Catherine Alman MacDonagh, JD is an award-winning lawyer entrepreneur, consultant, professor, author, and speaker. With FIRM Guidance, she offers planning, organizational development, marketing, and business development consulting services with a particular focus on the legal profession. She cares about helping people work even better together, she says what others are only thinking, and tells people what they need to know – not just what they want to hear – and as firmly and persuasively as the situation requires.

Catherine is also a founder of the Legal Lean Sigma Institute LLC, and co-founder of Mocktails LLC (experiential networking programs, The Mocktail and The Legal Mocktail), the Legal Sales and Service Organization, which produces the annual RainDance Conference, and Legal SASI (Sustainability and Social Impact) movement.

Catherine is known for her inclusive approach to strategic planning and change management, for devising and delivering innovative training programs and workshops, and for leading groundbreaking and first-to-market initiatives, particularly in relation to firm/client relationships, associates, women lawyers, client development, and process improvement.

With nearly 30 years’ experience working in the legal profession, Catherine has earned a stellar reputation for engaging, productive experiences with law firm and legal department clients that deliver a substantial return on investment. Each engagement is specifically tailored to meet the needs of every client.

Catherine is an adjunct professor at Suffolk Law School and George Washington University (Master’s in Law Firm Management) and a frequent guest lecturer at other academic institutions.

Catherine is an elected Fellow in the College of Law Practice Management, which recognizes distinguished law management professionals. She currently serves as a volunteer on the Association of Legal Administrators’ Professional Development Advisory Committee and also worked on the ALA’s Uniform Process Based Management System, a comprehensive system of codes, a taxonomy, that encompasses the wide variety of processes that support the law practice management.

She appears on several of the National Law Journals’ “Best Of” lists for her consulting work, including the Best Lawyer/Law Firm Business Development & Coaching Services and one of 3 top Strategic Planning firms. Other honors include Boston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, two years on the prestigious MLF 50 (Marketing the Law Firm Top 50) List, several Legal Marketing Association Your Honor Awards, and a Process Excellence Network award for Best Business Transformation Project.

Catherine is one of a small number of professionals to have been inducted to the Legal Marketing Association Hall of Fame, which recognizes lifetime achievement of individuals in the field and their outstanding contributions to the association. She has served the LMA in many roles, including: International Board member, LMA Northeast President Elect, and LMA New England Chapter President, Annual Conference Advisory Committee, and Co-Chair of the Education, Think Tank, and Sponsor Relations Committees.

Once a New Englander, she now lives in Bonita Springs, FL with her Havanese dogs. She enjoys cooking, sports, movies, traveling, sunsets, and taking lots of pictures, including the cover photos on this website, from a few of favorite places in FL, MA, and NC.