admin In the world of corporate law, time is money. Or at least, that’s what they say. But what if the hour-based rate system that has dominated the industry for decades was suddenly turned on its head? What if one of the top corporate law attorneys in the game broke the mold and implemented a flat-rate-based system instead?
It may sound like a radical idea, but that’s exactly what international award-winning corporate law attorney Kelly Bagla has done, and the results are nothing short of astounding. By eschewing the traditional approach to billing clients by the hour and instead charging a flat fee for each case, Kelly has shaken up the status quo and achieved unprecedented success.
I’m so fortunate to have my pitbulls with me in the office daily and to share my life with my loving husband, Brent Waters, on this journey called life is a blessing. I’m where I want to be. Doing what I love. Surrounded by my loved ones – Kelly Bagla. Esq.
Practising in San Diego, California, with over 19 years of expertise in the business law domain, Kelly has advised several top national and international clients on business matters. As a published and best-selling author of five entrepreneurship books, Kelly has been covered by several prestigious publications like Business View, Investors Digest, and the California Business Journal. Kelly was also nominated as one of the Business Woman of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal and named as a Top Lawyer in Marquis Who’s Who list.
Her contribution to the world of business law has been recognised with several accolades, including the Lawyers of Distinction Award (2020 and 2021), Corporate Attorney of the Year by Acquisition International, and Business Legal Professional of the Year of USA by Corporate Live Wire.
Chartering a Course of Success
While most of us fail to figure out our calling until much later in life, things were different for Kelly. As an inspired and determined individual, she nurtured the desire to be a lawyer since she was five. Being a first-generation immigrant in America, she completed her law school years in Northern California, fighting all challenges from the forefront. Her resilience and brilliance made her the first lawyer in her family.
After attaining the prestigious law degree, Kelly worked for the famous Baker McKenzie LLP law firm, offering expert business law guidance to national and international clients. However, she left her lucrative position at the firm to start her own venture. This gave birth to the Bagla Law Firm, APC in 2009 as an award-winning business formation and asset protection law firm.
Fostering the Entrepreneurial Spirit
As a serial entrepreneur, Kelly heads not just Bagla Law Firm, APC but is also the CEO and Founder of other successful ventures. Carrying her chosen mantle of business law assistance further, Kelly started GoLegalYourself.com, which is an online company dedicated to helping self-starters with the right legal documents to grow their businesses. Moreover, her third venture, Pitbulls ‘n Pearls, Inc., is a coaching company specialising in helping entrepreneurs and professionals achieve work-life balance without compromising on success. This one-stop company offers insights via workshops conducted by successful entrepreneurs on achieving all-round success in business and life. Kelly is also the host of the insightful Go Legal Yourself podcast, which is heard in over 26 countries.
From a First-Generation Entrepreneur to an Inspiration: Lessons from the Pitbull in Pearls
Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to start a new venture in the US or an established business seeking to expand into new markets, having a trusted legal advisor by your side can make all the difference. A knowledgeable attorney can guide you through the process, ensuring that your business complies with all relevant laws and regulations and helping you avoid costly mistakes that could set you back. They can also provide strategic advice on everything from intellectual property protection to contract negotiations and can help you build a strong legal foundation for your business from the ground up.
As an insider to the business law domain, Kelly was familiar with the challenges of the existing legal framework, but most importantly, she was aware of the problems it posed for new entrepreneurs. Starting a new venture in a foreign country without complete knowledge of the entry and exit norms and taxation rules can complicate business processes. While seeking legal business assistance in such situations is prudent, most start-ups need more funds to access this assistance. The hour-based fee system of the existing legal framework made a level playing field virtually impossible for humble start-ups.
As a first-generation immigrant, living her ‘American Dream’, Kelly wanted to make it tangible for other entrepreneurs. She translated this zeal into action by establishing the foundations of Bagla Law Firm, APC. As she puts it, ‘I came to this land of opportunity looking to thrive. And I have. I find great joy and purpose in helping others thrive too. In 2009 I made the resolute decision to start my own law firm. One that specifically surrounded all of the ins and outs of facilitating that American Dream for my community.’ At Bagla Law Firm, Kelly instituted a flat fee rate that has made legal business assistance cost-effective and accessible to budding entrepreneurs, making the transition to a new business landscape as seamless as possible.
Learning From Personal Experiences
Law books do not teach you how to open and operate your own law firm, only hands on experience can do this. As a business formation attorney, I formed my law firm but had to learn how to actually run my practice. I read as much books as I could and took many courses that could teach me how to run a business. I have done this for myself and now I do this for my clients – set a sold legal foundation to build your business. As states above, opening a business venture in a real-world setting differs greatly from the textbook guidelines. ‘That’s why I started Bagla Law Firm, APC. It takes all that ‘Scary’ out of the process. We’re here the whole way through. From figuring out which entity you should form all the way to ‘time to sell/close’; and everything in between. We got you,’ says Kelly.
