyer's Weekly Women in Law Awards.

Marianne’s passion for delivering easy to understand advice and her strong focus on client relationships has made her a true standout in the industry. So much so, that for two years in a row, Legalite was named Australia's Best Law Firm in the NAB Professional Services Awards - an award judged entirely by clients.

Rap music, horror movies, slow drip coffee and equity disputes - what do they all have in common? The one and only lawyer and host of Coffee and a Case Note, James d’Apice!

James is a Special Counsel at Chamberlains with a practice that straddles commercial and litigation work. As well as being a great lawyer James has built a strong personal brand in the last few years by leveraging the power of great content. Whether you have come across James on LinkedIn, Instagram or Tik Tok, his passion for the law and for sharing the journey is unrivalled. James not only makes valuable things, but he does it with a consistency that is truly impressive driven by an impressive long term strategy. 

On the show, we spoke about all of this and had a great discussion around what we can do to improve the profession now and in the future. James is a passionate advocate for change so it was great to get his insight into what we can do right now and the role we can all play. 

Today on the show we had the absolute privilege of sitting down with Angus Murray. Angus is a partner at law firm Irish Bentley Lawyers, Vice President of the Queensland Council of Civil Liberties, the Chair of Electronic Frontiers Australia’s Policy and Research Committee and Co-Founder of the Legal Forecast! 

We spoke in depth about his journey in law, how he became a partner and what he has learned along the way. Angus is a leading voice on cyber security in Australia and we had a thoroughly enjoyable discussion around the development of privacy laws and what the future holds for online security and privacy.

As well as his considerable achievements in practice Angus was a Co-Founder and remains and active part of the Legal Forecast. The Legal Forecast is a not–for–profit run by early–career professionals who are passionate about disruptive thinking and access to justice. Starting out in Australia they now impact students and the profession around the world and it was fascinating to chat about why they started and the teams mission.


https://www.irishbentley.com.au/staff/angus-murray/
https://thelegalforecast.com/

Welcome back to the Beyond Billables podcast!

It’s been a hot minute and a lot has been happening, but we are excited to once again be making the show. In this first episode of the year Mike shares candidly on the evolution and growth of the Beyond Billables agency, the decision to put the show on hold during his wife’s cancer treatment and the excitement about being back in the podcast chair!

It wouldn’t be a BB show without insight on some key professional services strategies and in the second half Mike dives into the “Work on vs Work in” your business conundrum and shares a 5 step process to help owners, executives, and senior leaders work out what balance suits them.

On our second "Leaders in lockdown" podcast I was so glad to speak with my friend James d'Apice. James is a commercial disputes lawyer in Sydney at Makinson d'Apice who also happens to be the genius behind the "Coffee and a Case Note" video series and podcast. James shared on working from home, managing the juggle with his partner and kids, and the changes that the present crisis might make to the way we work long term. 

On the show this week Mike sat down with the one and only Clarissa Rayward, law firm owner, podcaster, author and known as the Happy Family lawyer! As well as being the host for the last 6 years of the Happy Lawyer, Happy Life podcast Clarissa is also the Owner of Brisbane Family Law Center, an accredited Family Law Specialist, Mediator, Collaborative Lawyer & all-around superhuman. Over the past 15 years, Clarissa has worked with thousands of families during separation and divorce. She specializes in assisting her clients in experiencing a dignified divorce - staying away from the Court process and finding sustainable agreements for the future.

• Clarissa published her first book, Splitsville: How to Separate, Stay Out of Court and Stay Friends in 2015 (4.6-star review on Amazon)
• Launched her podcast in 2016 the Happy Lawyer, Happy Life
• Happy Lawyer Happy Life: How to Be Happy in Law and in Life published in 2017
• Provides webinars and teaches courses to lawyers

Scott has spent the last 8 years coaching and training lawyers and regularly writes and speaks on the subject of professional services business development.

In this time of crisis our stories are more important than ever. So we wanted to share how many of our podcast guest and friends are handling the stress and change of the present crisis, what they see as changing in their businesses as this plays out, and how they are handling the juggles of work and life. 

In the first show I was honoured to speak with Karen Finch, Founder of Legally Yours and great friend of BB. Karen is a remarkable business owner, mum of 4 and hugely positive person who has some great wisdom to share on this show. We chatted about managing family life, our partners, what the legal profession is going to look like for the rest of the year, and opportunities for the future. 

https://legallyyours.com.au/

In this special edition of the Beyond Billables podcast it was my privilege to speak with Jacob Little, founder of About Time for Justice. Jacob was subjected to abuse in institutionalised care, spent time in prison and ultimately has come out to rebuild his life and help others who go through institutionalised abuse. This is an honest and raw discussion where Jacob shares so openly about his story. Having started About Time for Justice this year Jacob has turned his life around, finished his high school studies and is on track to start a degree and ultimately fulfil his dream of becoming a lawyer. We discussed what more can be done to protect kids, what Jacob is trying to do to empower people who have been subjected to abuse, and how he has managed to rebuild his life from scratch. 

