Spill The Ink

How Law Firms Get Ranked: An Insider Look at Benchmark Litigation

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Spill the Ink, Michelle Calcote King talks with Michael Rafalowich, Managing Editor and Head of Research at Benchmark Litigation, t...

Inside the DBIA Project/Team Awards: What Judges Really Want

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As design-build project delivery methods continue to gain ground in the U.S. construction industry, the DBIA Project and Team Awards have become one o...

Your Chambers Submission Playbook: Tips From the Research Directors

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Chambers and Partners guide is one of the most trusted resources in the legal industry, used by in-house counsel worldwide to find and evaluate ou...

Inside ENR's Rankings: What AEC Firms Should Focus On

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In Steven Gallo's inaugural episode as Spill the Ink co-host, we're launching a new series diving into the premier awards and rankings programs across...

Best Lawyers CEO: When AI Fails, Credible Legal Rankings Win

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As AI search engines grapple with hallucinations and unreliable information, people (and AI systems themselves) are doubling down on trusted "sources ...

Midsize Law Firms: Two Key Questions to Stop Random Acts of Marketing

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Inside midsize law firms, things can get loud. They're often in a stage where they're in constant motion, frequently hosting events, updating websites...

Win and Keep In-House Clients: A General Counsel's Insights for Law Firms

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Landing a new client is just the beginning. For law firms working with in-house counsel, the greater challenge lies in maintaining long-term relations...

AI as an Accelerant: Tools Helping Legal Marketing Teams Compete Smarter

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

AI tools are changing the marketing game for small and midsized law firms, making it easier for them to compete with the bigger players in their marke...

The Science Behind Best Lawyers: Insights to Maximize Your Law Firm's Recognition

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Understanding the methodology behind legal rankings can transform how law firms approach the nomination process. In this "Spill the Ink" episode, Eliz...

Breaking Down Silos: How to Build a Culture of Sharing in Law Firms

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Attorneys are trained to be cautious and confidential, and these instincts often extend beyond client matters into a general reluctance to promote the...

The Art of Alignment: Branding in Decentralized AEC Firms

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When AEC firms grant decentralized offices free rein to create their own messaging, the results can be damaging: wasted resources, confused clients, w...

How to Get Attorneys to Buy In on Legal Marketing Plans

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Good marketing ideas alone won't get attorneys to follow through. In this "Spill the Ink" episode, Michelle Calcote King talks to Sheenika Gandhi, Chi...

Ending the Standoff: AEC Marketers vs. Technical Experts

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of "Spill the Ink," Michelle Calcote King sits down with Gabe Lett, Chief Marketing Officer at Prairie Engineers, to explore what happ...

The MIT Program: How Strong Habits Drove 82% New Business Growth at One Law Firm

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many law firms invest in excellent business development coaching, see fantastic initial results, then watch performance gradually decline. Anna Hedgep...

The Legal Marketer's Blind Spot: Start Treating Lawyers as Clients

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You can't sell a product effectively without understanding it. In law firms, that product is the attorneys. To sell legal services, legal marketers ne...

Challenging AEC's Myth That "Anyone Can Do Marketing"

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The misconception that "anyone can do marketing" creates barriers that relegate AEC marketers to tactical roles rather than strategic business partner...

Beyond Business Cards: Authentic Networking for New Law Firm Partners

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Michelle Calcote King sits down with Megan Senese, co-founder and principal at stage, a woman-owned legal marketing and business deve...

AEC Strategy Driven by True Connection, Not Transactional Relationships

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Technical expertise is merely table stakes in the AEC industry. How firms approach their relationship-building is the true differentiator, with the po...

Giving Up Carbon-Copy Market Entry Tactics in AEC Firms

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"We didn't want to be somebody that just came in and it was about the bottom line and the revenue. It was about being a part of the community."  In t...

Attorney Work-Life Balance: Managing Boundaries and Client Relations

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of "Spill the Ink," Michelle Calcote King speaks with Amanda Waesch, who chairs marketing and business development at Brennan, Manna &...

Turning Data into Decisions: Research-Driven Strategies for AEC Firms

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most AEC firms recognize research's potential and understand they can't rely on assumptions or gut feelings to stay ahead of the curve. Still, many fi...

The Rewards When DEI Drives Innovation in Law Firms

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Law firms are often seen as slow to change, but diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) can be powerful drivers of innovation. In this episode, Michell...

Exploring Mentorship Outside Traditional Channels as AEC Marketers

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Professional learning and growth can bloom from unexpected relationships — and these opportunities are abundant in technical industries like archite...

Breaking Misconceptions: How Legal Marketers Are Innovating and Advancing the Field

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, John Byrne, the Chief Marketing Officer at Gould & Ratner and the 2025 President of the Legal Marketing Association, disputes the ide...

