We were lucky to catch up with Cory Martinson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cory, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the best thing you’ve ever seen (or done yourself) to show a client that you appreciate them?

I love the well-known quote from Maya Angelou: “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This principal can be applied when it comes to showing clients – or anyone really – that you appreciate them. Find out what that client – or, if it is a business, the individuals working there – care about and the important recent or upcoming events in their lives, then figure out a way to recognize, congratulate, or assist with whatever that may be. For example, I once learned that one of my clients was expecting his first child. Being a relatively new father myself, I knew how important it was to him and how excited he must be for the baby to arrive. So, I sent him a gift for the baby writing a message of acknowledgement and congratulations in a book for the child. I learned another client was involved with a charity that was having an upcoming event. I knew the charity and the cause it supported meant a lot the client. To support that client and show them how much I appreciated them, I also found ways to support that charity by attending the event and contributing to the cause. In both situations, it was not what I said, or did that conveyed my appreciation to those clients, instead it was how my words and actions made those clients feel. I showed them that I appreciated them, by making sure they felt appreciated. What better way to accomplish that, then by recognizing, congratulating, assisting, or showing interest in the events, milestones, accomplishments, or causes that a client – or its people – place value in.

Cory, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was born and raised in the Cleveland’s west side. I attended St. Edward High School

As early as high school, I had thoughts of going to law school. I have always been interested in the law and in business, particularly entrepreneurial business. I grew up in a family owned and operated business and I saw the impact the company had, not only on the lives of my family members and relatives, but also on the lives of the employees that worked there and their families. That business was started a by my grandfather, who had a prefund effect on my life and my career. He started life with little. He only had a fifth-grade education before going to work to help support his family. But, through hard work, perseverance, and driven by his love for his family, he built a successful business that had a positive effect on my family, the family of its employees, and the community it was located in.

Prior to law school, I received my undergraduate degree in political science with a minor in legal studies from Heidelberg University, located in Tiffin, Ohio. I graduate with a 4.0 GPA, summa cum laude, with honors. While at Heidelberg, I was an academic all-American as a member of the wrestling team and the student speaker at commencement.

I graduated from THE Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law earning a Juris Doctor degree with a certificate in dispute resolution. While at Moritz, I worked with start-ups and small businesses as part of Mortiz’s Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic. As a member of that clinic, he executed a variety of business documents and performed various legal services critical to the success of new and small businesses. I also was an intern with the Ohio House of Representatives and a volunteer meditator for Franklin County Municipal Court, while at Mortiz.

I joined Cavitch in August of 2016 as an associate attorney and became a shareholder/partner at the firm in January 2023. I practice in both the business law and litigation practice groups advising and representing businesses, families and individuals on a wide variety of matters. I often serving in the role of general counsel for closely held corporations in various industries. I sought out a firm like Cavitch and the practice areas I work in because it allows me to work with companies like my families’. To work with people like my grandfather. These types of businesses are owned and operated by people who truly care about the work they are doing. Who are often driven by something much greater than the value of a share. For my grandfather and for many of my clients, their work is motivated by the love they have for their families and a desire to care and provide for them. This motivates me to help them overcome challenges and achieve their goals. I love being a small part of their story of success.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I strive to help others. Being a person that other can and do rely on to help them accomplish tasks or overcome challenges has enabled me to build a reputation as a person to call no matter what the need.

I also strive to be genuine in everything I do. There are a lot of attorneys out there. Most of them are competent and capable of delivering high quality service. But ultimately people choose to do business with the people they know and trust. I have found that a great way to allow people to truly get to know, and come to trust, you, is by being authentic/genuine when meeting and spending time with others. When someone is being genuine, it shows, and when they are not, its noticeable.

I have also distinguished myself and my practice by providing a comprehensive approach and skill set to handle a wide range of issues that my client – many of them entrepreneurs – face on day-to-day basis. My practice is a bit unique in that I handle both corporate business work – business formation, drafting contracts/agreements, review and deployment of policies, employment, general business advising, etc. – as well as business litigation/disputes – owner disputes, contract disputes, business v. business, business v. consumer, etc. I enjoy being a true member of my client’s team. Someone they can rely on and call whenever they have a need or issue to solve.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

My best source for new clients are my existing clients. I have the pleasure of working with a truly an amazing group of passionate individuals, families, and businesses. It is an honor to be able to assist them with whatever endeavors they are attempting to accomplish. Working with such a great group of clients allows me to showcase not only my ability to provide trusted advice and innovative solutions, but also for the client to get to know me even better. What stronger endorsement can I possibly get then for a client to refer me to a potential new client by saying, this is the guy I trust and use when I am looking for legal advice.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cavitch.com/attorney/martinson-cory/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cavitchfamilodurkin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cavitchlaw
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmartinson22/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CavitchFDLaw
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cavitch