Today on the show I had the privilege of interviewing Wes Young, lawyer, proud father and Co-Founder of Legally Yours. Wes has a super interesting story which took him from journalism to law and shares his motivations for each step along the way. Wes has worked with some of the best known corporates and corporate personalities in Australia, and brings his experience to Legally Yours in what is a fast growth stage for the company. Wes has a particular passion for helping lawyers gain the personal freedom they need to live healthier and happier lives and we spoke in detail about how he feels this is achievable and the role technology can play. 

To find out more check out

https://legallyyours.com.au/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesley-young-gaicd-47ba3251/

AI is changing the SEO game forever.

Is your business ready? Today on the show, I chat with James Banks, Founder of Rankmax.AI. Rankmax is an AI SEO business that assists enterprises looking to leverage the power of AI, and ultimately grow website traffic.

Having worked in the industry for 15 years, James recognised the huge changes AI was bringing which drove him to launch Rankmax in 2023. Today, we dive into everything you need to know about AI, SEO, content and how technology is shaping search engine optimisation.

If your business utilises SEO to generate leads, this is a must listen. More than a business discussion, James also opens up in candid detail on his journey as an entrepreneur. He shares about some of the incredibly tough times that have shaped him as a leader and the pursuit of happiness in business that led him to this point.

https://www.rankmax.ai/

Andrew Goldstein is Managing Director and Founder of Goldstein Legal, a boutique legal practice advising and supporting financial services businesses.

Andrew’s legal background includes several years in private practice with mid and top tier firms, and several years a senior in-house practitioner with Macquarie, Challenger, Australian Ethical and Ardea.

Now, his focus is on the legal needs of investment managers, platforms and other regulated investors along with their adjacent counterparties and service providers.

On the show we had a great discussion about the role of GC's, the financial services industry as a whole and how Andrew has developed a strong business having ventured out on his own. 

This week on the show I had the absolute privilege of interviewing Matthew Karakoulakis, founder of AMK Law in Melbourne. As well as being the founder of AMK, a proud indigenous man who serves his community and an outstanding lawyer, Matthew and I are Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brothers! We had a great chat about Matthew's journey in all facets of his life, his drive to help his community and how his journey in martial arts has made him a better lawyer.

Matthew shared about the ups and downs very honestly and I am sure many people will get a lot out of this interview. Personally I love his drive and the practical ways he goes about empowering Aboriginal business owners and trying to be an example for others. His learnings from his Jiu Jitsu journey are very similar to mine and I really love the way he has reflected on the ups and downs of BJJ and how that has helped in his career.

Before starting AMK Law, Matthew worked in major firms and organisations including Clayton Utz, HWL Ebsworth, and ASIC. As a result, he is very well-equipped to deal with matters of any size and complexity, working with a broad range of clients, from small and medium enterprises through to large Australian corporations, including Indigenous organisations and Government bodies.

https://amklaw.com.au/

This week on the show I welcomed a very special guest, Kristal Naividi, Founder of Coastal Lawyers. Kirstal has an incredible and inspiring story for anyone looking to live their best life. Having grown up in public housing, made her way through university while working full time as a legal secretary and ultimately starting her own practice with three kids and a husband who had just been diagnosed with testicular cancer, Kirstal is a massive inspiration. 

On the show we discussed her journey to become a lawyer from such a tough upbringing, the impetus to start her own firm and how she has managed to make it a success so rapidly. Kirstal shares very openly about the hurdles and how she worked to overcome them in her own, incredible way. 

Upbeat, infectiously positive and incredibly open Kristal has a unique story that certainly makes me question the things I complain about!

Brad Turville is a strategic advisor who works with business owners to better manage, grow and exit their business – something he successfully did himself before showing others how to do the same. Recently, his work has a specific focus on strategic planning and financial management consulting.

Brad’s portfolio is impressive, with experience in running workshops and group accountability programs. He can often be found speaking at conferences, strategy days, and virtual events with a focus on profit and cash flow improvement.

On today’s episode, we take a look at Brad’s story; growing his own accounting and advisory firm and successfully exciting. He explains key financial issues for professional businesses, strategic decision making, and the importance of implementing the right tools and technology to help run your business.

This week on the show I had the pleasure of interviewing my friend, Dugald Hamilton. Dugald is the founder of 23Legal, a Litigation and Insolvency practice in Queensland which has experienced substantial growth over the last few years.  Dugald not only has a great story about growing a successful practice but has a keen interest in technology and implementing real solutions in the way legal services are delivered. We chatted at length about the future of law, practical ways law firms can use technology, and what is coming down the road. Having spent some time working from Chicago last year, Dugald was able to share his views on the reality of flexible work and how he was able to maintain his practice while enjoying his time in the windy city! The most enjoyable part of the interview for me was hearing about his journey starting 23Legal, what he has had to overcome, and the lessons that are helping him shape his firm as it grows.

https://www.23legal.com.au/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dugald-hamilton-8595b640/

This week, Mike sits down with founders of Oh My Digital, Kaitlyn Gillies & Hayley Peters to chat all things business evolution! Katy & Hayley are a dynamite duo that have grown their agency through hard work and a commitment to constant evolution. We discuss their history, how they tackle the big issues that all business owners face, and how those issues impact on them personally. Join us for a deep-dive into the reality of running an agency, the personal toll of owning a business, and how embracing constant change can help (in all aspects of life).

