Expert contributor.

Ryan McPherson is VP of Finance and Operations at SmartPath. He is a Certified Financial Planner and an IRS Enrolled Agent. He is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) and the XY Planning Network.

Zena Applebaum is SVP of Market Development at Harbor. A competitive intelligence pioneer, product marketer and personal brand advocate, Zena previously served as VP of Product Marketing at Thomson Reuters, leading go-to-market strategy, including the release of Gen AI enhancements in Westlaw and Practical Law, and she has led CI teams at Bennett Jones LLP and McCarthy Tétrault. Zena is a Fellow of both the College of Law Practice Management and the Council of CI Fellows. She is also a part-time instructor in the Tech MBA program at the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto.

Kathryn Lye is a B2B marketing leader who writes about modern legal workflows and practical ways attorneys can deliver more value with less stress. She focuses on approachable, tool-agnostic guidance for busy practitioners. She is director of marketing at Definely, an AI-powered legal tech company that enables lawyers to efficiently and accurately review complex contracts.

Brenda Barnes is a legal and accounting professional with more than 35 years of experience working with solo to midsized law firms across the country. She is the founder of B2 Legal Management and Consulting, a former ALA Chapter President, and a sought-after speaker on topics related to law firm operational efficiency, especially on issues related to compensation. Brenda is also the co-author of  “RESPECT: An Insight to Attorney Compensation Plans.”

Katherine (Katie) Hollar Barnard is the managing partner of Firesign | Enlightened Legal Marketing, a marketing communications firm that focuses on law firms and legal services providers. A former Big Law CMO, she advises law firms and legal service providers on brand identity, marketing communications and more. She has helped lawyers start new law firms in a variety of fields, from intellectual property to mediation to insurance recovery. Follow Katie on LinkedIn.

Expert contributor.

Camille Stell works with Lawyers Mutual NC and is the co-author of “RESPECT: An Insight to Attorney Compensation Plans 2nd Edition” (October 2024), available from Amazon in print or Kindle. Camille is a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management, a past member of the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Coordinators Network, the Advisory Board for the Legal Aid of NC Innovation Lab, and on the Advisory Group for the Duke Law Tech Lab. Continue this conversation by contacting Camille at camille@lawyersmutualnc.com or 800.662.8843. Connect with her LinkedIn.

Jimmy Lai is the Founding and Managing Partner of Lai & Turner Law PLLC  in Oklahoma City. He holds a JD and an MBA and practices immigration law, family law, criminal defense, estate planning, and personal injury. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and works with clients in English, Mandarin, Japanese and German. Follow Jimmy on LinkedIn.

Deborah Savadra spends a lot of her time explaining technology to lawyers, mostly as editor and chief blogger at Legal Office Guru, but also as a copywriter specializing in marketing content for legal tech companies. Deborah has spent 20+ years in the legal field as a legal assistant, paralegal and software trainer. Watch her quick tips videos here, and follow her on LinkedIn and @legalofficeguru.

Collen Steffen is the founder and CEO of Project Fortress, a matter management platform he built as an M&A attorney at an AmLaw 100 firm.

Walter D. McCorkle is a Business Development and Marketing Technology Manager at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP (@BradleyLegal). He helps build brand awareness, reputation, and strength through the use of content and social media for the 500-attorney firm.

Chip LaFleur is the founder and President of LaFleur Marketing, an agency that partners with law firms and professional services organizations nationwide. With a background in web development and a passion for data, Chip specializes in helping clients connect their marketing investments to real business outcomes. He consults on strategy, analytics and AI integration, and speaks nationally on how firms can cut through the noise to make smarter marketing decisions.

Sir Gray Robinson is a lawyer, writer, speaker, mentor, consultant and coach for lawyers who are struggling with their practices. He was a divorce lawyer for 27 years, handling hundreds of divorces, custody and support cases. Gray quit in 2004 due to stress and burnout and has devoted himself to helping lawyers and clients deal with the pressures of practicing law. Gray is the founder of Lawyer Lifeline, a restorative program that guides legal professionals through anxiety and stress to fulfillment and passion. In. 2023, he was inducted as a knight of The Royal Order of Constantine the Great and St. Helen. Gray is the author of the ABA book “A Comprehensive Guide to Wellness in Law.” Follow him on LinkedIn.

Frederick Shelton is the CEO of national consultancy Shelton & Steele, where he advocates and advises attorneys and law firms on M&A and Legal MSOs. He can be reached at fs@sheltonsteele.com. Ayven Dodd is the President of Shelton & Steele. He recruits partners and groups for law firms, as well as advising them on MSOs. He can be reached at ad@sheltonsteele.com. Follow Shelton & Steele on LinkedIn.