I’m here to totally disrupt the legal industry and how lawyers exit their law firms. I want to crush the old notion that you can’t sell your law firm or that it is not worth anything. You absolutely can and … There is a Better, Much more profitable way.
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Victoria Collier Podcasts
A weekly history podcast sharing stories about the people, places and events that shaped the city of Atlanta.
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We’re here to share tips, resources, wins, losses and encouragement for moms who are raising a family while building a lawfirm, so you feel less alone in your journey toward a fulfilling career and being the best mom you can be.
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From an unknown parish, in an unknown confessional, Father Connelly sends us the anonymously recorded confessions of people just like you.
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Welcome to The Next Level Law Podcast, where your hosts, Arash Eskandari and Richard Perillo, unlock the secrets to law firm success in the modern world. Whether you’re a seasoned law firm owner or just starting out, this podcast is your go-to resource for accelerating growth, refining your business tactics, and mastering marketing strategies that work. Join us every week as we dive deep into the challenges and triumphs of managing and growing a law firm in today’s competitive environment. W ...
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What’s It Really Worth to You?: Beyond the Price Tag of Selling Your Law Firm
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14:41When it comes to selling your law firm, the question isn’t just what’s my firm worth? It is what’s it worth to me? In this episode, Victoria explores the intangibles behind a sale. The purchase price may grab attention, but for most sellers, factors like time, health, stress, and what comes next in life carry equal or greater weight. What You’ll Le…
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Black Press (Interview w/ Stan Washington)
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21:38This week, I am sharing an interview with Stan Washington, veteran journalist and editor-at-large of The Atlanta Voice. We discuss his career in PR, radio and how he arrived at The Voice, and his unwavering commitment to the Black press. This is a conversation about journalism and a call to preserve and support the institutions that continue to amp…
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The Lifecycle of a Law Firm: From Start-Up to Plateau
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16:50Every law firm goes through distinct stages: from the hustle of startup, through the rapid growth of scaling, to the challenges of repelling, and finally the stability of plateau. In this episode, host Victoria Collier breaks down what each stage looks like, how income changes along the way, and when it makes the most sense to sell. Whether you’re …
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One Year After the Law Firm Sale with Joey Masiuk
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44:29What happens after you sell your law firm? In this powerful interview, Victoria Collier talks with Joey Masiuk, one year after selling his firm, about the emotional, financial, and practical realities of exiting a long-time practice. From his early days as a PI lawyer, through building a family-centered estate planning firm with his wife, to naviga…
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In 1950s Georgia, faced with school desegregation, the governor’s plan was simple: abolish public schools. This episode dives into Atlanta’s tense response to Brown v. Board, the courage of 80 white ministers who spoke out against segregation, and the backlash that followed. rom sermons and manifestos to church bombings and cautious integration, we…
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Make it Easy: Helping Buyers Read Your P&L Fast
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10:17A profit and loss statement may seem basic, but when you’re preparing to sell your law firm, it can be the difference between closing a strong deal or watching a buyer walk away. In this episode, host Victoria Collier explains how to transform your P&L into a buyer-friendly tool that inspires confidence and justifies your asking price. From breakin…
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In the fall of 1971, a group of volunteers in Atlanta set out to build a radio station by the people, for the people. By 1973, WRFG was on the airwaves, amplifying voices that mainstream media refused to touch: Black activists, women, laborers, LGBTQ, ex-convicts, and musicians from every walk of life. But just two months after launch, Atlanta poli…
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Duplicative Expenses: The Hidden Boost to Law Firm Value
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11:57When it comes to selling or buying a law firm, what you see on the books isn’t always the whole story. Some costs are real for the seller but won’t carry over to the buyer — and those hidden savings can dramatically change a firm’s true value. In this episode, Victoria Collier uncovers the overlooked world of duplicative expenses. From accounting t…
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From Sustainability to Survival with Jennifer Goddard
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35:16What happens when life throws you a crisis that pulls you out of your business overnight? In this powerful episode, Victoria Collier sits down with Jennifer Goddard, CEO and co-founder of Integrity Marketing Solutions, to share how she faced a rare, aggressive cancer diagnosis—and how her business not only stayed afloat, but thrived without her. Th…
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Before it became Atlanta’s most iconic cemetery, Oakland Cemetery was just six acres of farmland owned by the Woodings. But as the city grew, so did its need to bury its dead. From Confederate obelisks to disinterred graves, this is the story of the cemetery that tells Atlanta’s story. Oakland Cemetery Oakland Cemetery book Want to support this pod…
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Too Many Cooks: How Outside Advisors Can Complicate—or Strengthen—Your Law Firm Sale
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14:17When you’re selling (or buying) a law firm, your advisory team can be your greatest asset… or your biggest obstacle. In this episode, host Victoria Collier pulls back the curtain on the “good, bad, and ugly” of working with outside advisors. You’ll hear real-world examples of how advisors have saved deals by reframing strategy… and how others have …
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When Buyers Come in Packs: Selling to a Multi-Partner Firm
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12:04What happens when you're ready to sell your law firm, but the buyer isn't one person? It's an entire team of partners. In this episode, host Victoria Collier unpacks what really goes down when you're negotiating with a multi-partner firm. From the power plays and decision delays to the moments of opportunity and unexpected advantages, this episode …
