Spill The Ink Podcast Por Michelle Calcote King arte de portada

Spill The Ink

Spill The Ink

De: Michelle Calcote King
Escúchala gratis

Welcome to Spill the Ink, a podcast by Reputation Ink featuring growth and visibility experts from professional services firms, including law firms and AEC firms. Economía Exito Profesional Gestión Gestión y Liderazgo
Episodios
  • Best Lawyers CEO: When AI Fails, Credible Legal Rankings Win

    Best Lawyers CEO: When AI Fails, Credible Legal Rankings Win
    Jan 28 2026

    As AI search engines grapple with hallucinations and unreliable information, people (and AI systems themselves) are doubling down on trusted "sources of truth" like peer-reviewed rankings to deliver accurate recommendations. In this episode of "Spill the Ink," Phil Greer, CEO of Best Lawyers, explains how law firms can use legal directories like Best Lawyers to position themselves as the trusted service providers. Phil also shares how Best Lawyers proactively rebuilt their data infrastructure to feed AI systems, introduced their proprietary tool Smithy AI to help lawyers create unique, AI-optimized content, and why he believes participating in established peer-review rankings should be "part of your roadmap every year."

    Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn

    • Why and how AI is fundamentally changing how clients find lawyers

    • How AI has made legal rankings more valuable, not less

    • Why brand credibility is now a survival issue, and what Phil means when he says "your company will live and die by it."

    • How Best Lawyers restructured its data to feed AI systems

    • How to evaluate which legal directories actually deserve your investment

    • What Smithy AI is and how it helps lawyers stand out

    • Whether AI threatens the integrity of peer-review rankings

    • How to reframe ROI on rankings and brand

    About Our Featured Guest

    Phillip Greer has driven the continual evolution of Best Lawyers® since joining in 2005, becoming president in 2013 and CEO in 2018. By tapping into his training as an engineer, he created the company's first content management system, taking the company and its products, as he says, "from analog to digital."

    Through the years, he has led international expansion strategies that ensure lawyers around the world receive the recognition they deserve through various Best Lawyers offerings. His proudest achievement is in the consistency of the products and the Best Lawyers peer-review methodology.

    Resources Mentioned in This Episode

    • Check out Best Lawyers

    • Follow Best Lawyers on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram

    • Connect with Phil Greer on LinkedIn

    • Say hello to Michelle Calcote King on LinkedIn

    Sponsor for This Episode

    This episode is brought to you by Reputation Ink.

    Founded by Michelle Calcote King, Reputation Ink is a marketing and public relations agency that serves B2B professional services firms of all shapes and sizes across the United States, including corporate law firms and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms.

    Reputation Ink understands how sophisticated corporate buyers find and select professional services firms. For more than a decade, they have helped firms grow through thought leadership-fueled strategies, including public relations, content marketing, video marketing, social media, podcasting, marketing strategy services, creative services and more.

    To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.
    Más Menos
    20 m
  • Midsize Law Firms: Two Key Questions to Stop Random Acts of Marketing

    Midsize Law Firms: Two Key Questions to Stop Random Acts of Marketing
    Jan 7 2026

    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 and sponsoring conferences. But when asked about the end results, the answer isn't always clear. Erika Steinberg, founder of CMO2Go, says the problem often starts with how firms think about strategy itself.

    In this episode of "Spill the Ink," Erika joins Michelle Calcote King to discuss why strategy doesn't need to be a capital 'S' undertaking that costs a fortune and ends with a binder nobody reads. With more than 30 years in legal marketing and leadership roles at Am Law 100 firms, Erika partners with firms nationwide, bringing a high caliber of expertise to organizations. She explains how two simple questions — "What are we trying to accomplish?" and "Who are we trying to reach?" — can provide all the clarity a firm needs to move forward.

    Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn

    • How to simplify strategy by focusing on two foundational questions that bring clarity to business and marketing efforts.

    • The "one-year lookback" exercise that helps teams define success before they start a major project.

    • Why leading indicators like new contacts, follow-ups and quality of conversations stand out when revenue attribution is unclear.

    • The common roadblocks that prevent smaller firms from building marketing momentum and structure.

    • Why law firm leaders should bring marketing professionals into strategic conversations and share business goals with them.

    • The role of PR in telling a firm's story and building third-party credibility in an age of AI search.

    • Why thought leadership and content strategy have become client expectations rather than optional extras.

