The 2025 Game Changers Summit has become known as a large-scale celebration of the accomplishments of the nation’s top law firm owners.
For the third 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.
While there were many worthy firms that applied, one firm stood out and truly earned the title of SELECT Firm of the Year: John Richmond and Keith Vona of Richmond Vona!
Meet John Richmond and Keith Vona
John Richmond never imagined that starting his own law firm would put Western New York on the map nationwide.
His story begins with a noble goal: Richmond wanted to deliver a higher level of service for personal injury clients in western New York. Richmond was born and raised in the area and knew his community often lagged behind from a legal perspective compared to nearby metropolises like New York City.
Earlier in his career, he landed a job at a large law firm in the city and had the chance to see the inner workings of a giant legal machine. Subsequently, he moved to a small firm in Buffalo, NY, and experienced the opposite end of the spectrum.
“I always thought there has to be a way to bring those large-firm tactics or strategy combined with that small firm feel, both for your people and then for your clients,” Richmond explains. “Why can’t we start a powerhouse national law firm that just so happens to be located in Buffalo? Shine a light on the amazing people in our community and bring a greater level of service to the people who deserve it the most.”
His co-founder, Keith Vona, brought his own unique perspective to his practice and their partnership. After earning his law degree from the University of Buffalo School of Law, Vona worked as a Buffalo Police Department officer for nearly a decade before transitioning to personal injury law. That combination of street-level criminology experience and legal expertise gave him deep insight into effectively serving the community.
With over 30 years of combined personal injury experience, Richmond and Vona set out to build something different together. In 2019, the two founders opened the doors of Richmond Vona, LLC with a mission to change the way people think about personal injury lawyers.
They understood early on that they needed more than just legal skills to run a successful practice, so the pair invested early in learning how to run a business. But as Richmond admits, the challenges cropped up faster than expected.
“There’s a saying that they don’t teach you how to be a lawyer in law school, and that’s true,” Richmond reflects. “But even more so, they don’t teach you how to run a business in law school. Especially with myself and my partner Keith, we don’t have business backgrounds. So, really, our biggest challenge when you look back on it really all stemmed from that concept of ‘We have no clue how to run a business.’”
Richmond Vona: A Year in Review
Richmond and Vona applied countless lessons they learned through their Crisp SELECT membership in 2024, driving exceptional growth and earning national recognition as a result. Let’s take a look at the highlights that earned them the SELECT Firm of the Year Award.
Visionary Leadership at Richmond Vona
The biggest challenge that stood in Richmond Vona’s way of growth early on was not understanding how to build the right team.
“You have this idea of the type of people you want to work with, what you think your office environment should be like,” Richmond explains.
Early on, they hired people they thought would be a good fit. But as they learned what it would take to reach the next level, they realized they didn’t have the right people in place. They simply didn’t understand what an excellent culture meant.
“At least for us, we’re not thinking, ‘How do we create a culture of accountability, of high-level communication? How do we create metrics that really attract high performers? How do we entice people to want to continue to grow and to earn their trust along the way? And how do we create leaders so that everybody’s leading and it doesn’t all fall on us?’” Richmond says.
About two and a half years into their journey, the Richmond Vona team experienced a defining moment. They implemented everything they were learning from Crisp, beginning with a strong foundation: the firm’s culture. The partners redefined their culture, values, mission, and vision. They set higher standards and, most importantly, codified the standards they lived by. That way, the rest of the team could realign to these new standards.
What followed was a turbulent turnover period. In a short time, multiple team members either quit or were let go because they weren’t maintaining the firm’s standards. The disruption rippled through the office, and even their A-players began questioning whether the leadership team knew what they were doing.
“Once we got through that and weathered that storm, we really felt like we were on the right side of things,” Richmond remembers. “And even when we were going through how difficult it was, we knew it was the right thing to do. But it really made us test ourselves and say, ‘Hey, if we really want this, we’ve got to make some tough decisions.’”
Fortunately, Crisp was there to guide them through those difficult conversations.
Looking at the firm today, the transformation is remarkable. Richmond Vona built specialized teams across operations, technology, intake, marketing, and litigation. They brought in a fractional CFO to support financial planning and decision-making. Most importantly, they’ve cultivated a culture of clean data and accountability that allows them to grow strategically rather than reactively.
“For the first time ever, we are fully equipped to march into next year and grow with intention,” Richmond says. “We finally have everything in place to really be intentional as we go into a year, not just grow based on hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. We’re going to be smarter about it. We’ve seen nothing yet. 2025 is just a launching pad for where we’re going.”
Richmond Vona is also investing heavily in AI and technology to streamline operations and elevate their team. Richmond’s biggest fear isn’t regression. It’s stagnation. For him, a plateau represents moving backwards.
“We’re trying to constantly get better and better,” he says. “We’re continuing to double, triple, quadruple down on AI, on technology, and better systems and processes and refining KPIs and finding ways to get better to make sure that we’re continuing to grow year over year.”
The results validate their approach. Richmond Vona has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies twice, and was recognized as a 2025 “Best Law Firm”, achieving a distinguished ranking for excellence in multiple practice areas in Buffalo. The co-founders and their team have recovered over $200 million in settlements and verdicts for injury victims throughout New York state.
Firm Culture at Richmond Vona
Building an intentional firm culture has been central to Richmond Vona’s success story.