Oh My Digital are your marketing cheerleaders. We help passionate brands kick marketing goals, backed by a #cheersquad of besties, whether you're a rookie, a pro or anywhere in between! We will educate, inspire & empower you to demystify your marketing once and for all (and have a lot of fun along the way). We offer DIY and done-for-you options, so your brand can grow with us - whatever stage you’re at! We love a good 2000s throwback movie, Friday night cosmos & helping businesses grow with no BS digital marketing advice and strategy.

On this week's episode of the Beyond Billables Podcast, Mike had the pleasure to interview Francesca Chang. She is certainly an attorney on a journey! Francesca is a blogger, vlogger and life coach who has transformed her life, moved to Taiwan and now helps other lawyers. Francesca has a fascinating story of embracing a better life for herself and her family heritage while working to empower others to do the same. As a travel blogger and vlogger, she also works to promote Taiwan and the slow travel scene. On the show we discussed Francesca’s career, her motivations and the opportunities lawyers have to embrace multi-faceted careers.

Meet voice coach and public speaking sensation, Sally Prosser. 

Sally’s mission is simple: to help business owners find their authentic voice, speak with confidence, and land their message clearly. 

With several impressive qualifications, including a licentiate diploma in speech & drama teaching, and a bachelor of laws and media communication (majoring in journalism); Sally is more than experienced when it comes to strategic speech. She even spent 8+ years as a TV and radio news reporter for several major networks!

On today’s show, you will learn:

• How Sally grew a great personal brand and built an international business on LinkedIn, Tik Tok and Instagram 

• How to improve your communication to make a greater impact when it’s needed

• How to overcome the communication mental hurdles, manage stress and deal with stage fright 

• Practical ways to better communicate and hold attention

• How to empower your team and give them confidence in presenting 

Thanks for joining us, Sally!

On this weeks insight show, Mike discusses social media and what’s happening right now on our favourite platforms. From LinkedIn to Tik Tok we dive into what is working now and what we see coming in the future. One thing is certain, you need to be smart about taking advantage of reaching your audience and making content that is both authoritative and relatable.

On the show today I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Michael Kemp, founder of Kemp Law one of Queensland’s largest PI law firms.

This is one of the best discussions I’ve had on the ups and downs of growing a firm as Michael shared very openly on the challenges and opportunities. He clearly loves what he does and has a real passion for helping his clients but it's certainly been a journey. 

Michael’s business was built through the power of personal brand and connection and he shares how he invested in this in good and bad times. Importantly, we also discussed how busy firm owners can better manage their mental health, and how Michael’s very successful partner has been a huge part of his story.

This week on the show I had the tremendous privilege of interviewing EJ Wise, Cyber Lawyer and founder of WiseLaw. EJ has a remarkable story that spans 25 years working in the legal industry with the Australian Federal and State Governments and in private practice specialising in cyber law, policy, advice, international humanitarian law, law of the sea and criminal law! EJ is an internationally recognized cyber law expert who is one of the very few people in Australia with real experience advising on all aspects of cyber.

As well as her love for practice EJ has a real passion for education and is leading the way in bringing cyber threats and the effects on business into the main stream. EJ also served in the defence force and shared on her journey, her time at the Pentagon and what it was like advising on the use of technology in warfare and the role state actors are playing.

If that might all sound too technical don’t worry! EJ is one of the funniest, most engaging people I have had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know this year and this is a show with plenty of laughs as well as learning.

https://www.wiselaw.com.au/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wiselaw3/?originalSubdomain=au

On this week's episode of the Beyond Billables Podcast, Mike had the pleasure to interview the fabulous Dr Joanne Redburn, Director of NFP Lawyers. This was a great in-depth discussion about the not-for-profit sector and the challenges and opportunities that exist. Joanne is a true leader in the NFP space in Australia and has worked across some of the most complex NFP projects so it was great to be able to go into detail. Joanne also has a great story having started as a research scientist before transitioning into law because of her love for IP. We discussed this move, managing the juggle of growing practice with a busy family life and how Joanne has built NFP Lawyers from the ground up.

On the show today we had a great discussion with Kate Sherburn, Legal Beagle (Senior Legal Counsel!) at Who Gives a Crap. No, you didn't read that wrong, Who Gives a Crap is a toilet paper business committed to helping 2 billion people around the world get access to sanitation and clean water.

During the interview we discussed Kate's background, how she ended up working in-house, how she managed during the last 18 months as a busy parent and lawyer, and what she is looking forward to in the future. We also spent some time talking about how businesses and individuals can properly commit to and follow their mission and make a real difference.

In this leaders in lockdown podcast I got to catch up with my friend and one of the most entertaining people I know, EJ Wise. EJ is a cybersecurity expert who happens to have also been a lawyer in the armed services for over 20 years so had a very interesting perspective on the present crisis and how to best manage it. We spoke about planning for now and for the future, taking an "ends first" approach, and tactics for better managing on the home front! We also dove into how we can manage the mental health aspects of the crisis and help others around us. As always even in difficult times EJ brought her amazing humour and insight to our discussion. 

https://www.wieselaw.com.au

This week we're proud to launch our brand new Beyond Billables “insight” show.

Every fortnight we'll bring an upbeat 10 minute show to the lawyers of the world to give you inspiration to lead a better law life.