Legal Business Assistance with a Difference
Bagla Law Firm, APC is different from your usual run-of-the-mill business formation and asset protection law firms. Thanks to Kelly’s proactive approach, the firm doesn’t believe in limiting itself to just the defined core tenets of legal business assistance. As an entrepreneur at heart, Kelly understands the perspective and issues of her clients very well. This empathetic approach gives her insights to fine-tune legal strategies and give them the tailored solutions they require.
For young entrepreneurs I’ll say, become an expert in your field, start your own venture, and help others attain their dreams, but most importantly don’t forget to have fun while doing all this! – Kelly Bagla, Esq.
Leveraging her astute experience as an entrepreneurial head of three enterprises, coupled with her incomparable legal expertise, Kelly is able to guide her clients from entry to exit, holding their hands every step of the way. To this end, Bagla Law Firm offers the following comprehensive list of services to its clients:
- Business Formation – Advising large and small businesses in the formation of corporations, general partnerships, limited liability companies, joint ventures, and NGOs.
- Business Contracts – Aids clients formulate, review, and enforce business contracts.
- Buying/Selling a Business – Buying or selling a business can be very daunting and the simplest of mistakes can cause financial damage to either side. We carefully assess all options and advise as to the best possible outcome.
- Real Estate Investor Services – The firm assists in asset protection for investors who are buying/selling real estate.
- Estate Planning – Assists in creating living trusts, power of attorneys, wills, and healthcare directives.
- Trademarks – Guides clients through the trademark registration process and the management and control of trademark ownership.
Building a Culture of Trust
As a true leader, Kelly is equally conscious of her strengths and limitations. Building Bagla Law Firm on the cornerstones of integrity and transparency, Kelly believes each client deserves the best. At the same time, Kelly has no issues referring clients to peer attorneys who may be better equipped to deal with a problem. Operating always with the client’s best interest at heart, Kelly only onboards clients to whom she can offer the best legal expertise.
This level of honesty and transparency has earned the firm an unparalleled reputation. As Kelly asserts, ‘Your reputation precedes you. If you take pride in what you do and do it well, you’re already ahead of most of the competition.’ Maintaining an excellent service record has helped Bagla Law Firm establish a loyal clientele. With word of mouth popularising the goodwill and reputation of the firm, it’s no surprise that its client base has exponentially risen over the last decade.
Loving What You Do Gets You Results
Kelly’s mantra for success and happiness is simple: Love what you do! To enter work each day with the same level of dedication, zeal, and focus would otherwise be impossible. Kelly loves her role as an attorney and relishes the opportunities she gets to guide clients through the turbulent business waters.
At the same time, Kelly believes that doing it all alone is impossible. Every great leader needs an ingenious support system they can always trust and rely on. The same is true for Kelly. ‘I love what I do. I love where I live. I love my husband and our house hippos (our loved and very spoiled pitbulls). I love life! And I love the opportunity to get to help others have this too. It’s amazing what one can accomplish once they’re given the correct tools for the journey,’ asserts Kelly.
Playing to Your Strengths, While Honing New Skills
Crafted on the pillars of trust and transparency, the Bagla Law Firm team is all about the client. Kelly believes that it’s hard to pinpoint any specific characteristic common to her team of specialised experts except for their unwavering dedication to client satisfaction. To achieve tangible results, the Bagla Law Firm team operates on the principles of a well-oiled machine with each member playing to her/his strengths. This gives the company an easy edge over market competitors.
As a dynamic leader herself, Kelly strives to create and foster an environment where team members can actually find the space to play to their strengths. She believes in picking unique team members who can bring their quirks to the team, bettering it further. ‘Skill sets and experience are everywhere, but having something extra can really make a difference,’ Kelly clarifies. While talking about her unique team, Kelly gives an example. ‘One of my associates has a quirk that I can only describe as foresight – I’ll mention a plan or idea to her and on the spot she has a million and one ideas just spilling out of things we can do to support and propel this idea to the next level’ asserts Kelly. Citing another instance, Kelly talks about a teammate passionate about technology and creativity. She is constantly looking to self-learn software and programs to enhance her work is always on the cutting edge. Expressing her pride in her team and talking about her contribution, Kelly states, ‘They all have different passions and expertise, and I back their efforts 100% in exploring and learning new skills.’
Next Steps Ahead
While Bagla Law Firm recently opened doors to its London office, the expansion drive of the firm will continue for the time being. Kelly expects to ride the expansion wave and open their Las Vegas office by the end of this year. ‘This should effectively allow us to help so many more individuals looking to expand their businesses here in America,’ concludes Kelly.
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