Planning Law Firm Events Where Authentic Relationships Flourish

Firm-sponsored events strengthen community ties and create opportunities for attorneys to network with potential clients. But the traditional “lunch and learn” format simply doesn’t spark joy with everyone. In this episode, Gail Lamarche, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Henderson Franklin, teaches us valuable lessons about creating unique and memorable law firm events.

Gail shares examples from a 25-year career working with law firms, including a Cigars & Conversations event with cigar and bourbon tastings and an educational maritime law event outside a Southwest Florida yacht club. She also dives into planning Henderson Franklin’s latest event, a gala celebrating the firm’s 100th anniversary, her favorite AI tools for brainstorming creative event ideas, and the importance of incorporating a “Wow” factor in each event.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn

• The difference a thoughtful event can make in helping attorneys build authentic connections with people in their community.

• How Henderson Franklin is celebrating and commemorating its 100th anniversary milestone.

• Why Gail champions “not doing the same things the same way all the time” in marketing and business development initiatives.

• Tips for organizing memorable legal events that get firms away from the traditional lunch and learn model — and why they don’t always have to be law-related. 

• How Henderson Franklin balances and strategically manages over 100 charitable efforts.

• Gail’s favorite AI tools for enhancing event planning.

About our featured guest

With over 25 years of experience in law firms, Gail Lamarche serves as the Director of Marketing and Business Development for Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., a full-service firm with over 50 lawyers across three offices in Southwest Florida. Gail oversees the firm’s marketing strategies, encompassing advertising, branding, budgeting, business development, digital marketing, social media, seminars, events and community initiatives. In addition to her role at the firm, Gail works with an author, speaker and international wellness coach.

A New England native and baseball enthusiast, Gail serves on the Boston Red Sox Celebrity Golf Classic Tournament Committee, which benefits the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, and has raised over $15 million to date. She is also a member of the Southwest Florida Seminole Booster Club. Previously, Gail served on the Communications Task Force for the Horizon Council of Lee County, was an inaugural member of the Social Media Shared Interest Group Leadership Committee for the Legal Marketing Association, and co-founded the Social Media Club of Southwest Florida, where she also served as president.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Check out Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.

• Follow Henderson Franklin on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram

• Connect with Gail Lamarche 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