Biography
Deborah Farone is the author of the best-selling legal marketing book, “Best Practices: Marketing and Business Development for Law Firms” (PLI 2019), a work based on more than 60 interviews with successful law firm leaders and marketers, general counsel, and innovators in the profession. Heidi K. Gardner, Ph.D., Distinguished Fellow, Harvard Law School’s Center on the Legal Profession, has called Deborah “the leading expert in law firm marketing. Not only has she studied this complex topic from the peak of the legal profession, her research into what works and what doesn’t is priceless for anyone interested in growing their business.” The book is carried by bookstores of the United States’ highest-ranked law schools, including Harvard, Yale and Columbia.
Over the past two decades, Ms. Farone has carved out a niche by distinguishing herself as the chief marketing officer of two of the world’s most prestigious law firms, Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. Prior to diving into the legal marketing profession, she honed her business development and communications skills by working at the global management consulting firm Towers Perrin, now Willis Towers Watson. In her early days, she worked both in the new business department and as an account executive at Ketchum Communications.
Her advisory practice focuses on helping law firms and individual lawyers with their marketing strategy and department creation. She is also known for business development training and development and strategic planning, as well as speaking at law firm partner retreats and workshops around the world.
Ms. Farone has been involved in the academic arena. She has spoken at University of Pennsylvania’s Carey Law School, Cornell Law School and Fordham Law School, and served as an adjunct Assistant Professor on the faculty of New York University.
Ms. Farone co-chairs the annual PLI program “All Stars in Business Development” along with Brad Karp, Chairman of Paul Weiss. She is an officer of the International Bar Association’s Law Firm Management Committee, past President of the Legal Marketing Association’s New York Chapter and past Chair of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York’s marketing communications committee. Ms. Farone is a charter member of the Luxury Marketing Council and serves as an advisor to the Chairman of the Board of the New York Public Library.
Ms. Farone was recently inducted as a Fellow in the College of Law Practice Management. She has also been honored with the Legal Marketing Association’s Legacy Award in recognition of making “a distinguishable mark on the chapter and the profession” and is one of a few members named to the LMA’s Hall of Fame. In addition, she was an honoree at the YWCA’s Women Leader Luncheon and serves as a member of the organization’s Academy of Women Leaders. For many years, Ms. Farone served on the Board of Directors of The Girl Scouts Council of Greater New York.