Tag: Business

FEATURE
From working at a law firm to launching his practice during the pandemic: Adam Berger’s Story (Ep. 33)

From working at a law firm to launching his practice during the pandemic: Adam Berger’s Story (Ep. 33)

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Are you an employee aspiring to become a law firm owner? Look no further!

In this episode, Darren Wurz and guest Adam Berger, a partner and co-founder of Miller Berger located in the great city of Chicago navigate the complexities of managing a successful law firm.

Adam shares some insights on how to build your professional network, the importance of a lean business model and successfully transitioning from an employee to a law firm owner.

Adam discusses:

  • The business models and strategies he adopted to grow his law firm even in the midst of a global pandemic.
  • The importance of delivering great work to your clients to drive business growth.
  • How to balance lifestyle considerations with high performance.
  • The importance of bringing on team members who align with your firm culture.
  • How to get business referrals by helping people.
  • Why law firm owners need to be more flexible instead of simply being taskmasters.

Resources:


Connect with Darren Wurz:


Connect with Adam Berger:


About our guest:

Adam’s focuses his practice on Corporate, Complex Commercial Litigation, Insurance Defense, and Employment matters, as well as a wide variety of Commercial Transactions including “buy-sells” and Real Estate.  Adam serves as outside general counsel to numerous privately held companies in the Greater Chicago Area, including many automobile dealerships and construction companies. He is regularly engaged to defend lawsuits alleging breach of contract, fraud, breach of warranty, and violations of Federal statutes such as the Truth in Lending Act. Adam is often retained to resolve shareholder disputes and employment charges filed with the EEOC and Illinois Department of Human Rights. Adam also has extensive experience defending construction companies against claims of negligence and wrongful death.

Adam has tried numerous cases to verdict and has an impressive appellate record.  He regularly represents clients in arbitration hearings, mediations, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings.

Adam has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star in Construction Litigation and is the proud recipient of an Illinois Jury Verdict Reporter “Trial Lawyer Excellence Award” for obtaining a defense verdict on behalf of an electrical contractor in a wrongful electrocution death case. Adam serves on the Boards of various public and private organizations. Prior to establishing Miller Berger, LLC, Adam was a partner in a large, multi-state law firm and the owner of a boutique law firm in Chicago.

Bar Admissions​

  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • Federal Trial Bar

 

Education

  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
    • J.D. – 1999
    • Dean’s List
    • CALI Highest Grade in Legal Research
    • Best Oral Advocate, Regional Finals, National Moot Court Competition
    • National Moot Court Team
    • Winning Team, Intra-School Moot Court Competition
    • Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Team
  • Washington University
    • B.A. – 1993

Professional Associations

  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Northwest Suburban Bar Association
  • Illinois Defense Counsel
  • Illinois Independent Auto Dealer Association, Board Member
  • National Independent Auto Dealer Association
  • HACIA

 

Published Works

  • Co-Author, Chapter 1 and Chapter 4, A Young Lawyer’s Guide to Real Estate Practice, The Young Lawyers Section, Chicago Bar Association

 

Honors

  • Illinois Jury Verdict Reporter “Trial Lawyer Excellence Award”
  • Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star, Construction Litigation
  • Super Lawyer 2022
  • Elite Lawyer 2020-2022

 

 

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FEATURE
Unlocking the Secrets of Success in Sports Law with Brandon Leopoldus (Ep. 32)

Unlocking the Secrets of Success in Sports Law with Brandon Leopoldus (Ep. 32)

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Are you fascinated by legal representation in sports and the role of wealth management for athletes? Then Episode 32 of The Lawyer Millionaire podcast is a must-listen. Guest Brandon Leopoldus, a renowned sports and entertainment attorney, shares his wealth of knowledge and the unique challenges he navigates in the glamorous realm of sports law in this unmissable episode.

Host Darren Wurz delves into an insightful conversation with Brandon Leopoldus, a California-based attorney and founder of Leopoldus Law, APC – a specialized law firm dedicated to serving clients in the sports industry.

From managing complex licensing deals to providing financial planning guidance and providing a support system for athletes to build and safeguard their wealth. Brandon’s legal path offers a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look into the world of sports law.

Brandon discusses:

  • How his personal journey from umpiring Minor League Baseball games to becoming a sought-after sports lawyer has shaped his unique approach to sports law.
  • How Leopoldus helps lesser-known athletes understand and plan for their future beyond sports.
  • Why he focuses on the easiest way to get things done without compromising his client’s experience.
  • Why Leopoldus undergoes a thorough vetting process before deciding to work with any athlete.
  • Why Leopoldus offers flexible and upfront pricing options to ensure their clients are never caught off guard by unexpected fees.
  • How to use AI tools to speed up business operations, reduce costs and help more people.


Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

Connect with Brandon Leopoldus:

 

About our guest:

Brandon Leopoldus is a California-based attorney and founder of Leopoldus Law, APC – a specialized law firm dedicated to serving clients in the sports industry. With a focus on providing tailored legal solutions and strategies, Mr. Leopoldus is committed to helping his clients navigate the complexities of their off-field and off-screen needs.

His extensive experience includes representing professional sports franchises, unions, Olympians, athletes, sports officials, musicians, and entertainers across various fields. From setting up and protecting loan-out corporations to offering complex solutions for high-profile individuals, Mr. Leopoldus ensures his clients have access to top-notch legal expertise.

Notable accomplishments in his career include developing the legal structure for a new hockey league, serving as Interim Counsel for an MLS team, advising the Association of Minor League Umpires during the pandemic, working with numerous U.S. Olympic Governing Bodies, assisting collegiate athletes as they transition to professional careers, and maximizing returns for collegiate athletes leveraging their name, image, and likeness rights.

As a recognized leader in sports law, Mr. Leopoldus frequently speaks at conferences, guest lectures at law schools, and participates in panels at the Sports Lawyers Association’s (SLA) Annual Conference. He is also known for his informative LinkedIn Video Series covering various sports law topics.

An award-winning member of the Sports Lawyers Association, Mr. Leopoldus is also a member of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association and the Sports and Entertainment Society. He shares his expertise by teaching Sports Law classes at Loyola Law School – Los Angeles.

Prior to his legal career, Mr. Leopoldus spent several years in Minor League Baseball as an umpire, with only one notable appearance on SportsCenter.

Outside of work, Leopoldus enjoys spending time with his friends and family, including his highly intelligent dog, Harvey, named after Hall of Fame umpire Doug Harvey.

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FEATURE
How Law Firms Owners Can Attract, Nurture and Retain Top Talent With Scott Love (Ep. 31)

How Law Firms Owners Can Attract, Nurture and Retain Top Talent With Scott Love (Ep. 31)

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Are you a law firm owner looking to build and nurture authentic relationships with your clients that can stand the test of time? Look no further! In this eye-opening episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast, host Darren Wurtz sits down with Scott Love, an esteemed authority in legal recruiting and business development within the legal world.

Scott Love, our guest and legal recruiting expert explores strategies to identify rainmakers within your team, how to establish yourself as a thought leader and why leadership is often missing in big firms.

Scott discusses:

  • How law firms can improve their business development processes.
  • The importance of authenticity and sincerity in growing a client base.
  • How writing and publishing content regularly can enhance your credibility.
  • How to leverage platforms like LinkedIn to boost your law firm’s reputation.
  • The importance of finding your ideal niche.
  • Why successful people want to work with people that are real with them without being pushy


Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

Connect with Scott Love:

 

About our guest:

Scott Love helps law firm partners mitigate risk and maximize opportunity when transitioning from one firm to another. He does this by understanding the nuance involved in high stakes negotiations, the algorithm required for an effective partner transition, and the delicate risks associated with complex career moves.

His street-smart savvy and extensive business acumen, coupled with over two-decades of unparalleled executive search experience, give an added element of security for partners who are considering a move to another firm.

Love is a prolific thought leader on the topics of rainmaking, recruiting, and leadership and has written over 250 articles on these subjects. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Bloomberg, The American Lawyer, Above the Law, Law360, the Huffington Post, Business Insider, and dozens of business publications.  He is the author of three books:   Why They Follow:  How to Lead with Positive Influence, The Recruiter’s Adventure Book, and the coauthor of Rainmaker Confidential: How Top Professionals Make Smart Business Development Investments of Time, Treasure, and Talent.  Love is a popular speaker on business development topics at conferences and retreats and has keynoted at large legal recruiting conventions, sales meetings for legal recruiting firms, and nearly every trade association in the recruiting industry.

Love’s expertise is further evidenced by his work as an expert witness in the recruiting industry, including a successful jury trial related to legal recruiting, and expert witness opinions related to law firm partner compensation.

Love is a 1989 graduate of The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. While serving on active duty as a naval officer, he held a Top Secret security clearance, was third in command of a U S Navy ship as a Surface Warfare Officer, and later served as a leadership trainer and organizational development consultant at the world’s largest naval base.

