From Zero Clients to Retiring Her Doctor Husband: Building a Tech-Powered Law Firm
Thu Feb 05 2026
Episode Description
What happens when you start a law firm with zero clients, zero contacts, and a vision that doesn't fit anyone else's mold? Gabriela Smith did exactly that—and built it so successfully that her anesthesiologist husband retired from medicine to join her. In this powerful conversation, Gabriela shares how she transformed from a BigLaw litigator who hated asking permission for vacation into an entrepreneur building a tech-powered, human-centric M&A law firm that's rewriting the rules. She talks about legal subscriptions replacing billable hours, why AI can't replace human intuition, creating a law firm "umbrella" for entrepreneurial attorneys who want freedom, and what it really takes to walk through the thick mud of reinvention. This is for every attorney who's ever felt like they don't fit the traditional mold—because you don't have to.
Connect with Gabriela Smith
Instagram: @thegabbysmith LinkedIn: Gabriela Smith Email: gsmith@gnslawplc.com Podcast: Exit Ed Podcast
Gabriela mentors moms and entrepreneurs—reach out if you want to connect. For attorneys interested in joining the GNS Law umbrella model, contact her husband Tim (he handles those conversations).
Work with Erin Gerner
Erin coaches high-achieving female attorneys who are successful on paper but struggling with burnout, identity crisis, and knowing what's next—helping them redefine success on their terms without sacrificing family or wellbeing.
Contact: @eringerner on Instagram | Book a Free Call
Key Takeaway: You don't have to fit the traditional mold. Start where you are, walk through the thick mud, and create what works for YOU. Legal subscriptions, AI-powered tools, entrepreneurial freedom—the future of law is human-centric, and it doesn't look like BigLaw anymore.
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Episode Description What happens when you start a law firm with zero clients, zero contacts, and a vision that doesn't fit anyone else's mold? Gabriela Smith did exactly that—and built it so successfully that her anesthesiologist husband retired from medicine to join her. In this powerful conversation, Gabriela shares how she transformed from a BigLaw litigator who hated asking permission for vacation into an entrepreneur building a tech-powered, human-centric M&A law firm that's rewriting the rules. She talks about legal subscriptions replacing billable hours, why AI can't replace human intuition, creating a law firm "umbrella" for entrepreneurial attorneys who want freedom, and what it really takes to walk through the thick mud of reinvention. This is for every attorney who's ever felt like they don't fit the traditional mold—because you don't have to. Connect with Gabriela Smith Instagram: @thegabbysmith LinkedIn: Gabriela Smith Email: gsmith@gnslawplc.com Podcast: Exit Ed Podcast Gabriela mentors moms and entrepreneurs—reach out if you want to connect. For attorneys interested in joining the GNS Law umbrella model, contact her husband Tim (he handles those conversations). Work with Erin Gerner Erin coaches high-achieving female attorneys who are successful on paper but struggling with burnout, identity crisis, and knowing what's next—helping them redefine success on their terms without sacrificing family or wellbeing. Contact: @eringerner on Instagram | Book a Free Call Key Takeaway: You don't have to fit the traditional mold. Start where you are, walk through the thick mud, and create what works for YOU. Legal subscriptions, AI-powered tools, entrepreneurial freedom—the future of law is human-centric, and it doesn't look like BigLaw anymore.