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What actually separates durable law firms from those that won’t make it through the next decade?

In this week's episode, Niraj Chhabra, CFP, MBA, CLTC, CRPC sits down with Bruce MacEwen, founder of Adam Smith, Esq., LLC, to unpack how law firm economics and structures are being reshaped in real time.

They discuss why the traditional business model is breaking down, how the industry is shifting toward a smaller group of elite firms, and what makes those firms fundamentally different.

A major theme throughout the conversation is AI — not as a distant threat, but as something that could quickly challenge the billable hour and reduce the need for large associate classes.

Bruce also shares:

• why many firms aren’t prepared for what’s coming
• how career paths for lawyers could change dramatically
• what happens when firms are forced to shrink
• and why the most valuable skill going forward may not be legal expertise

It’s a candid, forward-looking conversation for anyone thinking about the future of the legal industry.

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Negotiation, compensation, and advancement shape a lawyer’s career — but most attorneys are left to navigate those decisions without much transparency.

In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, Niraj Chhabra sits down with Jill Cruz, executive coach, career strategist, and founder of JLC Consulting.

Before launching her practice, Jill spent years in senior HR and talent leadership roles inside law firms, advising on hiring, promotion, and compensation decisions. Today, she helps attorneys better understand their value, navigate career inflection points, and advocate for themselves more effectively.

They discuss what Jill learned from seeing these systems from the inside, why so many attorneys underestimate their leverage, how negotiation really starts long before an offer is made, and why mindset plays such a big role in whether people step into bigger opportunities.

They also talk about the structural and cultural barriers that continue to affect women and attorneys of color, and how Jill’s research has shaped the way she coaches today.

To learn more or connect with Jill:

Website: www.jlc.consulting
Email: jcruz@jlc.consulting

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Michelle Calcote King, Principal & President of Reputation Ink, joins the podcast to break down how professional services firms — especially law firms — can turn their expertise into real visibility, credibility, and growth.

At Reputation Ink, Michelle works with law and other B2B firms to help them become known authorities, earn meaningful media coverage, and build reputations that drive business development.

In this episode, we talk about why marketing should look different depending on firm size, how owned, earned, and paid media actually work together, and what clients are paying attention to today.

We also get into what separates firms that consistently generate opportunities from those that struggle to stand out — and how to build a strategy that creates long-term visibility, not just short-term activity.

If you’re thinking about how your firm shows up in the market, or why it’s not translating into growth, this is a practical conversation worth listening to.

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Trini Ross spent over 30 years in federal service, ultimately serving as the United States Attorney for the Western District of New York — overseeing major cases involving violent crime, civil rights, and public corruption.

In this conversation, she shares what that level of responsibility actually looks like day to day — from leading through high-profile, emotionally charged cases to managing a team under constant pressure and scrutiny.

We talk about how she built her career in public service, the mindset required to make difficult decisions, and the moments that forced her to step back and reassess.

She also reflects on leaving government, transitioning into private practice, and why she chose to build something new rather than follow a traditional path.

This is a candid look at leadership, responsibility, and what it means to do the job well when the stakes are real.

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In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, Niraj Chhabra sits down with Kathryn Hatfield and Stefani Schwartz, the founding partners of Hatfield Schwartz, a women-owned labor and employment law firm that has grown steadily since launching during the uncertainty of COVID.

The two first met while practicing at a 60-lawyer firm and quickly realized they shared a similar vision for how a practice could operate — one grounded in partnership, autonomy, and strong client relationships.

They talk through what was happening in their lives when they made the decision to leave, how they prepared financially and personally for the transition, and how they’ve navigated the dynamics of building and scaling a firm together.

Along the way, Kathryn and Stefani discuss:

• How they prepared for the financial realities of launching a firm
• Why complementary strengths made their partnership work
• What they’ve learned about hiring and mentoring younger attorneys
• How they think about culture as their team continues to grow

Their story offers a candid look at what it actually takes to step away from stability and build a practice with intention.

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In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, we sit down with Juliet Starrett -a former Big Law commercial litigator, world-champion whitewater paddler, and co-founder of The Ready State, a global platform focused on mobility, recovery, and longevity.

Juliet’s career didn’t follow a straight line. Before law school, she spent years competing internationally as an elite athlete.

After practicing at a major international firm, she and her husband co-founded one of San Francisco’s earliest CrossFit gyms—then built a second business that eventually became The Ready State, serving busy professionals who want to move better, sleep better, and stay sharp over the long term.

In this conversation, Juliet shares:

• how her athletic background shaped her tolerance for risk and reinvention
• why she didn’t hate practicing law, but couldn’t see a long-term model she wanted to grow into
• the financial groundwork she laid before leaving Big Law
• what The Ready State is
• why movement isn’t optional for attorneys who want sustainable performance

If you’re rethinking your health, your habits, or your long-term trajectory in the legal profession, this is an honest and tactical listen.

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Lateral moves look straightforward from the outside. In reality, most fail for reasons attorneys don’t always see coming.

In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, Niraj Chhabra sits down with Melissa Peters, founder of MP Legal Search, to break down what’s actually happening in the lateral partner market — and how firms evaluate candidates behind closed doors.

Melissa shares real-world insight into shifting compensation structures, how firms assess portability and fit, and the common mistakes that quietly derail otherwise strong candidates. The conversation cuts through the noise around lateral hiring and focuses on what matters now.

They discuss:
• What firms really look for when evaluating lateral partners
• How compensation expectations are changing across the market
• Why strong books still aren’t enough on their own
• The most common pitfalls that derail lateral moves
• How attorneys can make themselves more marketable before they explore a transition

A practical, candid conversation for partners and senior attorneys considering a move — or simply trying to understand how the market actually works.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on the Sidebar Advisors Podcast.

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A lot of people in Big Law hear the phrase “professional development” — but don’t always know what it actually means in practice.

In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, Niraj Chhabra sits down with Hedieh Fakhriyazdi, Chief Engagement & Development Officer at White & Case, to talk about how growth really happens inside a global law firm — for associates, business services professionals, and everyone in between.

Hedieh shares how White & Case thinks about development beyond titles and promotions, including how associates get real leadership experience early, why listening matters just as much as training, and how employee-led affinity groups shape culture from the ground up.

They cover:

• What “engagement” actually looks like day-to-day
• How associates get a real seat at the table earlier than you’d expect
• Why development can’t just be classroom training
• How firms build trust by acting on feedback — not just collecting it

If you’ve ever wondered what a large firm can do better when it comes to growth, culture, and belonging, this conversation is worth your time.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on the Sidebar Advisors Podcast.