Guest on Business NC Podcast, Michelle Doran Chats Up New COO Role

As the first chief operating officer in Smith Anderson's 112-year history, Michelle Doran appeared on Business North Carolina Magazine's “Chatter with BNC” podcast and shared her insights on the role of a COO at a law firm, including the importance of culture, joining an all-female C-suite and her role in steering the firm's growth.

"Smith Anderson is really quite a unicorn in the legal industry," Michelle told Chris Roush, executive editor of BNC. "They have a stellar reputation; they go up against some of the top law firms in the industry...They have an amazing culture and pride that resonated with me… the people I interviewed with really made it feel like a place I could excel."

Michelle brings over 25 years of executive leadership and business strategy experience from various regional and international law firms, and she discussed the unique challenges and opportunities of being a COO at a law firm that, with her appointment, now has an all-woman C-Suite, a rarity in the business world, Chris noted.

"Typically, a COO is focused on the firm's growth strategy, operations, ensuring competitiveness within the industry, and conducting a lot of analysis on financial metrics and strategy," Michelle said. "It's an entrepreneurial position as well. Law firms are unique because the partners are owners, so building strong relationships is really a part of the mix for COOs in law firms."

Michelle emphasized the importance of a COO tailoring strategies to a law firm's strengths and opportunities. There is no one-size-fits-all formula, she said, but it includes allowing attorneys to focus on the quality work they do while helping to formulate the strategy by understanding the market position they are in, where they want to head and where opportunities lie.

Michelle also highlights the culture at Smith Anderson, which welcomes non-lawyer business leaders to collaborate on the firm's growth and strategy with Chris pointing out that some members of the firm’s C-Suite have been at Smith Anderson for decades, an indication of a strong culture.

"Sometimes longevity allows people to fall into a pattern that is comfortable, and I can tell you 100 percent, that is not the case here," Michelle said. "People have been here for decades and are at the top of their game: creative, innovative, just smart."

Michelle’s distinguished track record includes overseeing business, finance and operations at law firms, including leading operations for eight offices in New York and around the world for an AmLaw 100 firm. Most recently, she served as COO of a Northeastern regional law firm with five offices from Boston to NY and facilitated a strategic merger.

For more insights from Michelle, listen to the full interview on BNC’s "Chatter with BNC" podcast here.