EJ Stern focuses her coaching on working with lawyers and other professional services providers. With 15 years of experience working in law firms, EJ understands the pressures lawyers face and the critical role coaching can play in professional development and ongoing success. She has extensive experience helping lawyers grow their practices and build their books of business. EJ also has robust coaching experience helping individuals improve their time management skills, set boundaries, and enhance their communication with stakeholders.
In her business development coaching, EJ’s clients range from associates who are at the beginning of the business development process and want to learn the tools needed to create a thriving practice to established partners who are seeking to increase their books of business and broaden their client base. Her results-oriented business development approach helps her clients create best practices and provides the accountability necessary for success.
EJ also works with lawyers considering a lateral move. Her strategic guidance helps lateral candidates present a compelling story, prepare for the interview process, draft a persuasive lateral partner questionnaire, and negotiate a lucrative compensation package.
In addition, EJ has experience training and coaching individuals and cohorts on time management. She has developed a systematic approach to effectively manage and maximize time, including prioritizing competing deadlines, planning workflow to ensure that deadlines are met, setting boundaries, and proactively interacting with leadership to become a valued resource. She also helps her clients develop strategies to avoid workplace burnout.
Prior to joining Novateur Partners in 2019, she served as US Head of Client Development for Clyde & Co, an international law firm based in the UK. Prior to joining Clyde & Co, EJ spent nearly 10 years at Troutman Pepper (f/k/a Troutman Sanders), an Am Law 100 firm, where she held the position of Associate Director, Business Development Coaching. She also held marketing positions at Steptoe & Johnson and Proskauer Rose. At each of these firms, EJ was intimately involved in launching and leading women’s initiatives.
EJ is certified through the Academy of Creative Coaching and is a graduate of the Skillful Means Coach the Coach® and GrowBIG® training programs. She received her Master’s degree from New York University, summa cum laude, and her Bachelor’s degree from American University, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
Business Development Coaching
- Partner at Am Law 100 firm to cultivate internal firm network and identify cross-selling opportunities, resulting in more than $250,000 in new business
- Service partner at Am Law 100 firm to transform into multimillion-dollar rainmaker by redefining sales process, developing a deeper understanding of client base, and refining value proposition
- Partner at boutique firm to identify, prioritize, and leverage network to deliver two new clients in first year of coaching
- Senior Associate at Am Law 100 firm to develop business development plan and sharpen marketing skills to grow book of business in order to become a partner
- Mediator on how to grow his business and conceptualize and develop a new revenue stream
Productivity Coaching
- Multiple pharmaceutical professionals to develop strategies to more efficiently manage time, prioritize competing deadlines, and develop workplace boundaries
- Business professional at Am Law 200 firm on how to assess deadlines, avoid rabbit holes and manage expectations of supervisor
- Associate at Am Law 100 law firm to assess, organize and prioritize caseload, resulting in greater efficiency and more streamlined approach to work
Executive Coaching
- Nonprofit leader to create a stronger leadership voice, develop workplace boundaries, and improve delegation skills
- Management consultant to enhance communication with stakeholders, manage competing deadlines, and cultivate best practices for working remotely
- Business development leader to improve leadership confidence and competence, improve delegation skills and effectively communicate her value to the company’s leaders and key stakeholders
Testimonials
EJ is a terrific business development coach. She served as a sounding board for ideas, offered practical suggestions, helped track my progress and ensured that I consistently kept business development on the radar.
I wholeheartedly recommend EJ. Working with her, I was able to more clearly define my career objectives and create a business development plan that aligned with them. EJ held me accountable, encouraged me throughout the process, and had great out-of-the-box ideas for networking during COVID. The work paid off: in addition to building new relationships and strengthening existing ones, I saw my revenue increase.
EJ was instrumental in making my lateral move a success. She dedicated the time to perfect my LPQ and helped me craft a message that resonated with firm decision makers. If you are serious about making a lateral move, it’s critical to have a coach on your side, and EJ’s the best there is!
I had the opportunity to be coached by EJ, and what a gift it has been. She helped me cope with burnout, set work boundaries, and reframe my perspective about my role as an employee and manager. She held me accountable and always made me feel like she was on my team.