On the show today Mike highlights the growth in legal technology investment, does a review of Matthew Walkers “Why we sleep” (for all those sleep deprived lawyers out there!), and recaps a recent show with Sam Flynn of Josef on how to approach using different technological solutions in your practice.

We had great fun putting this new show together and hope it brings some inspiration to your law life!

www.beyondbillables.com

Meet Ella Doyle, social media expert and founder of Social Cut agency. Ella may not have intended on being an agency owner, but that’s what happened after she was begged to help with a friend's social content over 8 years ago. 

Can you build a successful agency by accident? Yes! Are there still heaps of opportunities to grow your business using content? Absolutely! Fast forward 8 years, and Ella has quite the story to tell about growing an agency, surviving Covid and recessions, and all the ups and downs that go into running a business.

Social Cut is an organic-first social media content agency. They help a broad range of businesses with content, social media and engagement.

To say we covered some ground on this show is an understatement. When you listen you will learn:

- Types of content for Instagram and TikTok,

- Why professionals shouldn’t be scared to make content,

- Why you need to be strategic across platforms,

- How Ella has never had to advertise because of great social media and SEO,

- Why engagement is so important to build community and connection,

- How to navigate tough economic times.

- How your team comes first and clients second,

- Why getting your team involved in your socials is critical,

- Some great tools and processes for approaching your social media.

Thanks for joining us, Ella!

Want to take your business's brand and marketing to the next level? Download our free “better client” audit and identify the areas of opportunity where you can become more profitable and build a better business. 

To find out more about how we help professional services firms with their brand and marketing strategy, brand design, websites and content creation check us out at https://www.beyondbillables.com/

On the show today I had the pleasure of sitting down with Alex Nicol, Director of Aptum Legal and Insolvency practitioner extraordinaire. Alex is a Co-Founder of Aptum Legal, a leading disputes practice that focuses on a range of complex disputes and insolvency work, all with a fixed price model. Alex and I discussed how Aptum Legal have been able to successfully implement a client focused pricing model that gives clarity and certainty to cost. Alex shared on his wins and struggles as a practitioner over the years and the motivations that drove him and his other founders to create something truly different for complex disputes. On top of nailing the client side Alex has a passion for growing a great culture and we discussed what this meant for lawyers that joined their team. 

https://www.aptumlegal.com.au/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-nicol-18514410/

Today on the show we welcomed the remarkable Cullen Haynes, finance specialist and mortgage broker extraordinaire. Cullen is part of the team at Legal Home Loans who specialise in helping Partners and Barristers with their lending needs. Cullen has a fascinating story that demonstrates the value of focusing on a niche, bringing huge amounts of value, and building a strong brand. As one of the most active people you will find on LinkedIn, Cullen has used video and content to swiftly build a personal and business brand to be proud of. An avid reader and runner, Cullen shares both his journey and what he has learned along the way in what is a very upbeat show. If you’re thinking about how you stand out in your career and want a great example of another professional who has walked the talk in building a personal brand than this is an episode not to be missed.

https://www.legalhomeloans.com.au/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cullen-p-haynes/

From Associate in the Supreme Court to playing packed out comedy shows around the world, this week Mike caught up with the incredibly talented Josh Glanc just before Edinburgh Fringe! Josh shared openly about his journey in comedy and the real challenges anyone faces who embarks on a career in a creative field. We spoke about the impact of the pandemic, how he approaches his standup and the reality of getting work as a comedian around the world. This was a very personal, engaging chat with a hugely talented Australian who is destined for great things.

In this week's show, Mike dives into the  "Net, Lure and Spear" marketing framework as a way to make better decisions on where you invest your marketing, BD and content investments. 

Mike dives into the significance of distinguishing between these three elements when investing time and resources in marketing your business. Net fishing involves broad messaging and brand building, creating a lasting impression. Lure fishing targets specific industry problems with tailored content, while spearfishing is highly focused on individual relationships, often involving personalized communication.

Mike emphasizes the importance of making clear decisions regarding where to allocate time and money within these elements. 

On the show this week Mike had a great discussion with Rizwana McDonald, Founder of Foundd Legal. Riz started Foundd as a way to make all of that boring, scary, overwhelming legal stuff both accessible and affordable to entrepreneurs, creatives and designers, so they can have the best shot possible of creating a legal, lucrative, kick-arse brand and business. Marketing pitch aside, Riz has an excellent and unique story of resilience and perseverance. Having been pulled out of school by her family at a young age, Riz was able to ultimately find her own path into the law which has culminated in her very own thriving practice. A truly inspiring entrepreneur and business owner Riz story is for anyone who thinks they can’t make it.

On the show today I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Tegan Boorman. Tegan is an Australian corporate, commercial and intellectual property lawyer who saw a niche market in creating commercial legal agreements for influencer marketing campaigns and collaborations, as well as terms and conditions for social media competitions, online businesses and digital courses. Social Law Co. was established to service that niche market.

During the course of her career, Tegan has acted for clients of various sizes, from individuals and small start ups through to companies listed on the ASX. Her industry expertise includes retail, publishing, travel, tourism and professional services.

She juggles lawyer life as well as mum life on the Gold Coast, where her young family is based.     

James Edwards is the founder of Edwards + Co Legal, a boutique commercial law firm in Sydney providing quality, value-added legal solutions for modern business. The firm specialises in corporate and commercial work for media and digital industry clients, from household names to emerging start ups.

