Personal Injury Mastermind - Episode 306 Summary Title: Speed + Tech: How KurtzReilly Built an Explosive PI Firm in 12 Months
Release Date: January 2, 2025
Host: Chris Dreyer, Founder and CEO of Rankings.io
Guest: Brian Reilly, Co-Founder of Kurtz Reilly

1. Introduction: The Synergy of Speed and Technology

In Episode 306 of Personal Injury Mastermind, host Chris Dreyer delves into the remarkable growth of Kurtz Reilly, a personal injury (PI) law firm that achieved explosive expansion within just one year. The episode emphasizes the critical interplay between speed and technology in transforming a steadily growing firm into a formidable force in the PI landscape.

Notable Quote:

Chris Dreyer [00:03]: "Speed without technology is unsustainable. Technology without a speed focused strategy is wasteful. Where speed and tech overlap, that's where the magic happens."

2. Guest Introduction: Brian Reilly's Journey

Brian Reilly, co-founder of Kurtz Reilly, shares his extensive background in personal injury law, including his tenure at Morgan & Morgan where he managed the Arizona office. His transition to founding Kurtz Reilly with Austin Kurtz marks a significant milestone in his career, leveraging his experience to build a rapidly growing firm.

Notable Quote:

Brian Reilly [04:27]: "I've gone personal injury my entire career... running their Arizona office, which, by the way, was an awesome experience. And then, you know, being able to do it again, but on my own dime with Austin."

3. Integrating Speed and Technology for Competitive Advantage

Brian Reilly elaborates on how Kurtz Reilly harnesses AI and various tech tools to streamline processes, making operations exceptionally efficient. This integration allows the firm to respond swiftly to challenges, such as tough negotiations with insurance companies, by quickly generating and submitting necessary documents.

Notable Quote:

Brian Reilly [01:02]: "We've really implemented as many AI and tech tools as we possibly can to make our processes extremely, extremely efficient... If we're on the phone with the insurance company and they're really giving us a hard time, within 10 minutes, we put our money where our mouse is, where our mouths are."

4. Personal Motivation: A Father's Legal Battle

Brian shares a deeply personal story about his father's prolonged legal battle stemming from internal family conflicts and financial discrepancies. This experience ignited Brian's passion for law, leading him to pursue a legal career to advocate effectively for clients facing similar struggles.

Notable Quote:

Brian Reilly [03:13]: "My dad was a plaintiff for an incident that he discovered in about 2005, 2006... I could probably do this attorney thing. That's when I decided to apply to law school and got started."

5. Building Kurtz Reilly: From Corporate to Entrepreneurial Success

Discussing his transition from Morgan & Morgan to founding Kurtz Reilly, Brian highlights the challenges and rewards of establishing a new firm. With Austin Kurtz as his partner, they focused on building a strong foundation, implementing innovative strategies, and fostering a dynamic work environment that promotes rapid growth.

Notable Quote:

Brian Reilly [05:18]: "Being able to do it again, but on my own dime with Austin and just really in our first year right now, building those foundation blocks, trying to do everything that I did three or four years ago for them and then create something new and different for us."

6. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Operational Efficiency

Brian discusses the importance of KPIs in managing and scaling the firm. Key metrics include the number of demands sent out daily, case resolution rates, average fees per case, and "time on desk"—the duration a case remains unresolved before litigation. These indicators help in assessing performance and identifying areas for improvement.

Notable Quote:

Brian Reilly [06:25]: "One of my favorite KPIs is... either sending out a demand per day or resolving a case every single day. If I can have my attorneys get out 10 to 15 new demands a month, I'm very happy with that."

7. Financial Management and Forecasting

Managing rapid growth requires meticulous financial planning. Brian explains the firm's approach to forecasting expected settlements, ensuring adequate staffing, and maintaining cash flow. Hiring a Director of Operations has been pivotal in overseeing financial health and operational stability.

Notable Quote:

Brian Reilly [13:51]: "We do a lot of forecasting... knowing month over month, we're signing up more cases. We need to make sure we're getting attorneys in who can handle those cases."

8. Branding and Firm Identity: The Wolf and Lightning Bolt

The unique branding of Kurtz Reilly combines a wolf and a lightning bolt, symbolizing energy, creativity, and tenacity. Brian credits his partner Austin Kurtz for his creative input, which helped shape the firm's identity and visual representation, reinforcing their dynamic approach to personal injury law.

Notable Quote:

Brian Reilly [11:40]: "Austin is so creative... we wanted to bring that spark. And then the wolf was such a... Austin just couldn't tell me no. We made a cool design, and now the wolf's been part of our website since the inception."

9. Leveraging Technology: Introducing Quillia

Kurtz Reilly adopts the Quillia app, integrated with their Filevine system, to enhance client interactions and streamline case management. This technology allows clients to easily upload documents, record notes, and manage their case information, significantly improving the client experience and operational efficiency.

Notable Quote:

Brian Reilly [15:05]: "Using AI and tech... this new app, it's called Quillia... making the client experience what we would want and what we would expect if we were going through something like that."

10. Conclusion: Transformative Growth through Strategic Speed and Tech

The episode concludes by reinforcing the idea that combining speed and technology with strategic intent can dramatically accelerate a firm's growth trajectory. Kurtz Reilly serves as a testament to how leveraging these elements effectively can establish a successful and rapidly expanding personal injury law firm.

Notable Quote:

Chris Dreyer [16:04]: "Speed and technology separately, they're just tools, but when you combine them with strategic intent, they become a competitive advantage that can transform your firm's trajectory."

Additional Resources

• Book Recommendation: Personal Injury Lawyer Marketing by Chris Dreyer – A comprehensive guide on marketing strategies tailored for personal injury firms.
• Related Episode: Chris Dreyer’s recent conversation with Austin Kurtz – Explores further insights into Kurtz Reilly’s dynamic growth strategies.

This episode of Personal Injury Mastermind offers invaluable insights into building a high-velocity personal injury firm through the strategic integration of technology and speed. Brian Reilly's experiences and methodologies provide a roadmap for law firms aiming to achieve exponential growth and operational excellence.