I’ve Been Where You Are

Overworked. Overwhelmed.
Wondering if there’s a better way to run a firm without it running you.

I know what it feels like to be the person everyone depends on — and to wonder what happens if you stop. I’ve had the panic attacks. I got my ADHD diagnosis at 54. I’ve rebuilt my career more than once. None of that is theory for me. I lived it.

That’s why I do this work. Not because I read about it in a book, but because I came out the other side and built something that actually helps.

What I Actually Do

I help managing partners build firms that don’t depend on them —
so they have real options and stay in control of their future.

My approach is a cross between coaching and consulting. Some coaches just ask questions and let you wander. I’m not doing that. I’m going to tell you what I see and suggest what to do about it. But I’m also not going to just hand you a plan and disappear. I’ll be there as your guide — sharing strategies, reviewing your documents, helping you have the hard conversations, and making sure things actually get implemented.

You make the decisions. I help you execute them.

My Background

I bridge three worlds that most people can’t:

1. Legal practice — JD from American University Washington College of Law, practiced law, served as Executive Director of the Connecticut Bar Association

2. Business operations — Corporate executive who understands how firms actually run, not just how they should run in theory

3. Leadership psychology — ADHD diagnosis at 54, panic attacks while leading organizations, rebuilt my approach to leadership from the ground up

I’m also one of Lawline’s top-rated faculty members, with 98%+ ratings across programs on succession planning, managing difficult clients, and attorney well-being.

Why Clients Work With Me

I understand law firms.

I have a JD, I’ve practiced law, and I served as Executive Director of the Connecticut Bar Association. This isn’t generic business coaching. I know how firms actually work — the politics, the economics, the culture.

I bridge psychology and operations.

Most consultants focus on systems or strategy. I start with why you’re stuck — the identity issues, the fear of letting go, the conditioning that tells you nobody can do it as well as you — and then we build the systems that actually work.

I make it safe to want what you actually want.

Managing partners spend their careers taking care of everyone else. I’m often the first person they can tell what they really want without it sounding selfish. One client told me: “He’s the first advisor who asked what I wanted for myself, not just what’s best for the firm.”

I see the real problem underneath.

When a client says “I think it’s the ops,” I hear what’s really stuck. When someone’s 60/40 on a merger, I know the 40% isn’t about deal terms — it’s about identity and control.

I stay through the hard parts.

This isn’t swoop-in-and-leave consulting. I’m there for the fifteenth conversation about the same fear. As one client put it: “Most consultants tell you what to do and disappear. Doug walks beside you while you’re actually doing it.”

What Clients Say

“Doug is the real deal. He helped me vault my practice forward and enjoy years of sustained growth while I digested and practiced all the lessons learned from him. I’m now back working with him on the graduate course to take my practice even further.”

— Paul Lange, Attorney-at-Law

“Doug’s coaching services are invaluable. When I saw the transformation from the actionable steps that Doug created for my practice, I signed up all of the attorneys in my office for his coaching services. Hands down, this is the best decision we made to create a strong foundation for our business.”

— Marty Oblasser, Attorney-at-Law

“Doug worked with me to break down the barriers holding us back. He helped me see all of the pieces of the puzzle that needed solving. We are now on a positive path. With Doug’s help it’s getting fun again.”

— Dave Drescher, President, Drescher Insurance

“Doug was very insightful in taking what seemed to be momentous tasks and simplifying them to make them more attainable. His coaching produced tangible results for me in the form of increased profits for my firm and general attitude improvement.”

— David Hicks, Attorney-at-Law

Ready to Talk?

Book a 30-minute strategy conversation. We’ll talk about where you are, where you want to be, and whether coaching is the right fit. No pressure, no pitch — just clarity on your next steps.

Schedule a Strategy Conversation

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