The firm began in 2012, after James returned from 7 years working across Asia for one of the world’s largest media companies, and was founded on rethinking paradigms of the traditional large law firm approach, being agile, innovative, communicative and taking steps to truly understand client goals. Edwards + Co seeks to capitalise on James’ 20 years of experience in large law and in-house corporate environments, and trends in disruptive technologies and work-life balance, to help redefine the role of today's legal service providers.

This week we've gone back to the vault and brought out some great short clips from one of our most popular shows ever with the amazing Kate Cliff. Kate has a remarkable story about using meditation to overcome chronic pain and then turn it into how she helps people in the world.

https://www.beyondbillables.com/blog/kate-cliff-leaving-law-meditation-living-good-life

We also tackle the massive "should do I start a podcast?" question and give a rundown on why you might consider it as well as highlighting the top four aps we've started to use this year in the business!

Finally the show wraps up with the top four apps we have started to use this year that help us run a more efficient business servicing our clients. 

Claudia Conley is the head of Talent Acquisition for Media Stable and manages their Melbourne office. She loves all things communications and has a passion for hearing great yarns and meeting diverse Subject Matter Experts. Media Stable’s main purpose is to pitch said SME’s and their content to the media, so Claudia’s finger is always on the pulse of the latest breaks and happenings in the news cycle.

Mike shares a little about his journey with what is at times crippling anxiety and stress. From the lessons learned in the fight ring, to those shared by friends that motivated him to finally seek help from a mental health professional, this is a personal show about the negative impacts of anxiety and ways to ultimately manage it. The take home? Help is there if you put your hand up, and we can all do a better job of continuing to articulate that and actively supporting those around us. 

On the show this week I welcomed back one of the most knowledgeable and engaging experts in legal business development I have ever spoken to, Kim Wiegand, Founder of Julip Advisory and Partner at beaton. Kim has worked in Australia and Internationally for a range of leading legal service providers and brings deep expertise to our discussions on business development and what it means to deliver an outstanding client experience. Armed with both practical and quantitative insight Kim’s advice during our chat is hugely valuable if you want to grow your practice or business.

In this leaders in lockdown episode I caught up with my friend and awesome former podcast guest Fiona Nguyen of Girl Friday IP. Fiona and I chatted about IP, Brand and taking the opportunity to fix things we've kicked down the road in our business. We also went quite deep discussing the mental side of managing the crisis at home, how we try and focus internally when external pressures are the hardest and what we see are opportunities in the short term to try and make good medium term change. 

https://www.girlfridayip.com/

Today's show is a great chat I had with Amy Sanders-Robbins. Amy is an Accredited Family Law Specialist and Director at Bespoke Family Lawyers. Amy helps clients resolve family law issues through a holistic, collaborative and resolutions focused approach. Breaking away from tradition, Amy has taken to social media to empower and educate her audience about the separation journey and how to disentangle legally, emotionally and practically from the relationship.  

Amy works from the basis that separation can be an opportunity for her clients to rebuild and move forward so they live their best life going forward.  It is this future focused approach that leads Amy to creating personalised solutions for your client that take into account the life and social aspects of separation, not just the law!

Today on the show I had the chance to sit down with my friend and all around legal superstars Mel Scott. For any lawyer interested in building relationships with in-house decision makers this is a must listen episode! 

Mel is the Senior Counsel at Megaport, a global technology company founded in Australia, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2015 and now is in the ASX200. She has worked in house for 7 years across multiple industries such as aviation, infrastructure, financial services and now, cloud computing. Mel has previously been awarded the Lawyers Weekly Corporate Counsel 30 Under 30 Award. She is a passionate advocate for all things in-house and shares career insights for law students and graduates on Instagram @theinhouselawyer. She serves as a Member of the Queensland Law Society's In-House Committee and as the In-House Advisor to the Women Lawyers Association Queensland. Mel is a "recovering perfectionist" who believes that done is better than perfect. She launched Counsel, a self-made podcast about in-house lawyer life, during COVID-19 Lockdown.

How would you bounce back after the business you’ve worked on for a decade fails (and everyone in the country knows about it)? What if I told you your wife is heavily pregnant, you have to leave the country, you lost investors a packet and you’ve been wiped out in the process? 

For my friend Michael Fox, he put his head down, found a new passion, and got back into the game and is already making a huge success of it. 

On the show today I am so glad to share my recent interview with the Co-founder of Fable, former Co-Founder of Shoes of Prey and one-time lawyer Michael Fox. I’ve known Michael since law school, and have enjoyed many great chats over the years as well as learned a hell of a lot watching his journey. We discussed his exciting new venture Fable, his journey with Shoes of Prey and how he found purpose again and jumped back into the entrepreneurial ring. Michael’s story is inspiring and important in these hard times for anyone who might be struggling. Whatever happens in business, you can rebuild and can re-invent yourself in ways that serve others and allow you to live your values.

On the show this week is a great interview with the one and only James Diamond, founder of Diamond law. James is a lawyer from Queensland who certainly rode the wave of starting his own practice. James has quite the following on social media and we spent a big part of the interview discussing his crazy growth on Tik Tok and other channels. As much as I enjoy the marketing chat what I got most out of this interview was James' honesty and openness in discussing the benefits and difficulties of starting out on your own, the hard choices we have to make as business owners and how he has managed that. We also spent some time chatting about the present rights discourse in Australia and the difficulties of discussing rights in the Covid context. James is a really insightful, entertaining lawyer and business person with a keen sense of making the most of his life and opportunities. 