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This week, I am re-sharing an episode from 2021 where I cover the history of Atlanta’s City Hall...not just the Art Deco masterpiece you can see today, but also the places that no longer exist. Where they were, how we got them and what their fate was. Our current City Hall (the 4th one in history), was built in 1930 and brought forth something call…
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Two Heads, Double Trouble: Why Selling a Law Firm with Partners Isn't Twice as Easy
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23:13Selling a law firm is rarely simple—but when there’s more than one owner at the table, things get exponentially more complex. Whether you’re in business with a professional partner, your spouse, or both, this episode unpacks the hidden challenges of shared ownership and why “twice the brainpower” doesn’t always equal twice the ease. Victoria Collie…
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The All Cash Illusion: Why it's not a Free Pass for Sellers
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13:37At first glance, an all-cash offer for your law firm might seem like the ultimate win. No seller financing, no earn-outs—just a clean break and a big check. But in this episode our host, Victoria Collier breaks down why that perception is often an illusion. Buyers who offer all or mostly cash are actually taking on more risk, which means they come …
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Before Atlanta was crisscrossed with interstates and highways, there was a bold plan—born from the Great Depression, inspired by Germany’s Autobahn, and fueled by fears of another economic collapse. In this episode, we rewind to the 1930s to unpack how the U.S. highway system began, why Atlanta jumped in headfirst, and how a single report—the Lochn…
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Know When to Fold: How to Spot a Bad Buyer Before It’s Too Late
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14:54Not all buyers are created equal—and some can cost you time, money, and peace of mind. In this eye-opening episode, host Victoria Collier breaks down the biggest red flags when vetting buyers for your law firm. From love-bombing for data to lowball offers disguised as all-cash deals, Victoria shares real-world examples and patterns she’s seen from …
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The Missing Middle: Why Midsize Firms Are the Sweet Spot
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10:15In this episode, host Victoria Collier explores what might be the most overlooked—and most valuable—segment of the law firm market: mid-size law firms. Victoria explains why these firms strike the perfect balance between solo practices and large firms, making them especially attractive to buyers. From their scalable infrastructure to their reduced …
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This week, we’re talking about Atlanta’s most famous food franchises. Atlanta has been the birthplace of almost a dozen food franchises, including Chick-fil-A, Huddle House, Mellow Mushroom, Great American Cookies, Applebee's, Flying Biscuit and Moe's Southwest Grill. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebo…
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Why Should I Make My Associate Sign an NDA When We Start Succession Planning?
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16:50In this episode, host Victoria Collier breaks down one of the most overlooked yet critical mistakes law firm owners make when succession planning: skipping the paperwork and diving into business talks without protecting the firm. From referral sources to internal systems and staff compensation, Victoria walks through everything your associate could…
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"Built for Legacy" Canopy Atlanta - Collier Heights
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11:48
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11:48Even though this is a bye week for me, I wanted to share a bonus episode related to a special project that I got to do recently. I worked with Canopy fellow Damius Smith on his piece "Built for Legacy". Collier Heights was designed by and for Black people, with the architectural design of every house telling a story. From American Small Houses, to …
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The Questions You Should Be Asking about High Profit Law Firms
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15:47High profit? Sounds like a dream. But is your law firm’s profitability actually as valuable as you think it is to a buyer? In this episode, our host Victoria Collier breaks down why impressive profit margins aren’t always enough to close the deal. She dives into the critical questions buyers are asking today, about staffing, systems, and sustainabi…
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This week, we’re talking about the Lakewood Cutting - the story of the murder of Fred Thompson. I’ve said a million times that I’m not a fan of true crime, but centuries-old murders in Atlanta’s past seem to have worked their way into my heart. But this week’s story isn’t just a murder story, this is a story of an abduction, self defense, secret or…
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Wrapped in Leadership: Building Your Law Firm's Future Team
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21:53
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21:53Think your law firm’s leadership structure doesn’t matter until you're bigger? Think again. In this powerful episode, Victoria Collier has a candid conversation about one of the most overlooked — yet most valuable — assets in your firm: your leadership team. Whether you're a solo attorney or running a growing practice, the way you develop and deleg…
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Getting to YES: The Right Way to Notify Clients of a Law Firm Sale
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13:15Selling a law firm isn’t just a deal—it’s a delicate transition. In this episode, Victoria Collier reveals why notifying clients the right way can make or break the entire sale. If you're a law firm owner thinking about an exit (or an acquisition), you'll want to hear how to go far beyond the basic ethics requirements to actually retain clients, pr…
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Bowers v. Hardwick (Interview w/ Martin Padgett)
49:08
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49:08This week, I am SO excited to share a conversation that I had with Marty Padgett about this new book, The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS. Sodomy laws had been used to discriminate against queer people for centuries, but in 1986, the US Supreme Court ruled that the constitution did not guarantee a per…
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Intellectual Propery in a Law Firm Sale: Who Owns What?
