303. Depth Over Scale: How Bill Umansky Built a Thriving Practice by Leading Differently

Personal Injury Mastermind

After decades of success, Bill Umansky realized something was missing in how he ran his firm. In this episode of Personal Injury Mastermind, Bill reveals why he transformed his leadership style to focus on deeper relationships over pure growth numbers. From having lunch with entry-level staff to maintaining genuine connections with former employees, his approach challenges everything we think we know about scaling a law firm. Whether you're running a growing practice or building your team, this episode shows why authentic leadership might be your most powerful asset.

Dominate your market today. Grab a copy of Chris’ latest book, Personal Injury Lawyer Marketing: From Good to GOAT.

We discuss:

• Why focusing on relationship depth matters more than pure numerical growth
• How stepping away from practicing law led to better firm leadership
• The transformative impact of finally hiring a CFO after 28 years
• Building authentic connections with remote and overseas team members
• Strategies for maintaining positive relationships with departing employees
• Why intentional leadership requires connecting with all levels of staff
• The importance of starting relationship-building from day one of employment

Guest Details

Bill "The Lawman" Umansky has built one of Orlando's most respected law firms by focusing on authentic leadership and deep relationships. His innovative approach to firm culture and management has created lasting connections with both current and former team members.

• Bill Umansky: LinkedIn, Book, Instagram
• Umansky Law Firm:Website,YouTube, Podcast, TikTok
• Podcast: Lawmans Lounge

Chris Dreyer and Rankings Details

Chris Dreyer is the CEO and founder of Rankings.io, the elite legal digital marketing agency.

• Rankings: Website, Instagram, Twitter
• Chris Dreyer: Website, Instagram
• Newsletters: The Dreyer Sheet
• Books: Personal Injury Lawyer Marketing: From Good to GOAT; Niching Up: The Narrower the Market, the Bigger the Prize
• Work with Rankings: Connect

Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

00:53 Growth through depth, not just numbers

01:37 From practicing attorney to firm leader

02:30 The game-changing CFO hire

05:29 Rainmaking and networking evolution

09:00 Business development strategy

14:17 Success with former employees 17:02 Building authentic team connections

Additional Episodes You Might Enjoy

• 80. Mike Papantonio, Levin, Papantonio, & Rafferty — Doing Well by Doing Good
• 84. Glen Lerner, Lerner and Rowe – A Steady Hand in a Shifting Industry
• 101. Pratik Shah, EsquireTek — Discovering the Power of Automation
• 134. Darryl Isaacs, Isaacs & Isaacs — The Hammer: Insights from a Marketing Legend
• 104. Taly Goody, Goody Law Group — Finding PI Clients on TikTok
• 63. Joe Fried, Fried Goldberg LLC — How To Become An Expert And Revolutionize Your PI Niche
• 96. Brian Dean, Backlinko — Becoming a Linkable Source
• 83. Seth Godin — Differentiation: How to Make Your Law Firm a Purple Cow
• 73. Neil Patel, Neil Patel — Digital A New Approach to Content and Emerging Marketing Channels