This week on the show I had a great discussion with John Farren, Director at Farren McRae Workplace Lawyers & Consultants. John has a fascinating background in the law and life in general having started out his professional life as a musician and ended up running his own firm! We chat about John's journey in the law, how he has grown his practice and his embrace of social media and other marketing channels. 

John has extensive experience in all aspects of workplace and employment law. He has represented employers and employees before Workplace and Industrial, Administrative and Statutory Tribunals and Courts at both State and Federal levels, and is a skilled workplace investigator for complex workplace relations matters.

With a special interest in dispute resolution, John is also an experienced workplace mediator. His mediation approach assists the parties to identify the root causes of their conflict and agree on how to positively move their working relationships forward.

Before co-founding Farren McRae, John practised as a Barrister-at-Law at the Queensland Private Bar for over six years. He chose to move to practising as a solicitor as he believed he could more effectively help individual employers and employees resolve complex workplace disputes and issues as a solicitor in his own firm.

Meet Leanne Hughes, self-proclaimed ‘thought breeder’; successful business strategist, author and podcaster! Leanne’s biggest focus? To have a great business, you need a great team – and Leanne is an expert in helping grow them. 

With a background in psychology, and experience working for a range of organisations; Leanne set out on her own as a consultant in 2019 and hasn’t looked back. Her joy lies in helping everyday people create extraordinary experiences – for themselves, their teams, and their businesses and communities. Leanne offers 1-1 training with businesses, as well as courses and public speaking appearances.

 On today’s show, you will learn:

- How to identify organisational and cultural issues in your business that are costing you money;

- Practical steps to build a great team culture and process;

- How Leanne has used LinkedIn to build an international personal brand where 80% of her work is overseas;

- Why you should think about starting a podcast and writing a book;

- The surprising difference becoming a published author can make; 

- How to lean into your strengths and forget about the “haters”;

- How great teams “market” themselves internally in organisations;

- The power of “frentors” and why business leaders need to lean on their peers.

 We’re so grateful to have you join us, Leanne!

This week we had the chance to sit down and speak with a marketing whiz and wordsmith in Anita Siek. Ex lawyer and founder of Wordfetti, a digital marketing and copy writing business for businesses of all shapes and sizes including law firms. 

One of the biggest issues within the legal industry is the tendency to make communication and their messaging too specialised and legalistic. In this interview we talk about why this is the case, how to improve your copy and messaging so you are hitting the market and engaging with your audience effectively. 

Anita has a magic way with words and explains just why its so important to get your copy and messaging right across the board from your website to social media efforts to how you engage with clients. Anita is always thinking about what the customer experience will be and how to best to engage them and deliver content in a simplified and easily digestible way.

Enjoy the episode and stay tuned for event news next year where we hope to have Anita participating again with her work shops. 

In this episode of Beyond Billables, Mike engages in a candid conversation with Claire Styles, founder of C Legal and Co. Claire shares her journey of building a successful legal services business over the past two and a half years. The discussion delves into the key elements of her business development strategy, encompassing branding, social media, content creation, and marketing. As a solo entrepreneur specializing in asset protection and tax minimization for high-net-worth individuals and business owners, Claire provides valuable insights into the evolution of her brand and the lessons learned along the way.

The episode explores the importance of networking and relationship-building in the legal profession, with Claire emphasizing the significance of strategic connections over sheer quantity. The conversation also touches on Claire's transition to working from home and how it influenced the refocusing of her business. Listeners gain valuable advice on the delicate balance between personal fulfillment and business success, with Claire encouraging aspiring legal entrepreneurs to align their professional pursuits with their true passions. The episode concludes with a glimpse into Claire's exciting future plans and upcoming guests for Beyond Billables in 2024.

A litigation firm with a value pricing model that was created to be a great place to work? They do exist and prosper and this week it was our great pleasure to interview Nigel Evans, Co-Founder of Aptum Legal one of Australia's leading firms that have moved beyond the billables model.

Nigel started Aptum with his fellow co-founders at the start of 2018 and has already had tremendous success growing the practice. The firm are experts in a range of litigation with a particular strength in Insolvency, Bankruptcy, Tax and Corporate disputes. We had a very in depth discussion around value pricing, scoping and different approaches to billing which Aptum Legal has embraced wholeheartedly.

In their own words:

"What we know to be certain is the traditional way of providing legal services is failing. In commercial litigation in particular, it is failing to provide high-quality service that delivers commercial outcomes. The traditional way rewards inefficiency, stifles creativity and innovation, focusses on process over outcomes and alienates even the most sophisticated clients."

Nigel came to law having already had a professional background and we discussed how he managed to juggle a young family with a big career pivot and how his prior experience has helped him while in practice and at the bar.

Nigel has worked for large international firms, as a Barrister and now running his own practice so has a great depth of understanding to how law firms can be run effectively. If you're interested in different fee models, how contentious practices can approach value pricing, and how to grow a firm that lives its values then this is a great episode for you.

https://www.aptumlegal.com.au/

On this week's show I sat down with my friend and incredibly successful online business strategist Steph Taylor. Steph helps service-based business owners build profitable and sustainable online businesses that continue to grow even when they’re offline. 