When he is not recruiting, Love enjoys working as a professional watercolor artist, speaking at business meetings on sales and recruiting, writing books, golfing, mentoring DC youth for college through Capital Partners For Education, playing in poker tournaments and cash games, and spending time with his family.  He is also the host and producer of The Rainmaking Podcast, a top 3-percent show that gives rainmaking attorneys ideas on how to develop new business and build more meaningful client relationships.

Love is a board of directors member of the National Association of Legal Search Consultants, a member of the National Speakers Association, and is past president of two recruiting industry trade associations.  He is an advisory board member of Protect Our Defenders, an advocacy group that supports active duty military service members who are victims of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.

Love lives in Midlothian, Virginia, and is married with two children, a rescue dog named Ruby, and two rescue cats named Marbles and Prince.

 

Charity Involvement, Social and Business Clubs and Memberships:

– Protect Our Defenders, Advisory Board Member

– The Episcopal Parish of the Redeemer, Midlothian, VA; Member of Stewardship and Outreach Committees

– The Army Navy Club, Washington, DC

– Salisbury Country Club, Midlothian, VA

– The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Asheville, NC

– The National Association of Legal Search Consultants; board member and host of “Recruiter Stories”, the official podcast of NALSC

– The National Association of Law Placement

– The National Speakers Association

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FEATURE
Building A Successful Law Firm with Jordan Ostroff (Ep. 30)

Building A Successful Law Firm with Jordan Ostroff (Ep. 30)

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Are you a law firm owner seeking the keys to success and financial prosperity? In this episode we dive into the incredible journey of Jordan Ostroff, founder of Jordan Law, who not only reshaped the legal landscape but also unlocked the secrets to building a digital first firm that has rapidly grown to become a prominent force in Central Florida.

 

In this episode, Jordan Ostroff, our guest, explores the business principles lawyers need to adopt to enjoy remarkable financial success. Jordan highlights the importance of mentorship, how his firm thrived during the pandemic and why he passionately believes in sharing his knowledge online.
From learning how to build valuable relationships with clients to effective referral systems, this episode is packed with insightful nuggets for lawyers aiming to build a thriving law firm

Jordan shares:

  1. Why it is very important to know your ideal client
  2. How law firms can price their offerings and increase their profitability
  3. How to maintain a healthy work-life balance
  4. How attorneys can build a team that works for them and eventually transition into a leadership role
  5. What it means to be a digital first law firm and how it has improved his clients experience
  6. What his dream retirement looks like

 

Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

Connect with Jordan Ostroff:

 

About our guest:

Jordan Ostroff is a visionary entrepreneur, Managing Partner of Driven Law Fl, Host of multiple Facebook live shows, and a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida.

From a young age, he knew that he wanted to be a lawyer, even when he had no idea what that meant. During college, he began competing in trial competitions across the country, where he was an award-winning advocate for fictitious cases.

After law school, he started his legal career as a Prosecutor for the State Attorney’s Office. There he cut his teeth in the trenches and learned how to truly be a “real” lawyer.

Today, he manages Driven Law FL, a firm focused on personal injury and helping injured victims get the recovery they deserve. His firm utilizes the latest technology and automation to provide top-level legal work, with a low volume of cases but a high touch level of care and compassion. The son of a postal employee and a substitute teacher, he is the first lawyer in his family, and with no business experience, his first few years of running a firm were incredibly difficult.

He was consistently taken advantage of by marketing companies because he didn’t get it and didn’t know what to ask for or what to look for. Having been faced with the prospect of learning how to run a successful business or close his firm and file for bankruptcy, he chose the latter. Now Jordan works 2-3 days a week, usually 20-25 hours each week.

Board member of his local Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter, a non-profit that pairs hundreds of underserved children with professionals who mentor them for most of their lives and help them achieve success.

Jordan’s life motto is that High Seas Raise All Boats – we are stronger together and we can make the world a better place.

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FEATURE
7 Common Money Mistakes For Attorneys and Law Firm Owners to Avoid (Ep. 15)

7 Common Money Mistakes For Attorneys and Law Firm Owners to Avoid (Ep. 15)

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One of the most important things you can do to ensure a secure financial future is to take proactive steps now to manage your finances. This involves making smart choices in the present that will set you up for long-term success and avoiding financial mistakes that can set you back. 

In this episode, Darren uncovers the most common mistakes attorneys can make that may negatively impact their retirement plans. He also discusses potential roadblocks and the steps you can take to avoid them.

