The Future of Personal Injury Law is AI-Powered

Ken Hardison is the creator, founder, and president of PILMMA (Personal Injury Lawyers Marketing and Management Association). He is an attorney who built not one, but two multi-million-dollar law firms before selling them at age 52.

Ken founded PILMMA to share the strategies, systems, and lessons he learned while building highly profitable law firms—and to help other attorneys create firms that generate both growth and freedom.

What began as a passion project quickly evolved into one of the legal industry’s leading growth and management organizations for plaintiff law firms. Ken also created one of the premier mastermind programs for personal injury attorneys, helping law firm owners scale their practices through collaboration, accountability, and proven business strategies.

Today, PILMMA supports law firms at every stage of growth through mastermind groups, coaching, leadership development, and Gold membership programs designed to help firms strengthen operations, improve marketing, increase profitability, and scale sustainably.

Rooted in a deep commitment to helping lawyers avoid the mistakes and burnout that often come with firm ownership, PILMMA’s mission remains the same:

“To help as many lawyers as possible create the practice of their dreams—more profits, more cases, and a law firm that gives them the freedom to live life on their own terms.”

Through practical tools, proven systems, strategic guidance, peer collaboration, and real-world implementation, PILMMA helps law firms build stronger businesses, stronger leadership, and long-term growth.

Seth Greene is the nation’s foremost authority on growing your business with cutting edge relationship marketing.

Seth is the co-host of the Sharkpreneur podcast with Shark Tank’s Kevin Harrington which is in top ten marketing podcasts in all of Apple.

Seth is a Inc 5000 CEO, and a 11 time best selling author who has been interviewed on NBC news, CBS news, Forbes, Inc, CBS Moneywatch and many more.

Seth is the only person in history to be nominated three years in a row for the prestigious Magnetic Marketing Marketer of the Year award from Dan Kennedy and Russell Brunson.

Seth has been endorsed by business and marketing legends Dan Kennedy, Russell Brunson, Rich Schefren, Kevin Harringt

• Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company
• 10 Time Best-Selling Author
• 3 Time Marketer of The Year Nominee

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Timothy Hiller and his partner Ida acquired Hiller Comerford in November 2021. The firm was a legacy Social Security practice with a local footprint; since the acquisition it has quadrupled its monthly sign-ups, built a small VA department into one of the larger VA firms in the country, and added a growing local personal injury practice. The firm now employs more than 230 people.

Timothy is the son of a lawyer. He went to school intending to become a doctor and majored in microbiology before a change of heart led him to follow his father into law.

Although he does not write code himself, Timothy uses AI coding tools to build lead-capture applications—benefits calculators and eligibility quizzes—that his firm deploys on social platforms at a remarkably low cost per case. He is also building an automated, in-house CFO suite designed specifically for Social Security disability firms, which takes a firm's P&L and KPIs and produces marketing, labor, steady-state, pipeline, and cash-flow forecasts.

Shim Hirsh is the founder of Betterworks, which builds custom, fully managed AI systems for personal injury law firms. Before founding Betterworks, Shim spent seven years as a product and technology leader at Morgan & Morgan, the largest personal injury firm in the country. Betterworks designs AI that works inside the tools firms already use, focusing on adoption and ROI. Every system is built around how the firm actually operates, run and improved by the Betterworks team, and measured against baselines set on day one. The result is that firms see exactly what changed and by how much, move cases faster, and settle more without adding headcount. Learn more at betterworks.io.

Josh Hostilo stands at the forefront of legal tech innovation as the Product Leader at Filevine, where his primary mission is to refine and elevate law firm case management practices. Josh leverages his extensive experience to streamline operations, enhance client intake and case management processes, ultimately, driving law firms towards achieving higher conversion rates and optimizing more signed to settled cases. His strategies are not just about growth but about ensuring sustainable and scalable success for law firms in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Travis Lee Howard has built thirteen companies in twenty years, and somewhere in there he noticed the pattern nobody says out loud: most businesses don’t die from bad strategy. They die from the inside, starting with the founder. That diagnosis is the spine of his work, The Mindful Business Practice and his forthcoming book Your Team Comes Last, which makes the case for building the other way, from the inside out. It’s what he takes to stages like Case Status, MaxLawCon, and YPO. He’s not theorizing. As Partner and COO of CGH Injury Lawyers, a Denver personal injury firm that actually tries its cases, he runs the machine he talks about: one built to run on its people, not on him.

