The Legal BD Corner

In this episode of The Legal BD Corner, host Ed Lovatt sits down with Rohit Seth, Director of Marketing at Cox & Palmer, to unpack the real meaning of personal branding for lawyers—and why it’s about much more than flashy self-promotion. Together, they explore: ✨ What a personal brand really is—and why it’s your “emotional signature” 👥 How lawyers at every stage, from associates to seasoned...

In this episode of The Legal BD Corner, host Ed Lovatt sits down with Suzanne Donnels, former Chief BD & Marketing Officer at Davies and now founder of her own consultancy, to explore how law firms can move beyond “gut feel” and use data and AI to make succession planning a true driver of client confidence and growth. Together, they discuss: 🧩 Why succession isn’t just about “who’s next”—but...

Business development is no longer optional for tomorrow’s lawyers—it’s essential. In this episode, Paul Grabowski shares: ✅ Why BD should be part of every law student’s toolkit ✅ How legal education can bridge the gap between theory and practice ✅ The impact of AI and client expectations on new lawyers ✅ Tips for building client-focused skills from day one With more than two decades of experie...

In this episode of The Legal BD Corner, host Ed Lovatt sits down with Joanna Beckett, a seasoned legal consultant and coach with over two decades of experience helping firms embed sustainable BD habits, to explore how technology is reshaping business development coaching. Together, they dive into: Why static business plans fall short—and how to replace them with dynamic, connected dashboards How C...

What does it really mean to deliver excellence in legal business development—and how do you make it a sustainable, team-wide habit rather than a fleeting aspiration? In this energizing episode of The Legal BD Corner, host Ed Lovatt is joined by business development leader Sierra Nicholson. Known for her strategic insight and people-first ethos, Sierra dives deep into the practical—and honest—reali...

In this episode of The Legal BD Corner , Nexl’s Senior Account Director Jason Broomfield sits down with long-time legal industry expert and coach Dave Harvey to explore one of the biggest challenges in law firm business development: empowering partners to become confident rainmakers . Whether it’s navigating introversion, coaching overwhelmed new partners, or supporting the firm’s next generation...

What does it take to make the leap from a high-performing manager role to leading an entire department through unprecedented times? In this episode of The Legal BD Corner , I’m joined by Valerie Lyons , Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Weber Gallagher. Valerie shares her journey of stepping into a leadership role right as the pandemic hit. We explore how she adapted to a fully v...

In this episode of The Legal BD Corner , Nexl’s Jason Broomfield sits down with Ryan MacDougall, Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer at Wolf Greenfield, to explore how law firms can turn client experience into a true competitive advantage. Ryan shares how an IP boutique can consistently compete with AmLaw 50 firms not through pricing or scale, but by out-servicing and out-listening...

In this episode of The Legal BD Corner , host Ed Lovatt sits down with Patrick Wildes , Director of Business Development at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, for an honest conversation about how BD professionals can balance the demands of the day-to-day job with the bigger picture of building a meaningful, sustainable career. Together, they explore: ⚖️ The difference between “the job” (your day-to-day e...

Lateral hiring remains one of the most significant levers for growth in law firms — but success doesn’t just come from making the right hire. It’s what happens after the move that truly matters. In this episode of The Legal BD Corner , we explore: ✅ How BD and marketing leaders can drive successful lateral integration ✅ The role of structured onboarding in delivering long-term ROI ✅ Balancing b...

What does it mean for business development professionals to truly practice what they preach ? In this episode of The Legal BD Corner, host Ed Lovatt sits down with Brian Carrozza, Director of Client Development at Goulston & Storrs, who shares how living the advice he gives has shaped his career and his firm’s success. Tune in to discover: ✅ Why modeling BD behaviors-like responsiveness, prep...

If you're not actively gathering client feedback, you're missing a major business development opportunity. In this episode, Jason Broomfield and Mike Mellor explore how thoughtful feedback programs can give mid-size law firms an competitive advantage. They unpack common roadblocks, share tips for building partner buy-in, and highlight why real conversations—not just surveys—drive the most valuable...

In this episode of The Legal BD Corner , host Jason Broomfield chats with Darryl Cross, Executive Sales Coach at Norton Rose Fulbright and author of Cultivating Excellence , about what law firms can learn from elite performers—NASA astronauts, Navy SEALs, and pro athletes. They discuss how law firms can apply high-performance training methods, build stronger BD teams, and shift from a volume-based...

Responding to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) can often feel like a mundane and administrative task, filled with standard responses and cookie-cutter submissions. In this episode of BD Corner , host Jason Broomfield, Senior Account Director at Nexl, sits down with Shannon Lombardo, Director of Business Development at Saul Ewing LLP, to explore how law firms can differentiate themselves in an increas...

In this engaging episode of the Legal BD Corner , Jason Broomfield of Nexl is joined by Amelia Bashalany, Senior Director of Business Development at Foley Hoag, to explore the intricacies of targeting in legal business development. The discussion delves into the critical skills of targeting and qualifying, emphasizing their impact on efficient resource allocation and achieving business goals. Amel...

In this episode of The Legal BD Corner, Jason Broomfield, Senior Account Director at Nexl, sits down with Jon Clemente , Director of Strategic Accounts at Mintz. Jason and Jon dive into the world of Key Account Management (KAM) in law firms; their value, implementation challenges, and strategies for success. Drawing from his experience scaling Mintz’s KAM program from a three-client pilot to a 20-...