Darren discusses:

  • Savings strategies when you own your own business 
  • What living too large looks like based on your personal circumstances
  • Making sure you don’t miss out on potential tax savings 
  • How to balance paying down debt and investing for your retirement 
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

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What’s A Law Firm Worth? With Serena Amlie, CFA (Ep.13)

What’s A Law Firm Worth? With Serena Amlie, CFA (Ep.13)

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There are any number of reasons to determine the value of your firm, especially if you are planning to sell your practice. But how do you do that? 

In this episode, Darren Wurz talks with Serena Amlie, CFA, a manager at ComStock Advisors, about the process of performing a valuation for a law firm. She also explains what you can do to improve the value of your business to sell it for top dollar.

Serena discusses:

  • Two reasons why law firms get a valuation done 
  • Ways a law firm valuation is different from other businesses
  • Two different methods she typically uses to evaluate the law firm
  • Ways to improve the value of your law practice ahead of sale
  • And more

Connect With Darren Wurz:

Connect With Serena Amile:

About Our Guest:

Serena is a Senior Associate in ComStock Advisors’ Cincinnati office and has performed hundreds of valuations of businesses ranging in size from under $1.0 million in revenues to over $0.5 billion. She assists business owners in determining the value of their company for purposes including succession planning, mergers and acquisitions, employee stock ownership plan implementation and annual updates, estate and gift tax, shareholder disputes, divorce litigation, corporate planning, and appraisal reviews. Highlights of Serena’s valuation industry experience include manufacturing, marketing and branding, architecture and engineering, food and beverage, and construction. Serena is a Chartered Financial Analyst ® and a member of the ESOP Association, the American Society of Appraisers, and the Covington Business Council. She teaches a monthly financial literacy course to high school students at Covington Classical Academy. Serena earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Xavier University.

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FEATURE
Law Firm Succession With Thomas Cuni (Ep.12)

Law Firm Succession With Thomas Cuni (Ep.12)

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As a business owner, growing your law firm is one of your priorities. However, what happens when you’re ready to retire or sell your business, do you have a succession plan?

In this episode, Darren Wurz talks with Thomas Cuni from Cuni, Ferguson & LeVay Co., L.P.A. He discusses the importance of having a succession plan and why money isn’t everything when it comes to lawyers deciding when the right time to retire is. 

Thomas discusses:

  • The importance of having a succession plan in place
  • Why most firms might not survive after their founder leaves the business
  • How retirement planning and succession planning go hand in hand
  • Why selling your practice isn’t a retirement plan
  • And more

Connect With Darren Wurz:

Connect With Thomas Cuni:

About Our Guest:

Thomas L. Cuni earned his law degree from the University of Cincinnati, College of Law. He was one of the founding partners of Cuni, Ferguson & Levay Co., LPA, where he currently serves as of counsel. His primary focus throughout most of his career has been the representation of small businesses, especially the formation of companies and purchase and sale of businesses. He has organized several hundred business entities and represented clients in the purchase and sale of more than 200 significant commercial real estate holdings. These skills and experiences led to his current work—helping law firm owners develop succession plans and successfully sell their practices.

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FEATURE
Starting Your Own Practice with Russell Kohn (Ep.8)

Starting Your Own Practice with Russell Kohn (Ep.8)

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Starting an individual practice in law is not an easy step. But will you let that stop you from starting your own business?

In this episode, Darren Wurz talks with Russell Kohn, a personal injury attorney and owner of Kohn Law Office. Russell shares some insights on how he started his practice, turned it into something profitable and built a successful career.

Russell discusses:

  • What encouraged him to initially practice law
  • What inspired him to go out on his own
  • His biggest fears when he was transitioning into a solo practice
  • What marketing strategies are working for him
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

Connect with Russell Kohn:

About Our Guest:

As the founder of the Kohn Law Office, Attorney Kohn has limited his practice to representing injured victims in car accidents, wrongful death, and premises liability matters since 1987. Mr. Kohn is a lawyer for people, and does not represent businesses, corporations or insurance companies.

He enjoys the personal and professional satisfactions that come from helping injured people obtain full and fair compensation. He is a lawyer who empathizes with his clients, and takes the time to understand the unique effects of the injuries to the specific lifestyle of each client.

As an attorney for people, Mr. Kohn is attentive and responsive to his clients. Each client’s case is personally handled by him, rather than by paralegals or office staff. He believes that a successful resolution of a case is only achieved if the client is satisfied with the result. He also believes that a satisfied client is one who is fully informed about the applicable law, facts, and available options. For this reason, Mr. Kohn is always accessible to his clients by phone and office visits. He is trustworthy, experienced, and aggressive.



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