The Benefits of Peer Relationships for Legal Professionals

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Emily McKeown and Lindsay Tiffany have a standing meeting to collaborate and advise each other on legal marketing and business development issues. The...

Marketing's Role in Winning the War for AEC Talent

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With a tight labor market casting a dark shadow over our heads, architecture, engineering and construction firm marketers are increasingly stepping in...

Planning Law Firm Events Where Authentic Relationships Flourish

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Firm-sponsored events strengthen community ties and create opportunities for attorneys to network with potential clients. But the traditional "lunch a...

The Path to Refreshing and Modernizing Gannett Fleming's Brand

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

To excel in an industry that never stops innovating, you have to be willing to grow and evolve with it. Architecture, engineering and construction (AE...

What other sectors teach us about legal marketing

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's easy to get lost in the complexities of a legal issue and the nuances of an industry, but effective marketing should always center around one thi...

Crafting AEC content that captivates and inspires learning

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With endless amounts of stimuli constantly grabbing for our attention, convincing audiences to read complex technical information can be a hard sell. ...

Why your attorneys should feel like part of the marketing team

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On paper, Julia Thomas is a one-woman band as Dean Mead's marketing director. But in reality, she works in tandem with more than 100 unofficial market...

Lessons from marketing a legacy construction firm on its 100th anniversary

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Reaching 100 years is a commendable accomplishment for any business and should be celebrated to the fullest extent. As Dana Galvin Lancour leads Barto...

What non-attorney CEOs bring to law firm operations

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's as untraditional as it gets, but having a non-attorney in the driving seat of your law firm can do wonders for streamlining operations, enhancing...

Marketing analytics, photography and a people-centric strategy

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Mantese brought a fresh perspective to Eskew Dumez Ripple, a nationally recognized architecture firm, when he joined in 2017. Coming from a Ne...

Mental health in law: Strategies for firm leaders

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Reports of attorneys grappling with issues like anxiety, depression and substance abuse remain alarmingly high as the legal industry continues fighti...

Architecture marketer spotlight: Benefits of niche marketing for architecture firms

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Soon after starting as an intern architect, Heather Blazi realized the job didn't spark joy quite the way she imagined while watching HGTV as a kid. S...

Legal marketer spotlight: A servant leadership approach to law firm marketing

09 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Law firms are relationship-driven businesses — and not only in terms of attorney-client relationships. Aricia Gallaher's recipe for success is to ap...

Architecture marketer spotlight: Winning AEC business with tailored proposals

26 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Professional services buyers want to see more than simple boilerplate to inform their decision about why they should hire you. Marketing needs to be t...

Why a DEI strategy is a competitive advantage for law firms

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The legal industry isn't known for its trailblazing progress on the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) front — but it is improving. Many law firm...

Architecture marketer spotlight: Insights into strengthening a firm's identity and positioning

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jill Davis leads the marketing department at Cline Design, an interdisciplinary architecture, planning and interior design firm in North Carolina. She...

How law firms are using videos to generate and nurture leads

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You don't need to work in an extremely visual industry to create video content that drives revenue and brings in new business. You don't even need to ...

Advancing diversity, equity and inclusion opportunities in AEC

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The architecture, engineering and construction industry is severely lagging behind in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Black workers represent 1...

How to run a better law firm business

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Running a business is hard. Now try being a lawyer on top of it all. Having spent 20 years helping law firm owners and senior partners implement strat...

Building genuine connections as business developers and marketers

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Angels sing when marketing and business development (BD) work in harmony. Together, the departments highlight the business's value at every stage of t...

AI for law firms: The good, the bad and the future

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Many businesses have spent the past year navigating the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the workplace. Law firms are especially cautious ...

How AEC firms can use employee phone videos to fuel connection and engagement

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Architecture, engineering and construction firms are increasingly integrating video content into their marketing strategies. Thanks to smartphones, AE...

Architecture marketer spotlight: Building client experience into a firm's brand

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Sebranek helped shape GBBN Architects's marketing into a vibrant, creative and attention-grabbing masterpiece — much like the buildings the...

Architecture marketer spotlight: Knowledge management and marketing in harmony

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Extracting, capturing and communicating knowledge from project team members are fundamental responsibilities of an architecture firm's marketing depar...

Architecture marketer spotlight: The warp speed evolution of AEC marketing with Jennifer Haferbecker

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The marketing industry is evolving at warp speed, as Jennifer Haferbecker tells Michelle Calcote King in this episode of "Spill the Ink." Role special...

Insights on scaling and selling multi-million dollar professional services firms

20 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Some say that running a business is an art, not a science. But professional services firm owners should have a documented strategy for growing and sca...

The value of market research for architecture, engineering and construction firms

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What do we all do before making a decision? Research. Market research enables architecture, engineering and construction firms to make strategic decis...

Virtual communication for legal professionals

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Virtual meetings and remote work are the new norm of the professional landscape — yes, even for law firms. As the industry evolves, so should our co...

