ADR Section of The Florida Bar’s Post

𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝑺𝒊𝒙 𝑪𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝑨𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑫𝒖𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆! Performing due diligence as part of your company's annual review is a strategic move that enhances operational efficiency. Here's a quick read article from 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 that shares insights on the six critical aspects of due diligence that serious buyers will scrutinize when considering acquiring your business. Understanding and addressing these six critical aspects of due diligence is vital for enhancing company value and preparing for potential sales. Failure to address critical aspects of due diligence can lead to severe obstacles in the sales process. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟲 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀: 📌Legal Issues 📌Marketing Understanding 📌Environmental Considerations 📌Operational Transparency 📌Financial Clarity 📌Employees and Management Stability 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬'𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲? Explore the six crucial due diligence areas by clicking this link: https://smpl.is/8sgxk #DueDiligence #BusinessOwners #OperationalEfficiency

Building a successful legal practice requires a solid client base, and that means developing a process for building and sustaining relationships. As lawyers, we need to make compelling arguments for why clients should choose us. The fear of wasting non-billable hours on ineffective strategies is real, but a formal business plan can actually support, rather than hinder, new business development. Contrary to popular belief, lawyers are not just idea people - we are adept at creating and implementing processes. Formalizing our business development efforts is essential to achieving success. Building trusting relationships takes time, but the effort is worth it. Patience and a long-term perspective are key. Don't let the fear of wasted time hold you back. Take the time to formalize your business development efforts and build meaningful relationships with clients. The results will speak for themselves. #corporatelawyer

In today's post-trust era, earning trust is the most important skill in life, business, relationships. The interesting thing about trust is that it cannot be separated from who you are as a person. If you do not live your life in a trustworthy way, then you will never be able to earn the trust of others. I fully believe once you start focusing on becoming a trustworthy person you start seeing more of the results you're hoping to see. You start getting more clients, closing more deals, your family goes to the next level, etc. Why? Because they trust you.

Applying the Trust Equation helps lawyers to systematically address the key factors that influence trust. By focusing on increasing credibility, reliability and intimacy, while minimizing self-orientation, you can build stronger, more trusting relationships with your prospective and current clients.

In professional services, everyone knows that relationships are key to success! Expanding existing client relationships provides the easiest and largest potential for growth. A question I always ask an attorney is, “When is the last time you visited your client at their location?” Surprisingly, most of the lawyers can’t answer the question. Meeting with your key client at his/her site and getting a tour, learning about the organization’s priorities and goals, and understanding what keeps the client up at night is invaluable in identifying new business opportunities. A best practice related to the visit is having your BD team research the organization, client contact, industry and competitors and provide the relationship attorney with a summary of key findings to ensure you are well versed prior to the meeting. Many of us think we need to have an immediate response to an identified issue but we don’t. In order to be more strategic, let the client know you will get back to them promptly with your ideas and others he/she should meet to assist them. Remember, an identified challenge may not be in your wheel house but is something others in the firm can address. Bottom line, new business doesn’t have to be new for you. In fact, research has shown that the more diversified services you provide an organization, the more they are committed to your firm and will become a ‘truly satisfied client.’ Please be in touch with me if you have a need for assistance with business development. After more than 20 years in the legal industry, I have worked with all practices and successfully worked with numerous attorneys to grow the business. #businessdevelopment #clients #BDsupport

Business is all about relationships, not just what you know. Strong relationships are built on mutual trust and respect. If you consistently focus on these two pillars, you'll eventually see the results of your hard work. There’s something extremely off-putting about people who behave transactionally. I can’t even describe it in words. Once people sense that "ick" from you, your company, or any organization you're associated with, you risk damaging that potential relationship. Rebuilding trust is far more challenging than building it initially. When you're getting to know someone, keep it simple by focusing on building mutual trust and respect. With that foundation, you're golden. But if you lose it, repairing the relationship will be an uphill battle. Founders & business owners: what has been helpful when getting to know people who may convert to clients? For everyone else: how do you build and maintain trust in your professional relationships? _______________ Hi, I’m Medha! I’m a former chef now becoming an entertainment attorney. This is day 51/100 of the 100 post challenge I (willingly) imposed on myself. I was inspired to start this series after seeing Danielle Alvarez start this challenge.

Your competitors are beating you. Here's why. It's not because they’re better or cheaper. How to win more deals with 3 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴: 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬: The right processes build relationships with clients that last. 𝐁𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲: It's not just about ticking boxes, for an audit. 𝐀𝐬𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: Find out what else you need to win the bigger contract. Be clear. Don't assume. You know what ASSUME stands for, right? Lack of clarity blocks many up-and-comers. PS - tell me if you think I'm wrong 😕

You need to hear this today. If you don't really understand the terms of your contract, it's not you; it's the contract. Contracts don't have to be full of jargon and they don't have to be complicated. They need to reflect the business that you have, and the risks related to it, and how you serve those customers. Sure, there are specific areas you always need to address, but if you don't understand it, you need to have someone to ask about it. It will undermine your business confidence and make you hesitate when signing new clients, when you should be celebrating. Once you've realised you have the power to have legals that make sense, send me a DM and we can book a contract review to set you up nicely for 2024. #smallbusinesslegals #businesslegaltips #confidenceinbusiness

In the legal world, it's easy to think success = winning cases. But is that really the whole picture? In our profession, there’s often a rush to close cases, finalise agreements, and achieve that next big win. And yes, winning a case feels exhilarating—a momentary high that signifies achievement. But here’s what I’ve come to realise: True, lasting success as a lawyer isn’t just about winning cases. It’s about building trust and relationships. While winning a case gives you immediate satisfaction, it’s the relationships you nurture that lead to enduring success. When you take the time to truly understand and connect with your clients, you’re not just closing a case, you’re creating a foundation of trust and loyalty that opens doors to ongoing opportunities. Those who focus on building relationships enjoy not only repeat clients but also a strong reputation that attracts more business. It’s about playing the long game. Relationships rooted in respect and genuine care last far beyond any single case. So, the next time you’re rushing to close a case, pause and reflect: Are you just chasing short-term victories, or are you laying the groundwork for lasting success? Winning a case or closing a deal = Short-term success. Building a relationship = Repeat cases, referrals, and long-term success. #LawyerLife #BuildingTrust #ClientRelationships #LegalSuccess #LongTermSuccess #RelationshipBuilding

In a world fixated on metrics and conversion rates, let's not forget that business is fundamentally human. My journey from the structured corporate automotive world to the empowerment of legal services taught me this: authentic relationships are the cornerstone of lasting success. Let's network with purpose and remember that behind every email, there's a person striving for connection. #AuthenticNetworking #RealBusinessRelationships