Lead Counsel

In this episode, Matt Long shares his expertise on maximizing travel through points and miles, strategic credit card use, and managing a law firm efficiently. Discover practical tips for travel hacking, credit management, and building a successful legal practice.   Key Episode Highlights Travel hacking with points and miles Strategic use of airline alliances and partners Maximizing sign-up bonuses...

Lead Counsel Podcast hosts Thomas Tona and co-host Mike Zappone explain how EOS traction turns a law firm's vision into disciplined execution. Using Tona's firm as a case study, they cover leadership, financial literacy, hiring, focus, and practical ways to assess whether the operating system is working. Law firm owner Thomas Tona and EOS implementer Mike Zappone discuss how EOS helps law firms gr...

In this episode, Tom Tona and Mike Zappone discuss replacing discretionary year-end bonuses with a self-funded incentive plan that rewards company-wide profitability. Mike explains how the approach fits after strong operating execution, using examples from pest control, construction, and law firms to show how employee insight, financial literacy, and aligned incentives can uncover savings and impr...

In this episode, Tom Tona and Mike Zappone explore the core principles of accountability in business, emphasizing the importance of clear expectations, the role of leadership, and practical tools like EOS to foster a culture of responsibility and growth. Key Episode Highlights The difference between leading and managing for accountability Creating clarity around roles and expectations The importan...

In this episode, Thomas Tona and Mike Zappone break down how to transform team meetings into high-impact problem-solving sessions using the EOS framework . Learn how to leverage IDS (Identify, Discuss, Solve) to address root causes, establish clear rules of engagement, and foster the vulnerability needed to build a healthy, results-driven team culture . Key Episode Highlights The importance of cle...

In this episode, Mike Zappone and Thomas Tona explore how data-driven decision making transforms law firm management. They discuss scorecards, KPIs, and the importance of aligning business metrics with strategic goals to avoid common pitfalls and foster growth. Key Episode Highlights The importance of data and scorecards in law firm management How to implement effective KPIs across departments The...

In this episode, Mike Zappone shares insights on building effective organizational structures using EOS principles, focusing on the accountability chart, hiring right people, and creating a culture of discipline and accountability to drive exponential growth. Key Episode Highlights The importance of the accountability chart over traditional org charts How to identify and fix issues with the right...

In this episode, Thomas Tona and Mike Zappone explore the critical importance of placing the right person in the right seat within a company. They discuss how alignment with core values, understanding capacity, and strategic decision-making can transform organizational culture and performance. Key Episode Highlights The importance of aligning people with core values  How to identify the right pers...

In this episode, Mike Zapone and Tom Tona explore how clear communication, vision, and effective leadership are essential for business success. They discuss practical tools and mental models to align teams, delegate results, and build a cohesive organizational culture.   Key Episode Highlights Importance of clear communication in leadership The exercise of defining and sharing your vision Differen...

Tom Tona is joined by Mike Zappone for a practical conversation about why growing law firms stall, what a "ceiling" actually looks like, and how EOS helps leaders build something that runs beyond the founder. Mike brings real-world operator experience, including having built and exited a business to private equity, and Tom shares how those lessons are changing the way his firm communicates, delega...

In this episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona and his guests dedicate the entire conversation to the single most critical asset in any business: its people. They discussed strategic hiring, structured onboarding, continuous training, investing in your people, and how talent management systems will power the firm's long-term success.   Your Host: Tom Tona Founder & Managing Attorney, T...

In this special compilation episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona brings together key insights and foundational advice from top legal minds on what it truly takes to start, build, and sustain a successful business . Starting a business or opening a new law firm comes with severe challenges, from wondering if the phone will ever ring to learning how to avoid devastating financial mista...

In this episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona sits down with Jimmy Lai, co-founder of Lai and Turner Law Firm and author of Quietly Influential . They dive deep into how introverted professionals can leverage LinkedIn to scale their businesses, build authentic networks, drive high-value attorney-to-attorney referrals, and recruit top-tier talent . Episode Highlights Maximizing B2B Ref...

In this special compilation episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona brings together insights on what it truly takes to scale a business without losing its heart: exceptional customer service . Featuring key discussions with legal industry leaders and business strategists, this episode dives deep into turning standard transactional workflows into world class client journeys . Discover wh...

In this special mashup episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona brings together powerful insights on two foundational pillars of long-term business success: continuous learning and building genuine connections . Featuring actionable advice from high-performing guests Jennifer Talley, Jennifer Gore, and Ryan McKeen this episode breaks down what it truly takes to transition from a practiti...

How do top-tier law firms scale their business while maintaining high-touch, empathetic customer service? In this special mashup episode of the Legal Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona sat down with industry experts Keith Roman and Adam Rosson to break down strategies that turn clients into lifelong advocates and drive steady attorney referrals . Discover how leveraging operational tech stacks like Le...

In this high-impact, curated mashup episode of the  Lead Counsel Podcast , host Tom Tona brings together key insights from top legal minds and high-performing entrepreneurs to explore the personal traits, mental toughness, and strategic shifts required to achieve sustained business growth . Scaling a successful business or law firm requires far more than tactical strategy—it demands continuous per...

How do you transition from a struggling, overworked attorney to a thriving CEO who doesn't work weekends or nights? It all starts with self-improvement, mastering your craft, and learning the power of active listening. In this special mashup episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona reflects on key lessons of self-improvement, sharing valuable insights on what it truly takes to win in bot...

Unlock the exact mental blueprints required to elevate your personal development and scale your business ventures. In this special mashup episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona brings together elite legal minds and top business consultants to break down the core characteristics of true self-improvement. Discover the power of a growth-oriented mindset, the freeing nature of kind candor,...

How do top tier legal professionals and high achieving founders scale their businesses without completely burning out? In this dynamic episode of the Lead Council Podcast, host Tom Tona dives deep into a masterclass of transformative book recommendations designed to optimize your legal mindset, elevate your client experience, and strategically maximize your profitability. The conversation kicks of...

Welcome back to the Lead Counsel Podcast. In this episode, host Tom Tona sits down with Uma Damodaran, the Head of Content and Strategy at StoryLeads, to dissect the content engine that drives high value lawyer referrals and law firm growth . Most lawyers approach LinkedIn by humble bragging or posting dry verdict alerts, but true market leadership requires turning your regular case updates into m...

Welcome to another powerful episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, hosted by Tom Tona, a New York personal injury lawyer dedicated to breaking down the intersection of elite law practice and business strategy . In this episode, Tom sits down with his personal EOS Certified Implementer and ProfitWorks coach, Mike Zappone . Together, they deliver a masterclass on how law firm founders and entrepreneur...

In this special mashup episode of the Lead Counsel Podcast, host Tom Tona brings together key conversations focusing on the monumental impact of building a law firm around authentic core values and culture . If you have ever felt that recruiting is a constant uphill battle or that scaling your practice risks losing the heart of your business, this episode provides the exact roadmap you need to tra...

A central theme of this episode is the critical role that continuous reading plays in personal development and corporate success. The featured speakers heavily emphasize and recommend the following books as essential tools for mastering leadership, driving business development, and optimizing your organizational systems: T he Credibility Code by Cara Hale Alter – Recommended by Sue Ann Van Dermyde...

Scaling a successful law firm requires a transition from working as a legal technician to operating as a strategic business leader. In this episode of the Lead Council Podcast, host Tom Tona is joined by Patrick Wilson, an elite law firm business coach with Atticus, alongside industry innovators to break down the exact frameworks needed to build a modern, scalable practice. The conversation focuse...