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14:28When it comes to selling a law firm, one often overlooked asset could make or break your deal: intellectual property. From books and blogs to courses and client materials, knowing what belongs to you and what stays with the firm is essential. In this episode, Victoria Collier tackles the complexities of IP and explains how it can influence the valu…
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This week, I am bringing you a short bonus story about the Bagby Family, mainly brothers William and Hubert, who were known throughout the Bolton area of Atlanta for living along the banks of the Chattahoochee River while evading arrest. In April of 1957, brothers Hubert and William - the “The Ghost” and “Cobb County Roosting Man” - were arrested. …
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How Law Firms Use AI to Increase Value Before They Sell
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18:29What if using AI could make your law firm more profitable and easier to sell? In this episode, host Victoria Collier reveals how artificial intelligence is changing the way law firms operate and how it can significantly boost your firm’s value before a sale. She shares highlights from the Lawyers on the Beach conference in Cancun, where lawyers gat…
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Increase the Value of Your Law Firm Using These Systems
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21:17When it comes to selling a law firm, most attorneys focus on client lists, revenue, and team structure. But there’s another, often overlooked asset that can significantly increase a firm’s value: systems. In this episode, Victoria explains how well-documented systems can turn a law practice into a scalable, sellable business. She explains what “sys…
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This week, we’re talking about Roman Catholicism in Atlanta, mainly centered around the city’s historic Catholic churches from the 1850s through the 1950s. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook | InstagramBy Victoria Lemos
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Debt is Not the Enemy: Why Smart Law Firm Buyers Use Leverage
17:23
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17:23Why are so many lawyers paralyzed by the idea of taking on debt, especially an SBA loan with a personal guarantee, when buying a law firm? In this candid and empowering episode, Victoria Collier breaks down one of the biggest mindset roadblocks law firm buyers face: the fear of debt. Through personal stories, real-life examples, and strategic insig…
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Law Firms as an Asset Class: Why Buying a Law Firm is a Smart Investment
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15:55What if buying a law firm could be your next smartest investment—right alongside stocks, real estate, or even better? In this episode, host Victoria Collier explores the concept of law firm ownership as a wealth-building asset. She breaks down how lawyers can use their industry knowledge to generate income, build equity, and create long-term financ…
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This week, I'm sharing the short history of "Miss Sepia Atlanta", Atlanta’s African American beauty pageant that ran from 1947 until 1963. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook | InstagramBy Victoria Lemos
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Do You Trust Yourself? A Conversation for Law Firm Buyers
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15:06Before you sign the dotted line on a law firm acquisition, there’s one critical question you need to ask yourself—and it’s not about the numbers, the systems, or even the seller. In this candid and thought-provoking episode, Victoria Collier talks directly to law firm buyers about a make-or-break factor in every deal: self-trust. Whether you're eye…
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Status Quo or Scale: Clarifying Your Vision When Buying a Law Firm
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14:34Before you buy a law firm, there's one critical question you need to answer: Are you buying to maintain the status quo, or are you buying to scale? That decision will shape everything—from the kind of firm you target to your day-to-day involvement, return on investment, and long-term strategy. In this episode, Victoria Collier digs into the mindset…
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This week, we’re talking about one of Atlanta’s most well-known attractions - it’s strip clubs. But why and how and when did we get this claim to fame? Why is Atlanta one of the few places that allows full nudity and alcohol? Why are the wings so good? Today we’re going to cover all of this and more; from the legislation battles to some of the icon…
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Why It's Often Harder for Women to Sell Their Law Firms than Men
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18:18What if the biggest obstacle to selling your law firm isn’t the market, but your mindset? In this episode, Victoria Collier unpacks why men often sell their firms more easily—and for more—than women do. Spoiler: it's not because their firms are better. From undervaluing the business to skipping negotiations, Victoria walks through the cultural, psy…
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Why Your Law Firm Isn't Selling and What to Do About It