Tanner Jones oversees all business development opportunities for Consultwebs and our clients. He has the privilege of speaking with virtually every law firm that contacts Consultwebs and working with them to determine how we may accomplish their digital marketing goals.

Tanner earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Management, from Berea College in 2008. His journey with Consultwebs began in 2009, and he now has over a decade of experience consulting with law firms on case-driving online marketing strategies.

He was originally drawn to Consultwebs because of how we have remained a leader in the niche of legal marketing. Tanner often quotes the Canadian hockey player, Wayne Gretzky, when he says, “Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.” For Tanner, Consultwebs strives to do just that. He says, “I’ve always been drawn to companies with an intentional focus because it often breeds stronger results, efficiencies, and scalability

Jessica Meldon Nessim is a South Florida personal injury attorney at Meldon Law, where she represents individuals and families injured due to negligence. Guided by the belief that “it's not just a case, it's your life,” Jessica brings a compassionate, hands-on approach to her clients while fighting for the justice and accountability they deserve.

Born and raised in Gainesville, Florida, Jessica comes from a family deeply rooted in the legal community and now practices alongside her father and brother. After moving to South Florida for law school, she began her career in immigration law before expanding into personal injury, policy advocacy, and nonprofit leadership.

Jessica believes deeply that community engagement is a key to success. She is the founder of EsquiHER, a women's forum focused on connection, leadership, and empowerment. She serves on the Board of the Florida Justice Association and co-chairs the North Dade section of the Miami-Dade Bar Association. She is also actively involved with several organizations near and dear to her heart, including the Greater Miami Jewish Federation's Women's Division, American Friends of Magen David Adom, and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.

Married and the proud mother of one son and two daughters, Jessica's commitment to service is deeply personal. Whether advocating for an injured client or bringing people together in her community, she is driven by the belief that relationships, compassion, and meaningful connection can create lasting impact.

Nick Mendez is the Founding and Managing Partner of Horton & Mendez, leading the firm's vision, strategy, and growth across North Carolina while remaining deeply committed to representing individuals who have been seriously injured. Based in Wilmington, Nick focuses his practice exclusively on personal injury cases, including auto accidents, premises liability, vacation rental injuries, and other complex negligence claims.

As Managing Partner, Nick oversees firm operations, attorney development, and case strategy, ensuring every client receives the highest level of advocacy and service. His leadership is grounded in experience — before founding the firm, he represented national and regional insurance companies, Fortune 500 corporations, municipalities, and public utilities. That insider knowledge now gives him a strategic advantage when negotiating with insurers and litigating high-stakes claims.

A native Spanish speaker of Puerto Rican heritage, Nick proudly serves both English- and Spanish-speaking clients, making legal guidance accessible, clear, and personal. He is known for his direct communication style, meticulous preparation, and commitment to keeping clients informed and empowered throughout the legal process.

Nick lives in Wilmington, North Carolina, with his wife Caroline, their newborn son, and their two dogs, Harvey and Finn. Outside the office, he is an avid saltwater fisherman who competes in tournaments along the eastern seaboard and enjoys boating, cooking, and traveling with his family.

With over 25 years of operational expertise, Stacie Monahan specializes in building lean, high-performing legal environments. Her unique background combines seven years as an insurance adjuster with nearly two decades of consulting for elite plaintiffs' firms.

Stacie possesses deep operational knowledge across every department of personal injury law. She is highly regarded for her emotional intelligence and her ability to bridge communication gaps across all firm levels. A pioneer in modern staffing, she has successfully built asynchronous global teams to amplify local workforces.

From intake to settlement, Stacie optimizes case management software and implements rigorous quality assurance practices. Her relentless drive for efficiency ensures firms maximize resources while delivering superior client outcomes. Passionate and detail-oriented, Stacie helps legal practices run smarter, faster, and more profitably.

Sean Parker is a legal and business development professional with extensive experience at the intersection of law, legal operations, and technology. He completed his pre-law studies at Florida Gulf Coast University before earning his Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.