This was a great discussion on Steph's business journey, what's worked and what hasn't, and how she has managed to find success. Steph and I worked together for 2 years, so it was great fun to revisit that time, reflect on her journey and hear all her insights on online business. From business to mental health, this is a great discussion on business and life. 

In 12 months, Steph took her online business from $100K to $1 million, and the best bit? This
didn’t come with the trade-off of more hustle and more time. In fact, by creating a solid online
business and sales engine, she was able to take weeks off to hike around the outback with a
tent on her back, and be off the grid for a month in a camper van with her furry best pal, Archie.
By leaning on strategy over tactics, value over the hard sell, and longevity over quick wins,
Steph believes that a successful online business shouldn’t feel like you’re pushing an elephant
up the hill, but instead should feel fun, flowy, and fulfilling.

Through her podcast Imperfect Action that’s clocked over 2 million downloads and in supporting
over 4,000 paid students and counting, Steph today teaches online businesses how they too
can create financial, choice, time, and location freedom through her framework that blends
strategy, content, sales, systems, and mindset.

In the next few shows I'll be focusing on 7 huge lessons I've learned this year plus drop some more awesome clips from recent guests. On today's show I chat about the lag time in dealing with stress and anxiety, there's a great clip from my recent interview with Dugald Hamilton on Cyber threats, and we wrap it all up with a huge lesson one of my clients gave me about sticking to my guns. 

To read the entire blog - https://www.beyondbillables.com/blog/business-lessons-from-2019

This week on the show I had the epic privilege of being joined by the one and only Fiona Nguyen, founder of Girl Friday IP and all around awesome human. As a Patent Attorney and business owner Fiona has grown a great brand and business which was central to our discussion. Given our mutual love for branding we were able to do a deep dive into how lawyers of all kinds can grow great personal brands and great businesses whether in big teams or out on their own. Fiona has one of the very best social media presences of any Patent Attorney in the world (huge call but it's true) because she has made her brand all about herself, her skills and her unique perspective. As the self described “go to for all things intellectual property related” Fiona has been able to grow a personal brand and business on her own terms. In a world where there are few true creatives Fiona is a great example of tapping into what makes you unique and having the guts to build something great.

In her own words ”I believe in inspiring creativity to spark purposeful change in the communities where I work, live and play. Girl Friday IP is supporting creative thinkers by making intellectual property an accessible tool and an engaging human experience.”

This is certainly a high energy, high inspiration show and I'm very thankful for Fiona's time in being able to make it happen.

https://www.girlfridayip.com/

On the show this week we hosted the brilliant Gemma Bunner & Kerri Shaw of Shaw & Bunner Legal. As the founders of a fast growing personal injuries law firm in regional Australia Gemma and Kerri have a unique and fascinating story to tell. We spoke about the challenges and benefits of starting your own firm, how they grew the business within the local community, and their ability to manage it all parenting!

Gemma & Kerri have demonstrated the value of building great relationships, investing in growing a brand and reputation, and having foresight to look forward to where they want the business to go (and take action to make it happen).

Tyrone is an expert in Australian estate planning and wealth protection. He founded firm Empire Law with the goal of helping Australians protect their businesses and secure their wealth so that they may leave a legacy behind for their families. His passion for estate planning and belief that tailored estate planning isn’t exclusively for the rich and famous – but for every Australian – is admirable. Tyrone has a talent for translating complicated and daunting legal jargon into plain language that can be understood, and more importantly, easily related to.

Join us for a discussion around the importance of protecting your legacy, growing a business as a solo-preneur, evolving your skills and growing over time, taking advantage of the opportunities given to you and trying to make the most of them

On the first show of 2019 we sat down with Co-Founder of Josef and legal technology expert Sam Flynn! Josef is a legal technology business that was created to empower access to justice and help legal service providers build tools to better serve clients.

In their own words "With Josef’s automation platform, your organisation can create legal chatbots, streamline processes, eliminate repetitive tasks and access new revenue streams."

On the show we discussed Sam's journey, the businesses he's launched and the way technology can help bridge the access to justice gap. We dove into the present reality of AI in Law, the types of new solutions firms are using to solve clients problems and how platforms like Josef will help shape the future of legal services.

Meet John Farren, Partner and Co-Founder of Farren McRae Workplace Lawyers & Consultants – and one of the very best lawyers on LinkedIn! As a leading employment lawyer, John saw the opportunity LinkedIn presented to build relationships and leverage his time. Since then, he has made LinkedIn central to his business success. 

John has quite the story, from professional trumpet player to business owner and now leading employment lawyer. John shares openly why he thinks other lawyers need to fully embrace their own stories.

What makes John’s approach to LinkedIn so noteworthy, is that it is achievable for anyone willing to put in the work. We delve into his strategy, his content creation process, and how others like you can start reaping LinkedIn success. 

During the show, you will learn about:

• How over 50% of John’s leads originate from LinkedIn,

• Practical strategies to grow on LinkedIn for all professionals,

• Content ideas and batching content,

• How firms can empower their people to grow their brands,

• How John and his partner Alison have created a firm culture that rewards success,

• Why their firm focusses on senior practitioners, 

• Finances and cash flow,

• Meditation and exercise

Thanks for joining us, John!