Branding your architecture, engineering and construction firm

20 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What does your brand say about your architecture, engineering or construction firm? Does it accurately reflect who you are today or is it still rooted...

Shifting mindsets: Scaling your law firm business as a female owner with Davina Frederick

23 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Women face unique challenges in the workplace, particularly in male-dominated industries like law. For female law firm owners, these challenges can in...

Ditching the billable-hour model with the ADVOS Pro P3 Method

01 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What if there was a way for lawyers to ditch the billable-hour model without sacrificing value or profits? ADVOS Pro is teaching law firms to do exact...

Reducing stigma and promoting wellness in the legal industry with Cynthia Voth

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

To advance and excel in the extremely competitive legal field, attorneys and legal professionals are pressured to work long hours, handle substantial ...

Building resilience and wellness in law firms with Renee Branson

05 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Legal professionals operate in incredibly demanding and high-pressure work environments that lead many lawyers to struggle with severe stress, burnout...

Niching and podcasting: Tools for attracting new legal clients

05 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When faced with a complex legal challenge, businesses search for law firms that can provide specialized solutions to their problems. By branding your ...

Using legal tech to improve marketing and operations with Daniel Steinberg

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The legal industry isn't known for being the most progressive when it comes to adopting new technology. Yet, (slowly but surely) lawyers are realizing...

Mastering proposal writing with the A3 format

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Traditionally, the request for proposal (RFP) process has required countless hours of work to create comprehensive proposals that highlight an archite...

Do partnership and video marketing strategies work for law firms?

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With so many law firms vying for attention in today's hyper-competitive market, it can be hard to stand out among the crowd. Answering Legal, a compan...

Building better AEC teams by leading with emotional intelligence

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What's the key to building high-performing teams where people feel valued and motivated from start to finish? Brent Darnell says the answer lies in le...

AEC business development trends and strategies for a constantly evolving market

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Competition in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) field has grown increasingly fierce over the years. Economic changes, market movem...

Legal tech trends: How technology is transforming the legal industry

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The global legal technology market has rapidly grown into a multibillion-dollar industry — and it's still expanding. Even in its infancy, legal tech...

Happy holidays! A marketer's reflection on the legal industry

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The state (and future) of the legal industry is drastically different from what it was 10 years ago. The rise of legal tech and social media platforms...

Bye 2022! A marketer's reflection on the AEC industry

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We blinked, and suddenly December was upon us. What even happened in 2022?  To start, the massive federal infrastructure spending bill passed in 2021...

Building AEC websites that attract new business and support operations

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firm's website is its most valuable marketing asset — but its utility can be stretched even furt...

Developing a strong strategic plan for your law firm

04 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Many lawyers spend a lifetime building their legal practices into thriving businesses with an abundance of clients. While your day-to-day grind is vit...

How to improve your legal marketing strategy for the Hispanic market

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Your law firm's marketing strategy is tailored to resonate with the types of clients who you want to reach and attract. However, an award-worthy marke...

Insights into today's facility owners with Howie Ferguson, executive director of the Construction Owners Association of America

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Howie Ferguson is an experienced leader and is the Executive Director of the Construction Owners Association of America. The national association cons...

The role of sales in professional services firms with Mark Wainwright of Wainwright Insight

15 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Wainwright is an established consultant for business development and sales growth. Through his current firm, Wainwright Insight, he applies his m...

Nurturing leadership and culture within law firms with Marcie Borgal Shunk of The Tilt Institute

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With more than 20 years of experience consulting law firms, Marcie Borgal Shunk considers herself a sociologist of lawyers. She is the President and F...

Digital marketing tips for AEC firms with Lindsay Diven of Marketers Take Flight

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Lindsay Diven is a Marketing and Sales Manager for the Blackbox Connectors and a well-known figure in the AEC field. She works closely with her client...

How law firms can master responding to RFPs with Matthew Prinn of RFP Advisory Group

03 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Prinn is an executive with 20 years of experience in legal pricing, marketing and operations. He is the current Principal at RFP Advisory Grou...

The legal media series: Valerie A. Danner With Legal Management Magazine

27 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Valerie A. Danner is the Senior Managing Editor of Legal Management magazine, which is the flagship publication of the Association of Legal Administra...

The market for 'revenue enablers' in today's law firms with Jennifer Johnson of Calibrate Legal

20 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Johnson is the Founder and CEO of Calibrate Legal, a consultancy that specializes in recruiting services and legal marketing. They work with ...

Teaching you how to write and manage winning AEC proposals with Matt Handal of Help Everybody Everyday

13 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Handal is a specialist in contracts, helping firms of all kinds write winning contracts on projects ranging from $500,000 to $2 billion. In 2009,...