Following law school, Sean spent several years working with one of Colorado's largest personal injury law firms. There, he gained substantial firsthand experience with high-volume litigation, complex case management, and the operational challenges faced by modern legal practices. This experience gave him a practical understanding of how effective systems, processes, and technology can strengthen accountability, improve efficiency, and support better client outcomes.

Sean currently serves as Senior Director of Business Development at SmartAdvocate, a leading case management platform used by law firms nationwide. In this role, he works closely with attorneys, firm leaders, and legal professionals to evaluate operational needs, streamline workflows, improve organizational performance, and implement technology that supports sustainable growth and more effective client service.

Thomas concentrates his practice in the areas of Workers’ Compensation, Personal Injury, and Car Accidents. Thomas is one of our most experienced lawyers in Pennsylvania.

During law school and before joining the firm, Thomas completed clerkships with three different judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, including Judge Denis P. Cohen, Judge Glynnis D. Hill, and Judge Marlene F. Lachman.

In his free time, Thomas enjoys spending the day with his wife, son, daughter and their two cats, as well as exercising, playing the guitar, and snowboarding.

Chris F.N. Rose is an attorney and the founder of LegalFlare, which routes personal-injury leads and referrals to partner law firms under fee-sharing agreements. He is a lawyer by training and a software engineer by practice, and he built LegalFlare around the part of referral work most networks leave to chance: documented fee-sharing, compliance with the rules that govern it, and protection of the client through the handoff from one firm to the next. He works both sides of that line daily — practicing law and running the platform — which keeps the ethical questions concrete rather than academic. His position is that a referral is a transfer of trust, not just a file, and that the paperwork should prove it. And that attorneys require babysitting too.

Managing Partner of Maestro Strategic Partners, empowers organizations to enhance their efficiency, innovation, and culture. Eric’s experience spans law and technology. He was integral to a case that resulted in a $1.25B settlement and an invitation to the White House. He also designed legal software, resulting in nearly 30 patents. Eric is a veteran of the US Marine Corps and a graduate of Northwestern University.

Claude Simpson is the Vice President of Client Operations at SmartAdvocate, where he leads Implementation, Training, and Customer Success, helping law firms successfully adopt and optimize case management technology. With more than 25 years of experience spanning legal practice and legal technology, Claude brings a unique, practitioner-informed perspective to law firm operations, system implementation, and workflow optimization.

A former trial attorney with extensive experience in personal injury and medical malpractice litigation, Claude has tried cases to verdict and managed matters from intake through appeal. He previously served with the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, where he played a key role in advancing court technology and case management systems.

Claude is a recognized thought leader in law office automation and best practices, having designed training programs, implemented learning systems for law firms nationwide, and delivered presentations at industry conferences and seminars. His sessions focus on improving efficiency, leveraging technology, and building scalable processes within modern law firms.

Jake Soffer is the Founder and CEO of FirmPilot, an AI-driven marketing platform revolutionizing how law firms acquire and retain clients. With over a decade of experience in natural language processing and artificial intelligence, developed through his computer engineering studies at RPI and NYU, Jake previously founded the successful NLP company Rollio. At FirmPilot, he's combining his technical expertise with business acumen to create what he calls a "high-performing AI agency in a box," helping service-based businesses achieve sustainable growth through data-driven strategies.

Tifiny Swedensky is a fractional CMO for law firms and owner of Sharp Cookie. Tifiny and her company focus on helping law firms close the marketing leadership gap in their practices and help marketers advance their careers.

Most law firms implement marketing at a snail’s pace. They usually have a few vendors who run ads or manage their website, but nothing new seems to happen. The marketing results (cases and leads) stay the same for years.

What’s hard for attorneys to hear is that their marketing issue isn’t about money or creativity; the root is a dysfunctional marketing department.

Tifiny and Sharp Cookie aim to break that cycle by unifying the law firm, its marketers, and its vendors into one team that works together to achieve the law firm’s business goals. We bring the strategies, systems, and accountability, while their marketing team does what they do best.