    About our featured guest

    Erika Steinberg started CMO2Go because she believes that expert marketing is not just for the largest law firms. More than six years later, CMO2Go now works with midsize law firms around the U.S., helping them create roadmaps for success with marketing planning, executing on those plans and keeping their momentum going by bridging any marketing gaps in their teams. Whether building marketing infrastructure, managing firm rebrands or leading complex initiatives, Erika and her team help firms create marketing functions that are strategic, effective and sustainable.

    Before launching CMO2Go, Erika held senior marketing leadership roles at Sidley, Kaye Scholer and Arent Fox. With more than 30 years in legal marketing and business development, she speaks fluent lawyer, understands how law firms operate and how to work effectively within them.

    Resources mentioned in this episode

    • Check out CMO2Go

    • Follow CMO2Go on LinkedIn

    • Connect with Erika Steinberg on LinkedIn

    • Say hello to Michelle Calcote King on LinkedIn

    Sponsor for this episode

    This episode is brought to you by Reputation Ink.

    Founded by Michelle Calcote King, Reputation Ink is a marketing and public relations agency that serves B2B professional services firms of all shapes and sizes across the United States, including corporate law firms and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms.

    Reputation Ink understands how sophisticated corporate buyers find and select professional services firms. For more than a decade, they have helped firms grow through thought leadership-fueled strategies, including public relations, content marketing, video marketing, social media, podcasting, marketing strategy services, creative services and more.

    To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.
    Más Menos
    17 m
  • Win and Keep In-House Clients: A General Counsel's Insights for Law Firms

    Win and Keep In-House Clients: A General Counsel's Insights for Law Firms
    Dec 8 2025
    Landing a new client is just the beginning. For law firms working with in-house counsel, the greater challenge lies in maintaining long-term relationships that evolve beyond transactional exchanges. Candisse Williamson, General Counsel at Hartbeat, Kevin Hart's global media company, brings a unique perspective to this challenge, having worked both in Big Law and built legal departments from the ground up at two entertainment companies. In this episode of "Spill the Ink," Candisse joins Michelle Calcote King to explore how general counsels evaluate outside firms and what drives them to become repeat clients. She explains why smart lawyering beats fancy dinners, how firms can stay present without being pushy and why accepting feedback is the difference between keeping clients and losing them. Candisse also shares the trademark over-lawyering trap that ruins relationships, the creative pricing conversation that sealed a deal for her and why diversity initiatives remain non-negotiable for clients who have hiring power. Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn How in-house counsel select outside law firms to partner with and why trusted referrals from peer companies outweigh cold outreach. The proactive relationship maintenance tactics that demonstrate industry expertise and create value between active legal matters. The importance of accepting and implementing client feedback in nurturing long-term relationships. Why prioritize billing over strategic guidance can quickly erode client trust. The difference between staying present through value-add touchpoints versus self-promotional check-ins that feel transactional. What makes client events and alumni networks effective at building lasting connections. Three priorities for winning and keeping sophisticated in-house counsel clients. Why diversity initiatives and inclusive hiring practices are top-of-mind factors in Candisse's selection decisions. About Our Featured Guest Candisse Williamson is an accomplished entertainment lawyer, strategic business advisor and dealmaker known for navigating complex transactions and driving business growth. As General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Hartbeat, she leads the company's business and legal affairs strategy across film, television, audio, digital content, distribution, live events and branded entertainment. Her focus is to ensure that creative projects remain both profitable and protected. Candisse started her career in private practice, focusing on mergers and acquisitions and private equity, before moving in-house to a leading global entertainment company. She then transitioned into building and leading legal departments from the ground up, developing operational frameworks and guiding growth-stage companies through rapid expansion and major transitions. A strategic leader, Candisse drives results through trust, accountability, clear communication, and a commitment to collaboration and mentorship. She fosters high-performance teams and colleagues often follow her to new opportunities, which is evident of the impact, trust and growth she inspires. Beyond her legal and business acumen, Candisse is a bold advocate for diversity and is committed to ensuring that boardrooms, deal tables and leadership teams reflect the diversity of the audiences they serve. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Check out Hartbeat Follow Hartbeat on LinkedIn and Instagram Connect with Candisse Williamson on LinkedIn Say hello to Michelle Calcote King on LinkedIn Sponsor For This Episode This episode is brought to you by Reputation Ink. Founded by Michelle Calcote King, Reputation Ink is a marketing and public relations agency that serves B2B professional services firms of all shapes and sizes across the United States, including corporate law firms and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms. Reputation Ink understands how sophisticated corporate buyers find and select professional services firms. For more than a decade, they have helped firms grow through thought leadership-fueled strategies, including public relations, content marketing, video marketing, social media, podcasting, marketing strategy services, creative services and more. To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.
    Más Menos
    23 m
Todavía no hay opiniones