We were lucky to catch up with Shaun Bushing recently and have shared our conversation below.
Shaun, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the early days of establishing your own firm. What can you share?
Growing up, I was deeply inspired by my father, a dedicated entrepreneur who built his business from scratch. Witnessing the highs and lows of his journey instilled in me a profound admiration for the entrepreneurial spirit and an unwavering desire to carve my own path. Today, I stand as the proud owner of four diverse businesses, a testament to the dreams that were sown in those early days.
My academic journey began in the fields of biology and chemistry, where I pursued an undergraduate degree with the intention of applying to medical school. However, as my undergraduate years came to a close, my aspirations took an unexpected turn towards the legal field, leading me to choose law school over medical school. In the midst of this transition, I obtained a property assessor license in Florida, leveraging my education in a way that would soon lay the foundation for my entrepreneurial ventures.
The inception of my entrepreneurial journey was marked by the establishment of an indoor air quality assessing company. This venture presented its first major challenge when I moved to Chicago for law school, necessitating a shift towards remote management. Through careful delegation, I ensured that the business could operate independently, allowing me to focus on my legal studies.
Law school not only shaped my legal acumen but also ignited a passion for real estate. With an Illinois real estate license in hand, I ventured into the real estate business, founding Bushing Real Estate under the management and guidance of Corcoran Urban Real Estate, a respected and experienced managing broker. This venture became a shared journey with my wife, as we both stepped into the world of real estate brokerage. Our collaborative efforts soon expanded into the realm of fashion, where we founded MINIMALITY The Label, a women’s clothing design and manufacturing company driven by my wife’s lifelong passion for fashion.
Upon completing law school, I embarked on the establishment of my own law firm. The initial phase was challenging, as building a client base and earning trust were formidable tasks for a newcomer. However, the tide began to turn when I met my future partner, an experienced attorney with a distinguished track record, including successful arguments before the Illinois Supreme Court. Our partnership was symbiotic; his legal expertise complemented my business acumen, creating a formidable team that would soon make significant strides in the legal industry.
Our law firm quickly gained momentum, handling large-scale cases, including class and mass actions. We ventured into various legal fields, such as felony criminal defense and both commercial and personal injury litigation. Within two years, our practice flourished, specializing in civil and criminal litigation, representing hundreds of clients across Illinois, Indiana, and Florida.
This narrative of transition, risk-taking, and discovery underscores a vital piece of advice: don’t be afraid to pursue your dreams. It’s only through embracing these ventures that you truly uncover what resonates with you and realize the extent of your potential. Taking that leap is essential; it opens doors to opportunities you may never have imagined and teaches you about your strengths, passions, and capabilities. Embrace the journey, for it’s in the pursuit of what we love that we find our true selves and the breadth of what we can achieve.
Shaun, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
At Amatore & Bushing, our ethos is founded on the principle of personal engagement and dedication to each case we undertake. We understand that the realm of law is not just about statutes and precedents; it’s about people, their stories, and their lives. This understanding is at the core of our approach, setting us apart in a field often criticized for its impersonality.
We take pride in our commitment to communication. Recognizing the importance of accessibility, we ensure that every client has our personal contact numbers, allowing them to reach us outside traditional business hours. This level of availability is more than a policy; it’s a reflection of our dedication to those we serve. We believe that legal representation should be a partnership, one where clients feel genuinely supported and heard. It’s these personal touches that distinguish our practice, allowing clients to feel valued and understood, rather than perceived as just another case file.
Our approach extends beyond client interactions. In every project we handle, we invest an unparalleled level of thoroughness and care. Our research and writing process is exhaustive; we leave no stone unturned. This meticulousness is a testament to our commitment not only to excellence but to justice and fairness. We often do not bill for half the hours we invest in our cases, a decision rooted in our desire to explore every avenue and possibility without the constraints of billable hours overshadowing our dedication to the client’s best interest.
