From rainmaker to CEO: How law firm owners scale beyond $1M without becoming the bottleneck

By Gary Mitchell ( February 13, 2026, 2:43 PM EST) -- In 2026, many law firm owners face a crossroads. Success as a “rainmaker” — a partner who brings in clients and revenue — often leads to the challenge of scaling their firm beyond the $1-million mark. The critical question arises: how can these legal entrepreneurs transition from a hands-on, client-focused role to an effective CEO, ensuring that their firms continue to grow without becoming bottlenecked by their direct involvement in every case or decision? In this article, we will explore strategies that enable law firm owners to scale their practices successfully, supported by insightful case studies....