Send us a text After six and a half years of building this business, we have evolved into TM Legal Atelier. This is so much more than a rebrand. It's a brand evolution where our brand is finally catching up to what the business has organically become: a specialised legal practice serving creative and service-based businesses with bespoke, tailored solutions in a heart led way. The word atelier is associated with bespoke craftsmanship and that is exactly what we do. We don't do templates...

Send us a text A seasoned barrister once told me: "This isn't a justice system; it's a legal system. If you want justice, go to a brothel. If you want to get screwed, go to court." That, my friend, taught me more about the reality of the legal system than law school ever did. That harsh reality check after 12 years of watching businesses destroy themselves in legal battles completely changed how I practice law - and it might change how you think about protecting your business too. Today, we'r...

Send us a text Rebranding gets talked about a lot in small business circles—but how do you know when it’s actually time? I recently caught up with Kate Addamo, a mentor to service-based and creative business owners, who’s just been through her own rebrand. Kate’s story and the work she does with her clients provide invaluable lessons for anyone questioning whether their brand still reflects who they are and where they’re going. So, how do you know when it’s time to rebrand? According ...

Send us a text Prevention is better than cure - you’ve heard me say it again and again. And today I’m sharing a real client story of a business owner who faced a disaster that could have been completely avoided if she had the right systems and procedures in place. My client did almost everything right - but when her business started growing and life got more hectic, things started falling through the cracks. All it took was one mistake and she suffered a five-figure blow without a legal leg t...

Send us a text What if your biggest productivity breakthrough isn't about adding another hack to your routine, but removing something you never questioned? Today, I’m sharing my fascinating conversation with gray area drinking coach Sarah Rusbatch, where we explore how that seemingly harmless evening wine or weekend drinks might be quietly sabotaging your business performance. This isn't about rock-bottom stories or anti-alcohol messaging—it's about education and awareness for high-func...

Send us a text A client recently lost a $30,000 deal because her generic contract had vague intellectual property terms that couldn't give her potential client the assurance they needed about IP rights and ownership. When you're investing serious money in consulting services, you want clear answers about who owns what at the end of the project. Her template couldn't provide that clarity, and it cost her the deal. I understand the appeal of templates. When you're transitioning from corpo...

Send us a text For the first time in over 20 years, Australia is overhauling its privacy legislation in a big way, and the small business exemption is gone. If you're running a business with under $3 million turnover and thought you could skip having a privacy policy, those days are behind us. Today, we're talking about why this isn't just bureaucratic mumbo jumbo - it's about trust, credibility and not getting caught scrambling when it's too late. AI is a fascinating and valuable tool, but i...

Send us a text There's something energising about the end of financial year and in my business, I use this natural checkpoint as an opportunity to set myself up for success in the financial year ahead. EOFY is a perfect time to step back, assess what's working and make strategic adjustments before diving into the next twelve months. So today I'm sharing the exact process I use every year in my own business and with the clients I work with to realign vision and build strong foundations for the...

Running a business is deeply personal and today I’m sharing a special episode for all my interior design business owners out there. Your creativity, your vision, your late nights perfecting client presentations - it's all an extension of who you are. But here's what I've learned from countless conversations with designers: passion alone won't protect your business when things go wrong. I recently spoke with Katie McFarlan from Dakota Design Company, who really brought this point home. Katie i...

In this deeply personal episode, I'm sharing the most vulnerable stories from my legal career that I've never told before on the podcast. While I've always been open about my passion for educating business owners and my experiences in litigation, today I'm revealing the profound personal moments that truly shaped me into the lawyer I am today. I'm pulling back the curtain on three pivotal experiences that fundamentally changed my approach to law and business. I take you through my early caree...

I talk to business owners quite regularly who think they're doing their clients a favour by keeping their legal contracts short and sweet. However by trying to be "nice", they’re doing more harm than good. I get it. You want to be approachable, you don't want to overwhelm clients with "legalese” and scare them off with a huge document that looks too formal. But providing your clients with a short and sweet contract is not setting them, or you, up for success. Today I’m sharing three areas whe...

Something quite concerning that I see almost weekly in my business is when business coaches overstep and get it wrong. A great business coach is invaluable for growth and strategy but when it comes to legal advice, there is a hard line and they should not be crossing it. More often than not, business coaches inadvertently step into legal territory with good intentions and a desire to help their clients, but a great business coach will know when they are stepping beyond their areas of expertis...

With the first quarter rush easing, this time of year gives us a moment that's rare in business - a natural pause. Personally, I take this time of year as an opportunity to look at my business with fresh eyes by asking myself 5 powerful questions. I encourage my clients to ask themselves these same questions to gain a sense of clarity on where their business is at. So before we dive back into the daily rhythm of client calls and content creation, let's use this breather to ask ourselves...

Let's talk about something that might be costing you serious cash - your business Terms and Conditions. While your eyes might glaze over at the mention of T&Cs, today we're diving into the sexy side of contracts: money. Specifically, how proper contracts can stop your hard-earned profits from silently slipping through your fingers. When it comes to profit erosion, there are two kinds: obvious and sneaky. When your T&Cs aren't watertight, you're facing everything from scope creep to di...

When I start working with a new client, a question I frequently ask is: "What do you want to achieve in this next season of your business?" Nearly every time, the responses revolve around gaining more clients, revenue or growth. Yet, the tool that most powerfully supports this growth is often misunderstood—the legal documents. I get it - legals aren’t the most exciting part of the business growth journey. But legal documents that are tailored specifically for you are a powerful undercurrent i...

Keeping up with legal updates can be overwhelming and confusing. If you’re like most of my clients, you’ve probably felt unsure about where to source reliable information. With the huge amount of content floating around online, it’s easy to get lost in what's accurate and applicable to you. So, today I’m guiding you through some critical legal changes you need to be aware of as a service-based small business owner. Wage Compliance One topic gaining significant attention is wage complian...

Let’s talk about AI and business contracts. If you're like me, you're always on the lookout for tools that could streamline our work processes, save us time and of course, save us a bit of money. But when it comes to something as critical as business contracts, should we actually entrust this task to AI? This discussion is more important than ever, considering AI is becoming an indelible part of our lives, whether we like it or not. To give you some context, when I talk about AI in this realm...

It’s the 200th episode of the Rise Up in Business podcast and I want to celebrate by talking about one of my all-time favourite topics—contracts. They’re not just a legal requirement to get out of the way. When done right, they can be a powerful tool for navigating the stress and success of running your own business. So what’s the difference between an ineffective contract, and an excellent one? Well, the first thing to remember is that your contracts belong to you—yes, even...

Ready to leave behind the corporate grind and become your own boss? You’re not alone! Over the last year, I've seen a big increase in clients seeking my guidance as they set up their own businesses. They come from various industries, each with unique skills and backgrounds, but they’re all asking the same question: "How do I successfully make this leap?" I absolutely love answering this question and helping budding business owners feel confident and secure as they set out on their journ...

As we find ourselves in this time of year ripe with fresh starts and renewed perspectives, I wanted to share an important conversation I'm having frequently: aligning with the right clients and parting ways where necessary. Letting go of clients who no longer align with our evolving goals can be tough. I know from stories shared by many of my lovely clients that this can be quite daunting. You feel that dreaded stomach drop at the thought of having "the talk,". Let me assure you, you ar...