Account-based marketing for AEC firms with Perryn Olson of REX.one

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Perryn Olson is a renowned leader in both marketing strategy and business technology, serving as the Vice President of Marketing for REX.one. The comp...

Leadership, education and diversity in architecture with Marc Teer of Black Spectacles

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Marc Teer is the Founder and CEO of Black Spectacles and Spectacular. Black Spectacles is a business that offers online videos for architects includin...

Navigating the legal industry's rapid changes with Gerry Riskin of Edge International

08 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With a long and intensive career, Gerry Riskin has made his name in consultation for law firms. He is a Co-founding Partner at Edge International, ser...

How to make virtual events more engaging, interactive and magical with Ken Sky

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ken Sky is an expert on virtual event production and is the primary producer and coach at Ken Sky Unlimited. He particularly specializes in Zoom meeti...

How law firm culture impacts business development with David Freeman

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

David Freeman is an expert in law firm leadership, currently serving as a consultant for both individual lawyers and law firms through the David Freem...

Business development tips from a former big-law attorney turned coach with Elise Holtzman of The Lawyer's Edge

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Elise Holtzman is a trusted attorney and a certified coach. She is best known as the President and Founder of The Lawyer's Edge — a boutique firm th...

How law firms can survive a PR crisis with crisis simulations featuring Bill Coletti of Kith Crisis Management

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bill Coletti is a global crisis strategist, a C-suite advisor and a reputation management specialist. He is the CEO of Kith Crisis Management, which w...

How law firms can make lasting changes in diversity and inclusion with Chris Kirby and Dominica McGinnis of Bridgefield Group

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chris Kirby is an established professional coach and the Founder of BridgeField Group. He has worked as a business development coach since 2000, worki...

Marketing tips for solo attorneys and small firms with Allison Williams of The Law Firm Mentor

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Allison Williams is a renowned lawyer, business coach and the proud owner of both Law Firm Mentor and the Williams Law Group, LLC. She most recently f...

How to improve your law firm's LinkedIn with Stefanie Marrone of Stefanie Marrone Consulting

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Stefanie Marrone is a consultant for law firms of all sizes as well as B2C and B2B companies. She brings almost 20 years of legal marketing experience...

How to become a reliable media source with Christopher Melcher of Walzer Melcher LLP

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Christopher Melcher is a leading name in the field of family law and a Partner of Walzer Melcher LLP. He primarily works with celebrities, business ow...

Raising the standards for legal surveys and awards with Kerry Benn of Law360

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kerry Benn is the Director of Series, Surveys and Data of Law360, working with her team to manage their data and surveys. The subscription-based news ...

The power of research in content marketing with Michele Linn of Mantis Research

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Michele Linn is a content marketing guru, having worked in the field since its early days. She is the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Mantis ...

Holding law firms to a higher standard with Elizabeth Petit of Best Lawyers

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Elizabeth Petit is the Director of Research and Development and Managing Editor at Best Lawyers. Her role involves oversight of planning, research and...

The thorough process of ranking law firms with Michael Rafalowich of Euromoney Institutional Investor

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Rafalowich is the Litigation Managing Editor at Euromoney Institutional Investor. He has been with the company for more than 12 years, enterin...

How to differentiate and market your law firm with Ken Hardison of PILMMA

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ken Hardison is the President of PILMMA, a marketing and management resource designed for attorneys. PILMMA, or the Powerful Innovative Legal Marketin...

Revolutionizing marketing through meaningful videos with Melissa Costello of melissacostello.com

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Melissa Costello is the Creative Lead and Chief Storyteller at MELISSACOSTELLO.com. Her passion is found in telling the stories of people and business...

Making the most of your social media with Adrian Dayton of Clearview Social

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adrian Dayton is the Founder and CEO of ClearView Social, a company that helps simplify social media for professionals. He is known for his keen under...

Accelerating business development for law firms with David Ackert of Ackert Inc.

13 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

David Ackert is a pioneer in business development innovation and is the Founder and President of Ackert Inc. He has over two decades of experience in ...

Cultivating the next generation of lawyers with Wendy Merrill of DRI

07 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Wendy Merrill is a successful businesswoman of many titles, including author, executive, speaker and consultant. She is currently the Executive Vice P...

Managing partner series: Aaron Y. Strauss of A.Y. Strauss

29 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron Y. Strauss is the Founder and Managing Partner of A.Y. Strauss, a firm that provides legal counsel for commercial transactions and litigation in...

Managing partner series: Ken Levinson, Levinson and Stefani

22 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ken Levinson is a Founding Partner of Levinson and Stefani, a Chicago-based firm focusing on personal injury law. Ken has spent over 20 years helping ...

Managing partner series: Jamie Rubin, InfoLawGroup LLP

15 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jamie Rubin is a Partner at InfoLawGroup LLP, a national boutique law firm focusing on the intersection of privacy and data security, technology, adve...