This philosophy of providing a personal touch to our work has significantly differentiated us from other firms. It’s not merely about the legal outcome; it’s about the journey there. We aim to ensure that journey is as reassuring and supported as possible. Our clients are individuals facing challenging times, seeking not just legal expertise but empathy, understanding, and a voice. At Amatore & Bushing, we commit to being that voice, offering a client-focused practice where personal attention and dedication are not just ideals but the very foundation of our work.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
In the early stages of building Amatore & Bushing, we quickly realized the constraints of a limited marketing and advertising budget. The traditional avenues of attracting clients through expansive campaigns were not immediately feasible for us. This limitation, however, guided us towards leveraging one of the most powerful tools in the business world: networking. Our experience has underscored that networking is not just about expanding a contact list; it’s about forging meaningful relationships within the industry.
We dedicated ourselves to building relationships with established practices, recognizing that these firms often encounter more client inquiries than they can effectively manage. By positioning our firm as a reliable outlet for their overflow, we not only offered them a solution to their capacity issues but also established a mutual trust and respect that is rare in the competitive legal landscape.
These relationships have become our most valuable source of new clients. Through word-of-mouth recommendations and direct referrals, we have seen a steady influx of individuals and businesses seeking our services. This organic growth strategy has allowed us to maintain a focus on quality and personal attention, hallmarks of our practice, without the pressure to allocate substantial resources to marketing efforts.
Moreover, these partnerships have served as a testament to our reputation in the legal community. Being recognized by our peers as a trusted destination for clients they cannot accommodate is an honor and a responsibility we take seriously. It reflects not only on our legal acumen but also on our commitment to ethical practice and client satisfaction.
Networking, in our experience, has proven to be more than just a means to an end. It has been a way to integrate ourselves into the fabric of the legal community, learn from our peers, and continuously improve our services. This approach has not only been instrumental in our growth but has also allowed us to contribute positively to the broader legal ecosystem, ensuring that clients in need receive the support and representation they deserve, even when the initial contact cannot provide it. Our journey has shown that with the right relationships and a commitment to excellence, even a firm without a large marketing budget can thrive and make a significant impact.
How’d you meet your business partner?
My journey to meeting my future business partner, a pivotal moment in the creation of Amatore & Bushing, began in an environment ripe with ambition but constrained by hierarchy—during my time at DePaul Law School. It was there, amidst the rigorous study of law and clerkship at a local law firm, that a fellow law student and I bonded over a shared sentiment of dissatisfaction. We were united in our desire for something more than just contributing to the success of others from the shadows. The idea of working under someone else’s banner, with our efforts merely fueling another’s accolade, felt limiting. We craved recognition, autonomy, and the chance to forge our path.
This mutual understanding and yearning for independence led us both to make a significant decision: we left the firm around the same time, each determined to establish our own practice. This bold step into the unknown was driven by a vision of leading rather than following, of making our mark on the legal landscape in a way that was meaningful and personal to us.
The path to partnership, however, took an unexpected turn when my friend introduced me to his uncle. At that time, he was a seasoned attorney with his own firm, embodying the mentor figure I sought as I navigated my first case. My initial intent was not to find a partner but to seek guidance, to ensure my approach was sound and my strategies solid. I even compensated him for his mentorship, valuing the expertise and oversight he provided.
As we delved into our respective cases, a natural synergy emerged. He observed my handling of my case with effectiveness and precision, prompting him to seek my assistance with one of his own. This exchange of support and advice soon became a reciprocal arrangement, highlighting our complementary strengths and weaknesses. Where he encountered limitations, I found my stride, and vice versa. This dynamic interplay of skills and perspectives gradually laid the groundwork for a partnership that neither of us had initially anticipated.
Our collaboration evolved organically, born out of mutual respect and a shared recognition of each other’s talents and deficiencies. It was a partnership that did not just happen overnight but was the culmination of countless hours of working side by side, learning from each other, and recognizing the potential for something greater. This journey from individual practices to a unified partnership underscores the serendipitous nature of professional relationships and the profound impact they can have on our careers and aspirations.
Reflecting on this pivotal moment, it’s clear that the meeting with my partner was not just a chance encounter but a milestone that would define the trajectory of my professional life. It was a testament to the power of networking, mentorship, and the unexpected paths that lead us to our ultimate destinations. This story is not just about meeting a partner; it’s about the convergence of vision, ambition, and complementary strengths that formed the foundation of Amatore & Bushing, a law firm built on mutual respect, shared goals, and a commitment to excellence.
Contact Info:
- Website: Amatorebushing.com