In this episode of the Legal Growth Podcast, host Aaron Fulk sits down with Peter Mallouk, President and CEO of Creative Planning, to explore how clarity, discipline, and servant leadership can transform both legal and financial service firms.

Peter shares his unexpected journey into law — a path chosen partly by default — and how his time as an estate planning attorney became the foundation for something much bigger. By delivering high-end service quickly, charging flat fees, and explaining complex estate strategies in plain English, Peter built one of the largest estate planning practices in his region.

His real breakthrough came when he recognized what clients wanted before they could articulate it themselves: a fully integrated model combining financial planning, tax preparation, estate planning, and investment management under one roof. That vision led him to acquire Creative Planning in 2004 — then a small firm with just thirty clients and thirty million under management — and scale it into a nationally recognized powerhouse.

Peter dives deep into the practical habits behind that growth, from eliminating distractions and attacking the hardest task first each morning to embracing disciplined execution even when it’s not enjoyable. He also shares candid insights about the coming AI transformation in law and business, predicting that much of traditional legal work will be automated — and explaining why specialization and complex problem-solving will be key to survival.

Above all, Peter emphasizes the power of servant leadership and being a “player-coach” — leading from the front, working alongside your team, and eliminating the ivory tower mentality that holds organizations back.

Listeners will learn:

- How Peter scaled from estate planning attorney to CEO of a national firm

- Why delivering fast, flat-fee, high-quality service creates exponential growth

- How to eliminate daily noise and focus only on what truly moves the needle

- Why attacking the hardest task first changes productivity outcomes

- How AI will reshape law and professional services — and how to prepare

- Why specialization and complexity will protect professionals from automation

- How servant leadership and player-coach mentality build winning cultures

👉 Tune in for a high-impact conversation filled with practical strategies, bold predictions, and timeless leadership principles that apply to law firms, financial firms, and growth-focused organizations alike.

In this episode of the Legal Growth Podcast, host Aaron Fulk sits down with Demitrus Evans, an international business and intellectual property attorney based in the Chicagoland area, to explore how purpose, people-centered leadership, and innovation-driven lawyering are shaping the future of legal practice.

Demitrus shares how her path into law wasn’t driven by a childhood dream of becoming an attorney, but by a deep-rooted passion for justice and human rights. Her early work with Amnesty International exposed her to the complex role businesses play in global justice issues — a realization that ultimately led her into international business law, intellectual property, and cross-border innovation.

She reflects on one of her most rewarding growth success stories: guiding a small, immigrant-owned “mom and pop” automotive business from humble beginnings to an international acquisition by a German company. Through years of strategic legal support — from IP protection to contracts to mergers — Demitrus helped the client scale globally while preserving what mattered most to them.

Beyond client wins, Demitrus opens up about her leadership philosophy and the non-legal skills that set her firm apart. From incorporating yoga, breathing exercises, and mindset work into team meetings to fostering a culture of care, wellness, and long-term connection, she explains why investing in people is the foundation of sustainable growth.

Looking ahead, Demitrus shares her forward-thinking perspective on AI, international trade, intellectual property, and even the metaverse — encouraging law firms and businesses alike to claim space early, adapt boldly, and stay curious about where innovation is headed next.

Listeners will learn:

- How a passion for human rights led Demitrus into international business law

- Why intellectual property plays a critical role in global business growth

- How long-term client relationships can turn small businesses into international success stories

- Why staff wellness, mindset, and culture directly impact firm performance

- How AI is reshaping international law, trade, and innovation

- Why law firms should be thinking about IP, AI, and the metaverse now

- How people-first leadership creates loyalty, longevity, and growth

👉 Tune in for a thoughtful, energizing, and future-focused conversation that blends global business insight with deeply human leadership — and shows why innovation works best when it’s grounded in care.

In this episode of the Legal Growth Podcast, host Aaron Fulk sits down with Trina Nudson, founder of The Layne Project, Inc. and My Child Advocate, to explore how purpose-driven leadership, coaching, and systems-level thinking can radically change outcomes for families navigating the legal system.

Trina shares her powerful journey from foster care social worker to attorney and entrepreneur, driven by deep frustration with a system that too often fails the people it is meant to protect. Encouraged by her then-boyfriend (now husband) to “go be one of them,” Trina leapt into law school and ultimately into building not one, but two mission-driven organizations dedicated to helping families and children through moments of crisis.

Opening both a law firm and a social service agency at the same time in 2008, Trina reflects on the resilience it took to survive the early years, the lessons learned through entrepreneurial education, and how falling down repeatedly became the foundation for long-term success. She explains why coaching—not traditional lawyering—became her most powerful tool, and how guiding people to find their own clarity leads to better legal, emotional, and life outcomes.

Trina also discusses the evolving role of courts, attorneys, and technology, highlighting a shift from being “right” to truly “getting it right.” She introduces her newest platform, Be Aligned, a reflection and preparation tool designed to help clients arrive more grounded, focused, and ready—allowing attorneys to practice law instead of crisis management.

Listeners will learn:

- How Trina’s background in social work shaped her legal and entrepreneurial path

- Why she opened two mission-driven organizations at the same time—and survived

- How coaching differs from lawyering and why it matters for client outcomes

- Why emotional preparation is missing from most legal processes

- How technology and tools like Be Aligned can transform family law and mediation

- Why attorneys need systems that support clients without burning out lawyers

- How intellectual property and lived experience can be scaled for greater impact

👉 Tune in for a deeply inspiring and forward-thinking conversation about leadership, resilience, and building systems that serve people—not just cases.