Laura Devine, Founder of Laura Devine Solicitors

We are delighted to share the first in our Law Firm Founder Conversations podcast series, in which our Managing Partner Clare Murray discusses all things Law Firm Founder with Laura Devine, Founder and Managing Partner of leading international immigrational law specialists, Laura Devine Solicitors (LDS), with offices in London and New York.

LDS has top tier rankings in the legal directories and Laura herself is the recipient of international awards both as an immigration specialist and as a very successful entrepreneur.

Watch a short video preview here

In their conversation, Clare and Laura cover a lot of ground discussing, from their first-hand experience, some of the opportunities and challenges of setting up, growing and managing a law firm, including:

• Why set up your own law firm and why, as a founder, it is important to have a clear strategic vision and focus (@1:28 mins)
• Reconciling the tension between protecting the culture of your firm and building its growth (@5:24 mins)
• Self-funding vs external borrowing: What resources and funding are needed to set up and grow a law firm? (@6:54 mins)
• The importance for law firm founders to build robust infrastructure and take external advice (@9:20 mins)
• Issues in international growth and opening a US office (@11 mins)
• How to encourage female and ethnic minority lawyers as future law firm founders (@14.38 mins)
• With the benefit of hindsight as a law firm founder, what would you do differently? (@19:18 mins)
• Managing the regulatory burden of setting up and running a law firm (@20:22 mins)
• Handling the stress of being a founder and maintaining personal mental and physical well-being (21:30 mins)
• Tips and helpful attributes for those considering starting up their own firm (@26:26 mins)
• Cash is queen! (@29:30 mins)

We hope you enjoy listening to this first Law Firm Founder Conversations podcast, and if you do please do like, subscribe and share.