In this episode of the Legal Growth Podcast, host Aaron Fulk sits down with Leo Oppenheimer, founder of a rapidly growing Kansas City law firm, to discuss resilience, reinvention, and how to build a thriving legal practice from scratch in a city where you have zero professional roots.

Leo shares his remarkable journey from college football player to New York finance hopeful to Columbia-trained litigator — and how the 2008 financial crisis unexpectedly set him on the path to the courtroom. With energy and candor, he reflects on discovering his passion for litigation, the competitive nature of trial work, and the thrill of stepping into a profession where “two people walk in, one walks out.”

Returning to Kansas City after years on the East Coast, Leo built his firm from a one-lawyer operation into a five-attorney team in just two years. He breaks down the marketing strategies, relationship building, and deliberate positioning that fueled his explosive growth. Leo also discusses how he’s integrating AI into his practice responsibly — not as a replacement for expertise, but as a tool to maximize efficiency while maintaining the highest standards of legal quality.

Listeners will learn:

• How Leo pivoted from finance to litigation — and found his true calling

• What it takes to build a law firm with no existing professional network

• Why marketing (Google ads, LinkedIn, and bar associations) was crucial to early growth

• The importance of finding the right team and ideal clients

• How to use AI responsibly without compromising quality or ethics

• Why fee structure matters when implementing new technology

• How efficiency and expertise can coexist in modern legal practice

👉 Tune in for an inspiring and practical conversation filled with smart growth strategies, candid reflections, and actionable insights for attorneys at any stage of their career.