The 2024 Game Changers Summit has become known as a large-scale celebration of the accomplishments of the nation’s top law firm owners.

For the second consecutive year, Michael and Jessica Mogill took the stage throughout the two-day Summit to recognize the most committed Crisp Coach members for their incredible transformations and contributions this year.

Winners of these carefully vetted, highly prestigious Crisp Game Changer Awards at each level (ELITE, PREMIER, SELECT, and CrispX) were determined based on the factors that impact a successful business, an influential leader, and a true Firm of the Year: Visionary Leadership, Client Experience, Community Impact, and Firm Culture.

We are incredibly pleased to announce that Sofia K. Miguel took home the distinguished ELITE Firm of the Year honors!

Meet Sofia K. Miguel

Two words have been through-lines for Sofia K. Miguel all her life: independence and service.

“I originally wanted to become a lawyer because I wanted to know that I would always be able to support myself and my family,” she explains. “I wanted independence in my life.”

Also describing herself as a “natural helper,” Sofia was drawn to personal injury law from a human perspective.

“I am a plaintiff’s lawyer through and through: the type of person who always looks out for the weak and those needing help,” she says. “Early on, I felt the insurance industry was unfairly stacked against the little guy. I’ve never wanted to help large corporations commit more greedy acts at the expense of ordinary people. I’d much rather help level the playing field.”

Following in the footsteps of entrepreneurs in her family also came naturally to this game changer. Seeing those around her start and run businesses gave her the confidence to not fear striking out on her own.

“Starting my own firm was also something I wanted to do from the very beginning, even while still in law school. I have a strong independent streak and a need to control my own destiny,” Sofia elaborates.

That strong sense of self gave Sofia the drive she needed to build her law firm from the ground up.

“Many lawyers start their firm by taking a book of clients and leaving their current firm. I didn’t do that. I started with literally zero clients,” she explains. “Seeing how other law firms were run really made me understand what I wanted out of my own business. I wanted to be able to provide the best possible representation to people who need it the most.”

While the Law Office of Sofia K. Miguel may be smaller than other firms in her market, she has risen to the challenge of finding her niche, building her brand, and growing her firm through grit and determination.

“For me, gaining the confidence to know that I have a place in the melee of law and raising my voice to be heard so my prospective clients can find and choose me has been a game changer for me,” she says. “Since joining Crisp a little over a year ago, I’ve doubled my caseload. Those other firms are still bigger than me, but I’m holding my own and getting better every day.”

The Law Office of Sofia K. Miguel: A Year in Review

Sofia applied many Crisp Coach concepts to her firm in 2024, impacting every area of her firm and her life. Let’s explore what she has implemented:

Visionary Leadership at the Law Office of Sofia K. Miguel

Before beginning her ELITE membership, Sofia admits her lack of confidence held her back from being the leader her team and organization needed.

“In the past I’ve struggled with employees performing below their capabilities because I have been hesitant to set and enforce standards. I have been learning how to manage and lead people in a positive and inspiring way,” she explains. “Now I have the confidence to set standards and know my team will meet them.

Setting those standards began with clearly defining and documenting the firm’s vision and mission statements to drive progress. These declarations serve as guideposts for making hiring and firing decisions, as well as references during the strategic annual, quarterly, and one-on-one meetings that Sofia has established this year with Crisp’s support.

“I think that as I have gained leadership skills, my team is gaining confidence in me as a leader,” she says. “They know now that we have a mission and a purpose and they see me working to grow and develop the firm. It helps them feel more confident in our firm and our mission and they in turn perform better. It all works together.”

Client Experience at the Law Office of Sofia K. Miguel

In 2024, the Law Office of Sofia K. Miguel also revamped many operational factors to better serve their clients. Citing challenges with consistent experience and communications, Sofia committed to standardizing the service her firm provides to ensure every client receives the personalized representation she wants to be known for.

Birthday cards and handwritten thank you notes for every client exemplify the thoughtful touches enhancing Sofia’s client experience. These efforts, along with other initiatives, have significantly improved operational aspects of the firm’s client interactions, leading to noticeable enhancements across the board.

“We have started building out SOPs for every process in the firm. We also have been putting together a series of ‘What to Expect’ letters to send to clients at every stage of their case,” she elaborates. “This is an ongoing project, but it’s been very successful so far. Everyone knows what processes to follow and how to do things. Overall our operations are more standardized and smoother but also more personalized to our clients.”

Community Impact at the Law Office of Sofia K. Miguel

Much of Sofia’s mission is rooted in a deep desire to help those in need.

“I have always recognized that ‘There but for the grace of God go I,'” she says. “I know I’m lucky to have always had a good life, and always probably will have a good life. I know that the world is just unfair and most people don’t get the kind of good fortune I’ve had in my life. Reaching out and helping someone else is the least I can do.”

Future plans for community initiatives led by the Law Office of Sofia K. Miguel include causes close to Sofia’s heart, such as supporting organizations that help foster children, women’s shelters, and homelessness.

Firm Culture at the Law Office of Sofia K. Miguel

In the last 12 months, the Law Office of Sofia K. Miguel went from, in her words, “zero culture” to actively working on and promoting their unique culture.

“Our culture is laid back and supportive with zero tolerance for toxicity,” says Sofia. “It’s important to me that my teams know I have their back. We expect professionalism and excellent work, of course, but it’s also important that my team knows this is a great environment and a great place to work. I want to always be able to attract the best talent to my firm, and I believe that recognition for a job well done and avoiding toxicity and micromanaging are good ways to get self-starters who will show up and perform.”

From more structured firm rhythms like their annual meeting, quarterly meetings, and one-on-ones to more informal social events like happy hours at a nearby restaurant or inviting the team home for dinner, Sofia has taken tangible actions to build a sense of community on her team.

“I learned from Crisp that the culture will be there whether you drive and promote what you want or not,” she declares. “If I’m not doing anything, then the culture that develops may not be what is best for my law firm and for me. I have learned that to have the culture that is best for my law firm, I need to actively promote and hire for the culture I want to have. Developing a culture helps all of us have a sense of belonging to a greater purpose. Ultimately, it helps drive results, which is what I want.”

Final Thoughts From Sofia K. Miguel

“My business has doubled since I joined Crisp a little over a year ago,” says Sofia. “Again, a lot of that comes back to the confidence to do the things I need to do to grow my business.”

In fact, the ELITE Firm of the Year winner describes her confidence today as “through the roof.”

“It’s not arrogance,” she assures us, “but I’m not afraid anymore. I am trying new things and striving and putting myself out there for success. I have billboards — something I never would have done before Crisp. I am always reaching and expanding.”

Confidence as a leader is just one of the many personal attributes Sofia has developed with Crisp’s help in the past year.

“I have started describing myself as in a period of expansion in my life, meaning that I am growing in all directions at once,” she continues. “Mentally, emotionally, physically, etc. — everything is literally SO MUCH BETTER.”

We are incredibly honored to be partners in Sofia’s growth, and we are confident this is just the beginning for this up-and-coming game changer.

“I cannot get over how much I’ve changed in just a little over a year. Yes, my firm is doing better and we’ve doubled our caseload, implemented all these new things, and it’s great and all — but honestly? It’s hard to overstate how this has affected me personally. I’ve gotten a lot of criticism from people who don’t understand Crisp, but I will never go back.”