Gregory Ward is the Founder and Managing Partner of the Ward Law Group, one of the Nation's largest and fastest growing accident law firms. Ward is an experienced courtroom lawyer and negotiator. He and his team fight tirelessly to make sure accident victims across the country receive the compensation they deserve for their physical injuries and financial losses. To date, the Ward Law Group has helped accident victims recover well over $500 million in settlements. During this time Mr. Ward is perhaps most proud that the firm has received over 3000 5-star Google reviews from satisfied clients.

After 10 years working mostly for the defense, in 2012 Ward founded The Ward Law Group, PL, together with his law partner and wife, Jany Martinez-Ward. The Wards decided early to focus on serving the Hispanic community across the country, bringing quality legal service to a community that is often underserved. During the past decade, Ward has helped Spanish-speaking accident victims and their families through complex and intimidating legal situations. In the last eight years, he has successfully led the Ward Law Group to an annual growth rate of over 40% annually and has achieved 22 settlements totaling over $1 million. A recent notable accomplishment was a confidential settlement in excess of $100 million, one of the nation's largest settlements of its kind.

Ward's achievements and business ingenuity have earned him a great number of honors and recognitions. Ward has received awards from the National Trial Lawyers, the South Florida Legal Guide, Florida Trend Magazine, Super Lawyers, and Best Lawyers in America among many others. Ward is a frequent guest speaker on news programs, at conferences and on podcasts nationally on a variety of issues including business topics like managing growth and systemization as well as personal topics like mastering mindsets and faith-based business dealings.

The Ward Law Group, PL, distinguishes itself from other firms by providing clients with services tailored to their specific needs as Spanish-speakers. Ward believes that clients deserve lawyers who speak their language and understand their unique stories. Ward also believes that everyone is entitled to the same measure of justice, no matter where someone was born, the language they speak or the color of their skin. To this end, Ward ensures that his staff is trained to understand the challenges and needs of every client so they will receive what they are entitled to, especially exceptional service. “It is rare to find a personal injury law firm where over 95% of our client-facing staff speak Spanish. Our firm has been able to fill a void. It has truly been a blessing to be able to serve the Hispanic community and provide the legal representation that they need” – Ward adds.

Ward attributes much of his success to the struggles he and his wife have overcome. “When we started in 2012, it was just the two of us with a foldout table and a laptop,” Ward reminisced. “We were crammed into a small interior office. We had very little money, very limited equipment, and no staff.” Driven to overcome their struggles, the firm has grown from two employees to over 200 team members worldwide, including 80 offshore team members in Honduras, Bolivia, Brazil, Spain, Panama, Colombia, Chlle, India, the Philippines, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, Argentina, and the Netherlands. In Ward's words, "We're just getting started." The firm has charted a course of growth in the coming decade to expand into the Northeast, Southwest, and Texas. “Wherever Spanish-speakers need a lawyer who speaks their language… we will be there” Ward says.

Derek Weber believes most business leaders are approaching AI completely backwards, leaving them feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and frozen. While most AI "thought leaders" are preaching the software-of-the-day and automation tricks, Derek spent the last two years systematically transforming GBG, his 22 year old marketing company, through focused experimentation: breakthrough moments and frustrating dead-ends, systems that worked brilliantly, and others that failed miserably.

When a CFO asked him "Are you actually seeing any ROI on all this AI investment?" Derek had the numbers: junior-level employees now producing senior-level work in a quarter of the time, his team is handling 30% more clients without adding headcount, and work they used to outsource for thousands per month, now handled internally. Derek doesn't believe in giving you a fish or even teaching you how to fish...but in showing you how to build your own fish farm. His approach reverses the typical sequence: while others focus on tools and tactics, Derek's proven progression starts first with Mindset → Technique → Tools → Technology.

He meets leaders exactly where they are in their AI journey, because he knows that breakthroughs don't come from searching for the perfect prompt or software, but from addressing the barriers keeping most leaders stuck in status quo.

A fifth-generation farm kid who learned resourcefulness and perseverance from daily life, Derek brings that same practical problem-solving approach to integrating AI. This isn't theory. It is the exact methodology he continues to use while transforming his own company to be human-centric and AI-powered. He's reverse-engineering what actually works in his own company and distilling those lessons so they work for any business in any industry.

The only requirements to get started? An open mind and a ChatGPT or Claude account. No technical expertise or AI experience is necessary.

The window for competitive advantage with AI is still open, but it's closing a little every day.