Both personally and professionally, there is much that a firm owner will learn in the first 12 months of operating a legal practice. Here, we unpack some of the headline lessons, surprises, and tricks that one award-nominated practitioner has gleaned. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes M de Mestre Lawyers founder Mary-Ann de Mestre to discuss what the past 12 months since the inception of her firm have been like, whether she has been able to hold true to her founding mission, demystifying what the first year is like, the non-negotiable things that new firm owners must know, and how overwhelming it can be to start one’s own practice. De Mestre also delves into what has surprised her in the first year, the extent to which she has had to be more of a businessperson than a lawyer, navigating the idea of rebuilding the plane as it is falling out of the sky, tinkering with the broader strategy, and the most important practical steps to take. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!