Your Vet Lawyer Podcast

Episode #8 with Jharid Pratt, CPA, MST of Granite Peak

Rob Montgomery hosts Jharid Pratt, CPA, MST, the CEO of Granite Peak, a leading CPA and advisory firm exclusively serving veterinary practices nationwide.. With expertise in tax planning, compliance, cash flow, and financial strategy, Jharid helps veterinarians make informed business decisions and achieve long-term success. In the episode, Rob and Jharid discuss the decision to start a new veterinary practice or to acquire an existing practice. They focus on strategy, planning, and what it takes to succeed as a practice owner. Rob and Jharid discuss the pros and cons of start-ups and acquisitions, budgeting and working capital, partnership considerations, understanding practice performance, and practical advice for aspiring veterinary practice owners. Listeners who want to reach out to Jharid can do so at granitepeakcpa.com and those who want to reach Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com.

Episode #7 with Anthony LaPolla of Empower Business Strategies

Rob Montgomery sits down with Anthony LaPolla to explore the legal and cultural risks surrounding hiring, firing, and HR compliance. They break down real-world examples that show how small mistakes can lead to major consequences. In the episode, Rob and Anthony discuss employment-at-will, wrongful termination, documentation failures, EEOC compliance, interview pitfalls, insurance protections, and how poor HR practices can expose businesses to lawsuits while damaging workplace culture. In addition, Anthony LaPolla is the CEO of Empower Business Strategies and an HR and compliance expert who works closely with veterinary and healthcare organizations, helping leaders build compliant, documented, and people-focused workplaces. Listeners who want to reach out to Anthony LaPolla can do so at www.gowithempower.com and info@gowithempower.com. Those who want to reach Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com.

Episode #6 with Anthony Principe of Bank of America

In the episode, Rob and Anthony Principe discuss the challenges new veterinary practice owners face when seeking financing, how to position themselves for loan approval, and what banks look for in startup applicants. In addition, Anthony Principe is a Senior Vice President at Bank of America with over 20 years of experience in healthcare banking. He specializes in helping veterinary professionals launch and grow their practices through tailored financial solutions. Listeners who want to reach out to Anthony can do so at Anthony.Principe@bofa.com, and those who want to reach Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com.

Episode #5 - with Peter McCann of CARR Healthcare Realty

The all-important subject of real estate is once again the topic of conversation for this episode of the Veterinary Start-Up Practice Podcast in which Rob is joined by Peter McCann, a veterinary-focused commercial real estate agent with CARR Healthcare Realty, one of the nation’s leading providers of commercial real estate services for healthcare tenants and buyers. In the episode, Rob and Peter discuss the advantages and disadvantages of leasing versus purchasing the practice real estate, the role that demographics play when looking to lease or purchase in a particular location, and issues regarding zoning and how it may impact a project and a vet practice’s ability to succeed. In addition to working as a commercial real estate agent for CARR, Peter is also an attorney and long-time business law and real estate law professor who relies on his legal and teaching experience to guide vets through the most challenging parts of the real estate process—negotiating the terms of their lease/purchase, navigating the nuances of zoning, and re-negotiating terms for practices that are captive to their expiring leases. Listeners who want to reach out to Peter can do so at (267) 373-7366 or at peter.mccann@carr.us and those who want to reach Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com.

Episode #4 - with Doug Dries of Wells Fargo

Financing is the topic of conversation for this episode of the Veterinary Start-Up Practice Podcast in which Rob is joined by Doug Dries, a Senior Business Development Lending Consultant with Wells Fargo Healthcare Industries Group. Rob and Doug discuss the timing of when a veterinarian should establish a relationship with a lender during the start-up process, what lenders typically consider when evaluating a veterinarian for a practice loan, how lenders decide on loan amounts, and whether a veterinarian with student debt can expect to qualify for financing. Over the past 22 years, Doug has been helping doctors start, grow and transition their practices. With Wells Fargo, he specializes in lending to healthcare providers for practice start-ups, practice acquisitions, refinancing existing practice debt, expansions/relocations, and also offers equipment financing. Listeners who want to reach Doug can do so at (610) 663-5632 or at doug.dries@wellsfargo.com and those who want to reach Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com.