The firm’s mission is clear: provide the best firm culture, best client experience, and best results in the field of personal injury law. Richmond Vona prioritizes team member well-being along with personal growth to create a positive and supportive work environment. They offer opportunities for professional development and upward mobility, making each member of their team feel valued and motivated to excel.
“We are highly growth and team-oriented, which means that although we believe in working hard together, we also prioritize celebrating that effort and progress,” the firm explains. “We’ve built a beautiful, fun, and comfortable workspace for our team to enjoy each day, and we have weekly in-office or off-site team-building events to ensure we are keeping it all in perspective.”
The firm’s culture is built on core values that every team member lives by. Excellence is their standard. They have a relentless drive to win for their clients, their teammates, and their community. And the results affirm their efforts.
In 2023, the firm won the Crisp Game Changer Award for Excellence in Firm Culture. In 2024, Inc. Magazine named Richmond Vona to the Best Workplaces list.
“We are very proud to have been awarded the 2023 Excellence in Firm Culture Award by Crisp, the nation’s number one law firm growth company,” the firm shares on their Careers page. “In addition, we are honored to have been named to the prestigious 2024 Inc. 5000 Best Workplaces list.”
Adaptability also guides Richmond Vona’s approach to creating their firm culture. They are always prepared and willing to take on challenges and pivot within an ever-evolving environment.
“We are committed to providing every member of our team with the support and resources necessary for success,” the firm states on their website. “We take our firm culture very seriously, and are constantly seeking new ways to help our people achieve their professional and personal goals.”
Client Experience at Richmond Vona
Richmond Vona’s approach to client experience sets them apart, particularly in the personal injury field.
“At Richmond Vona, we believe that legal representation is about more than just winning a case; it’s about providing a full-service, compassionate experience that helps you move forward,” the firm’s website states.
The firm takes on fewer cases to provide more personalized attention to each client. When someone entrusts their case to Richmond Vona, they become part of the Richmond Vona family instead of being just another case file.
To build a strong foundation of trust, the firm emphasizes open communication and availability. They encourage clients to call, text, or email at any time, which means clients are never left wondering about the status of their case.
Client testimonials consistently highlight the firm’s commitment to communication and compassionate service.
One client shared, “This team of lawyers and everyone at the firm I’ve enjoyed working with is very caring, compassionate, friendly, and informative. You’re never left wondering what’s going on with your case. I was highly satisfied with the outcome. Also, if you have any general questions or concerns, someone can speak with you 24 hours daily. I called at 12:30 and immediately got a call from a very helpful specialist. Then, at 9 am, I was awoken by a call from Mr. Richmond himself. They are one of the most trustworthy and knowledgeable firms in Buffalo.”
Another client emphasized the firm’s empathy and professionalism: “Her willingness to listen to my concerns and answer all of my questions was truly a breath of fresh air in today’s world. It’s not often that you come across someone who is so genuinely caring and understanding. I was impressed by her professionalism and helpful demeanor, and it was clear that she truly had my best interests at heart.”
Richmond Vona also stands behind their work with a unique guarantee: If a client comes to them with a settlement offer from an insurance company and they accept the case, they guarantee they’ll get a higher offer — or they’ll work for free.
Community Impact at Richmond Vona
As Buffalo natives, Richmond and Vona are deeply committed to giving back to the community that shaped them.
The firm engages in community initiatives each month that make a positive impact on the lives of those around them. For example, they partner with Compeer Buffalo on mental health initiatives, demonstrating how different industries can work together to address mental health challenges.
“This collaboration is really important because it demonstrates how different industries can work together to address mental health challenges,” says Lisa Johnson of Compeer Buffalo.
The firm demonstrates their commitment to the community in both large-scale initiatives and small daily actions. Richmond Vona also participates in veterans’ events at the Naval & Military Park, honoring and advocating for those who served. They sponsor community events, host fundraisers like their American Cancer Society Virtual Golf Tournament to benefit Men Wear Pink of Buffalo, and support breast cancer awareness initiatives.
Richmond also shares his perspective with the community through his podcast “Angles with John Richmond” and through regular appearances on Western New York Living and The Big WECK “Buffalo on the Rise,” where he offers legal advice to help educate the local community.
Final Thoughts
Richmond describes the firm as “the Crisp prototype.”
“We joined Crisp very, very early on,” he explains. “It was our first big investment as a firm outside of the normal stuff you would invest in as a law firm. I’m just tremendously grateful. I don’t think we would be where we are today without Crisp.”
Looking back at the journey, Richmond offers this perspective to his past self: “Just keep your head down, one foot in front of the other. Be patient. Good things hopefully will come. Listen to Crisp, listen to your coaches, suck in everything you can, make great friends with your colleagues here at Crisp, and just one foot in front of the other. And don’t stop. Just keep moving, keep moving, keep moving, keep moving.”
As Richmond Vona continues to grow, the firm’s vision remains clear: Richmond wants the firm’s legacy to be its commitment to pushing boundaries in how people are treated, their use of technology, and what they’re willing to do for the community.
“I just think we want a legacy of caring,” Richmond concludes. “We want to be known as people who truly, truly care. We care about each other. We care about our clients. We care about being the best. We care about getting better every single day. We feel that we have no choice but to get better every single day, and we’re willing to do whatever it takes to get better every single day. And I want that to live on long past me.”
Richmond Vona’s story is proof that with the right vision, the right culture, and the right support, a firm can transform not just itself but an entire community’s perception of what’s possible. From a startup in 2019 to a nationally recognized powerhouse that’s changing the game in personal injury law, Richmond Vona is just getting started.
