Behind The GAVL

10 Years of Building a Business Through Relationships, Not Transactions

In episode 12 of Behind the GAVL, the tables are turned as Mariah Farrens, Marketing Strategist at GAVL, sits down to interview GAVL Co-Founder and CEO Ryan Raplee. They reflect on the company's 10-year journey and lessons learned from a decade of running a business and working with law firms across the country.  The conversation explores entrepreneurship, leadership, team building, company culture, relationship-driven growth, and what it takes to navigate constant change in both business and the legal industry.  "Human-to-human connection is really important. And that's really shaped our business...” - Ryan Raplee  Topics covered:  * Lessons learned from 10 years of business ownership  * Importance of building relationships & a team  * The story behind the founding of GAVL  * Why trust and reputation matter more than ever  * Leadership challenges and unexpected lessons as a CEO  * Creating and maintaining a strong company culture  * Hiring, team building, and growth  * Common misconceptions law firms have about marketing  * The future of legal marketing and client relationships  Ryan also shares personal reflections on entrepreneurship, the importance of staying adaptable, and why human connection continues to be one of the most valuable assets in business.  Subscribe for more conversations about legal marketing, law firm growth, leadership, technology, and the future of the legal industry.  🎙️ Behind the GAVL is a legal marketing podcast serving law firms across the country.  Subscribe - https://www.youtube.com/@GAVLMARKETING [https://www.youtube.com/@GAVLMARKETING]   #LegalMarketing #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #LawFirmGrowth #BusinessGrowth #CompanyCulture #BehindTheGAVL

The Future of Law Firm Intake with Intaker’s Brett Kohler

In this episode of Behind the GAVL, Ryan Raplee sits down with Brett Kohler, Head of Sales at Intaker, to talk about how AI is changing the way law firms capture, qualify, and convert new leads.  Brett shares how Intaker helps firms create a faster, more personal intake experience through AI-powered tools, video, and smarter lead communication.   In this episode, Ryan and Brett dive into:  * How AI is improving law firm intake and lead conversion  * Brett’s background in acting and comedy, and how it shaped his approach to sales  * Why speed-to-lead matters when someone is ready to hire  * How website chat can create a better first impression  * Why firms need to meet potential clients where they are  * How human connection still plays a critical role in sales and client communication  If your law firm is looking for better ways to improve lead conversion, streamline intake, and create a stronger client experience from the first touchpoint, this conversation is worth a listen.  Watch now and subscribe for more conversations on legal marketing, law firm growth, AI, legal tech, and the future of client communication.  Subscribe - https://www.youtube.com/@GAVLMARKETING [https://www.youtube.com/@GAVLMARKETING]   Learn more about Intaker - https://www.intaker.com/home/ [https://www.intaker.com/home/]  #LegalMarketing #LawFirmMarketing #AIForLawFirms #ClientIntake #LeadConversion #LegalTech #LawFirmGrowth #BehindTheGAVL

The Client Experience Most Law Firms Miss | Sam Dolce

In Episode 10 of Behind the GAVL, Ryan Raplee, Co-Founder and CEO of GAVL, sits down with Sam Dolce, Attorney and Vice President at Milestone, to discuss the client experience during litigation, and the financial realities many law firms never fully see.  The conversation gets into settlement administration, legal tech, trauma-informed care, client communication, operational efficiency, and how AI is beginning to reshape the future of law firms.  Topics Ryan and Sam explore in this episode:  • The financial stress clients face during litigation  • How settlement administration is evolving  • Improving the client experience through technology  • Time and cost savings for law firms  • AI’s future impact on legal operations  Sam Dolce works with law firms nationwide on complex settlement administration and trustee services at Milestone, where he also helped develop Pathway®, a platform modernizing the settlement process and improving client outcomes.  Learn more about Milestone - https://milestoneseventh.com/ [https://milestoneseventh.com/]   Thanks for tuning into another episode of Behind the GAVL.  Subscribe for more conversations on legal marketing, legal tech, law firm growth, and the future of the legal industry.  Subscribe - https://www.youtube.com/@GAVLMARKETING [https://www.youtube.com/@GAVLMARKETING]

The Hidden Financial Stress Clients Face During a Lawsuit with Brian Garelli

In this episode of Behind the GAVL, Ryan Raplee, Co-Founder and CEO of GAVL, sits down with Brian Garelli, President and Founder of Preferred Capital Funding.  Together, they explore the gap that exists in almost all law firms—the difference between the case an attorney sees and the actual experience a client is living through daily.  While legal professionals are trained to focus on facts, strategy, and outcomes, clients are often navigating stress, uncertainty, and major life transitions at the same time.  This conversation dives into why empathy isn’t just a “nice to have” in the legal space—it’s a competitive advantage.  Brian brings over 25 years of litigation experience and founded one of the first pre-settlement funding companies in Illinois in 1998. Under his leadership, PCF has grown into one of the largest in the country, with a strong focus on supporting attorneys and their clients throughout the life of a case.  In this episode:  * The disconnect between legal strategy and client experience   * Why empathy plays a critical role in modern law firms   * How better understanding clients leads to stronger outcomes   * What this means for branding, messaging, and client trust   If you’re in legal marketing, firm leadership, or a client-facing role, this episode offers a grounded perspective on what it really means to connect with clients—and why it matters more than ever.  Thanks for tuning into another episode of Behind the GAVL, a legal marketing podcast serving law firms across the country.  Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of law firm growth, AI, SEO, websites, legal news, and marketing.  #LegalMarketing #LawFirmGrowth #ClientExperience #BehindTheGAVL

What Makes a High-Performing Law Firm Website? with Luke Potadle

When someone lands on a website, what needs to happen in the first 3–5 seconds?  In this episode of Behind the GAVL, Ryan Raplee, Co-Founder and CEO of GAVL sits down with Luke Potadle, Head of Websites at GAVL, to break down what actually makes a law firm website effective.  With over a decade of experience in web development and design, Luke dives into the importance form, function, conversion rate and your websites structure and ability to support your law firms business growth.  From user behavior to backend structure, this conversation explores how thoughtful design and strategy can directly impact client experience and case acquisition.  In this episode:  * An inside look at the importance of “owning your website and data” as a law firm and the risks if you don’t   * The role of strategy vs. aesthetics in web development   * Why your website is your most valuable asset   * Page builders vs. Custom code (pros & cons)   * GAVL’s website model   * AI changes impacting websites  The landscape of how people navigate websites is changing. Ryan and Luke discuss the future AI plays in website development and user experience.   Thanks for tuning into another episode of Behind the GAVL a legal marketing podcast serving law firms across the country.  Subscribe to Behind the GAVL for more conversations at the intersection of law firm growth, AI, SEO, websites, legal news and law firm marketing.  #LawFirmWebsites #WebsiteDesign #LegalTech #LegalIndustry #LegalMarketing