“I had this burning desire to just take that leap of faith and open my own firm. I had faith it would work out. I valued my vision and purpose.”
Lauren Cassimatis, Founder
This week’s Founder Friday, we sat down with Lauren Cassimatis, one of Victoria’s most respected criminal lawyers to talk about justice, juggling and the joy of building something that matters. With over 20 years of experience, Lauren is the founder of Gallant Law, a boutique firm known for its compassionate, client-first approach.
In this conversation, Lauren opens up about the values that shaped her path, what it means to lead with heart in the legal world and why representation, when done right, can change lives.
Leap of faith
Lauren Cassimatis had already spent 15 years building a successful legal career across private firms and government roles. But something didn’t sit right. The longer she practiced, the more she felt the system missed the mark.
“I noticed a gap in the way in which criminal law clients were being represented and the delivery of quality and equitable legal services,” she says. “There was a focus on getting the best sentence in court for clients, but not enough consideration of, and advocacy for clients’ lives beyond the courtroom.”
She remembers one Christmas Eve, receiving calls from the family of a woman charged with murder. The woman had suffered years of domestic abuse, and her family feared she was suicidal in custody. “I had to speak with them, hear their concerns and give them assurance, no matter what time of the year it was.”
That case, and countless others, convinced Lauren that change was needed. But change would not come from within the system. It would take something else.
“I honestly couldn’t believe that my style of client care was the exception, not the norm,” she says. “I had to open my own law firm, to do things my way, with the aim of eventually training future lawyers with the same values as me.”
It wasn’t an easy decision. She left behind a secure government role and the predictability that came with it. “I had this burning desire to just take that leap of faith. Yes, there was a real financial risk. Yes, I was safer if I stayed put. But I valued my vision and purpose more than my fear.”
Heart Meets Hustle
Launching a firm meant more than just taking on clients. Lauren had to run operations, understand business strategy, and market herself with zero formal training. She did what she’s always done: she learned.
“The main thing is to be creative in your planning and strategies and never give up. Take rational risks and experiment. And be OK with things not working out. Rather than giving up, pivot and try an alternative way of achieving your goals.”
She took inspiration from her mentors and competitors but never fell into the trap of comparison. “Rather than compare or compete, I drew inspiration from my mentors and competitors and applied whatever learnings and strategies resonated with me.”
Building the brand started with being herself. “I embraced social media, showing the world who I am and what I stand for. Sure, there was a risk of scrutiny in putting myself out there so publicly, but it paid off.”
Clients noticed. They connected with her warmth and honesty. “I naturally brought innovation to this market because I was never a stuffy traditional or cowboy lawyer. I was always empathetic, social, and even a bit playful, and this I carried over into my legal service delivery.”
Her ability to relate to people became her competitive edge. “Clients value that we can have open talks, that I won’t judge them, and I can even add a bit of humour to our dealings, slightly freeing them from the darkness they presently find themselves in.”
It’s that same energy that fuels Connecting Lawyer Mums, a Facebook group she founded that now supports over 9,000 legal professionals across Australia. “I empower other law firm owners to be true to themselves and be a lawyer their way. I believe in sharing in one another’s success and growing together.”
Calm in Chaos
You define success on your own terms
When the pandemic hit, the entire legal system shifted. Courts closed. Hearings stalled. But Lauren kept moving. “In Victoria, the courts closed down and cases came to a standstill. It impacted cash flow, but more than that, it left many clients in custody for too long. It went completely against what I stood for.”
She adapted quickly. From her bedroom courtroom with homemade signs warning her children not to enter, she conducted remote hearings and confidential prison calls. “I’d sit outside in the garden, no matter the weather, so my children wouldn’t overhear traumatic content.”
And she made space for her team too. Even during the hardest weeks, there were Zoom wine tastings and painting nights to keep morale up. Through it all, her definition of success remained clear. “There will be times where you feel like you are taking two steps forward then one step back. Nonetheless, you are making progress.” And progress, for Lauren, is about more than profit or team size.
“Some see scaling a business to the point of having a large team as a sign of success. Others see success as making enough profit to enjoy more breaks and travel. You define success on your own terms.”
For her, it’s about freedom, legacy, and health. “It’s easy to become hooked on your own business, working long hours and seven days a week. Yet the business can’t run without you. It’s not self-indulgent or neglectful to put your health first.”
Advice to build on
What can you offer that’s different from your competitors and is truly reflective of you?
Lauren’s advice to future founders is simple: know who you are and lead with that. “Build a business that brings you joy by incorporating what you love doing, your talents, and what you’re truly passionate about. What can you offer that’s different from your competitors and is truly reflective of you?”
And don’t wait for the perfect moment. “Believe you will do what you can to make it as successful as you can. Whilst you should rely on others for advice and support, ultimately, your success is under your control and up to you.”
The most important thing? Keep learning. “Just because you’ve succeeded doesn’t mean you should stop trying to improve as a person and an employer or business owner.”
In Lauren’s words, founding a firm hasn’t just shaped her career. It’s shaped her as a person. “You meet so many amazing people, encounter new experiences and challenges you might not as an employee. You grow and you learn more and more about yourself as a leader, creator, innovator and human generally.”
Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