On the show this week Mike spoke with Law Firm SEO expert, Chris Dreyer, CEO and founder of Rankings.io.  Rankings.io is an SEO agency that specializes in helping personal injury law firms dominate first page rankings. This was a really interesting discussion on SEO, Content, niching down and the power of brand across everything law firms do. Chris also shared on his own interesting personal journey and how he built his brand through content and the strategies he helps clients implement. Mike also discussed the upcoming launch of Chris’ first book
called: Niching up: The narrower the Market, The Bigger the prize.

How come some businesses can scale, and others can’t? Have you thought about advertising, but found it all too complex? On today’s show, I sat down with Lauren Swidenbank, Founder of Cali Social and owner of Collabosaurus. 

Lauren is truly a guru of all things online advertising, so I was excited to pick her brain on your behalf over Google Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn ads and everything in between. We discussed how critical strategy is, the role of content and your wider brand, and how to measure success. Lauren walked me through each step of the process in determining what type of advertising strategy could work, and highlighted some of the key differences between platforms that business owners need to know. 

Today you’ll learn:

• The key basics of Google Search ads and what you need to know

• The type of ads she uses now to promote Cali Social

• How Cali Social used advertising to expand internationally 

• How to evaluate whether an ad campaign is working

• The importance of strategy and getting your messaging right

• Why a good ad campaign can take time to bare fruit and the key time frames to be aware of

• The power of collaboration and how Collabosaurus empowers businesses of all sizes

• The role of AI in online advertising now and into the future 

• How Lauren manages to run two businesses and the habits she has had to develop to stay healthy and well. 

Thanks for joining us, Lauren! 

To find out more about how we help professional services firms with their brand and marketing strategy, brand design, websites and content creation check us out at https://www.beyondbillables.com/

Meet Steph Taylor, self-confessed corporate dropout turned online business entrepreneur. Steph is part of the Hubspot network; and the host of the Imperfect Action podcast, with over 800 episodes recorded.

So what does she actually do? Well, in a nutshell, Steph helps her clients build reliably profitable online businesses so they can spend less time on work and gain more time to enjoy their life. Steph's passion lies in helping other business owners and entrepreneurs become self-made superstars, following the same formula she used.

If you've ever wanted to build a 7 figure online business, while still being able to live the life you want? Then this episode is for you.

Today, you’ll learn:

• What to do when you're just starting out in business,

• How shared purpose and connection can save your business,

• How to bounce back from a mega flop,

• Why strategy is so important when launching,

• The secret to building an engaged community,

• And so much more!

Thanks for joining us, Steph!

To find out more about how we help professional services firms with their brand and marketing strategy, brand design, websites and content creation check us out at https://www.beyondbillables.com/

On the show this week Mike spoke with the brilliant Rob Dos Santos from Cape Town, South Africa! Once upon a time many moons ago, Rob was a lawyer, practicing Commercial and Corporate law. However, he had a higher calling in life to make films. So one day he decided to ditch the courtroom for the camera and live his dream of being a filmmaker. This was a great show exploring what it means to have passion for your work and the tough journey many people need to go on to find something they love to do. Rob shares candidly and with great humour about his journey and everything it has taken to make it work.

On today’s insight show Mike reflects on what they don’t teach you in law school! Having worked in the industry for over two decades now in practice, in recruitment and in marketing what stands out for us is that young lawyers aren’t coming out of law school with some key skills that can help them over their career. Mike focuses in on three key issues around Client Experience, Communication and Business skills that all great lawyers need but that law schools (and many law firms own training and development) just aren’t providing.

Today on the show I had a great pleasure of welcoming Sacha Kirk, co-founder and CMO of Lawcadia.  

In her role Sacha draws on over 15 years experience in marketing, brand strategy, innovation and professional consulting experience in Australia and the UK. Lawcadia is a legal technology company with a web-based platform in-house legal teams and their law firms can use to manage projects, matters and spend.

We had a great chat about how the business was started, how they have been able to grow internationally, and what the future holds. As a fast growing legal technology company who has made real inroads both in Australia and internationally I was inspired to hear how  they backed themselves and have achieved great success.

Today’s smiling guest is the one and only Jason Malouin.

Jason is a creative wizard, founder and incredible portrait photographer at Super Power Portraits. He also happens to be all around one of the most infectiously positive people I know.

With his incredible energy and commitment to insanely good photos, Jason helps his clients show up at the top of their game. From portraits in Pennsylvania to being booked and busy in Brisbane Australia, Jason shares his incredible journey and the power of a big hearted commitment to helping real people portray themselves with authenticity, honesty and integrity.

Today you’ll learn:

-How to get more clients by communicating what your real skills are

- How to unlock your personal brand super power

- Why imagery is so powerful and how to use it to stand out

- How to make hard, life changing decisions in business and life

- The power of rebranding and refocusing your message

- Why everyone hates photos of themselves, and how to overcome it

- Why mindset matters and how to get through tough times as a business owner

Ever felt a little unsure of your place in the world, and your industry? Know the familiar pangs of imposter syndrome? Buckle up, this episode is for you!

Thanks again, Jason!