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27:45You’ve built a profitable law practice, earned your clients’ trust, and now you’re ready to move on. But… the offers aren’t coming in—or worse, they’re disappointing. In this episode, Victoria Collier digs into why even successful firms may struggle to sell, and what can be done to change that. This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about perception, p…
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Birds of Kirkwood (Interview w/ Mike Ayling)
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46:46This week, I am so excited to share an interview episode with Mike Ayling, who is the writer and researcher behind Birds of Kirkwood. We talked about the story of how he moved into his home Kirkwood, Robert Windsor Smith, Atlanta first amateur ornithologist and we talked about birding and the natural environment of Kirkwood 122 years ago. Birds of …
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Redefining Your Identity After Selling Your Law Firm
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24:09Your identity as an attorney has been intertwined with your law firm for decades. Then suddenly, you’re no longer the owner. What’s next? The decision you make about your role after selling your firm—whether to stay on, make a clean break, or transition into a consulting role—will shape not just your next professional chapter but also your sense of…
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How to Retain Top Talent and Avoid Chaos After a Law Firm Acquisition
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34:18When a law firm changes hands, the transition isn’t just about numbers—it’s about people. Team dynamics can shift dramatically, impacting morale, performance, and even the firm’s long-term success. In this episode, we explore the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs that employees may be disengaging, how leadership can maintain stability, and what buye…
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This week, we’re talking about Druid Hills - one of the most iconic Atlanta neighborhoods known for its housing stock and connection to the Olmsted landscape architecture firm. From Joel Hurt's idea through the most recent annexation; we are talking about historic houses, prominent residents and schools and churches. Want to support this podcast? V…
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Developing a Client Retention Plan for After You Buy a Law Firm
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15:41You’ve just bought a law firm—congratulations! But now comes a critical challenge: keeping the clients you just acquired. Client retention isn’t automatic; it’s a strategic process that requires clear communication, trust-building, and proactive engagement. In this episode, Victoria Collier dives into the key reasons clients leave post-acquisition …
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The Most Overlooked Metric That Determines the Success and Value of Your Law Firm
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19:57When evaluating a law firm for purchase or preparing to sell, most people focus on revenue and profit. But what if those numbers don't tell the whole story? In this episode, Victoria Collier shares one of the most crucial yet overlooked factors in law firm success—sales conversion rate. She breaks down what it is, why it matters, and how it can dra…
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This week, we are celebrating Women’s History Month by learning the history of three more women from Atlanta’s past; Eva Lovett, Emily Norman and Alexa Stirling. One who founded a well-known private school, another a prominent real estate firm and a pioneer in golf. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook…
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Preparing to Sell Your Law Firm: One Year Out
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16:41You’ve decided to sell your law firm, and the countdown is on—just one year to go. What should you be doing right now to ensure a smooth and profitable transition? In this episode of Smart Lawyers Position to Transition, Victoria Collier breaks down the most important steps to take when you’re a year away from selling. From financial preparation to…
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Preparing to Sell Your Law Firm: 3 Years Out
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27:15In our last episode, we explored what law firm owners should be doing five years out from selling their firm. But what if you’re closer to the finish line? This week, Victoria Collier dives into the critical three-year mark—the point where strategic positioning and operational efficiency become even more crucial. If you’re serious about maximizing …
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This week, we’re talking about “We Charge Genocide”, a 1951 petition accusing the United States government of genocide based on the newly adopted UN Genocide Convention. A strong content warning that this is going to be a heavy topic about racialized violence and murder across the US and specifically in Atlanta. Burnham-Nobles Archive Life Magazine…
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Preparing to Sell Your Law Firm: 5 Years Out
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21:29Selling your law firm isn’t an overnight process—it takes years of strategic planning. In this episode, Victoria Collier breaks down the five-year plan for a successful sale. She covers how attorneys can set a clear vision, enhance financial stability, and position their brand for a seamless transition. Whether you're considering a full exit or a p…
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