News & Insights

Lightfoot Managing Partner Melody Eagan Shares Insights on Law Firm Culture for Answering Legal Webinar

October 22, 2024

Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC managing partner Melody H. Eagan joined an Answering Legal Law Firm Summer Reboot Camp panel in August to share best practices on cultivating a positive law firm culture. She offered perspectives from her tenure leading Lightfoot through one of the most eventful periods in the legal industry. 

“Positive culture not only fuels competitive advantage but increases loyalty,” said Eagan. “When employees know leaders value them, they’re more likely to give their best to colleagues and clients. I’m loyal to Lightfoot because I’ve always worked with people who supported me and wanted to give me opportunities.”

Eagan stressed that in this digital age, when a firm develops a negative reputation, information can quickly spread, potentially harming recruitment and retention. She said law firm leaders must constantly be thinking about the ingredients needed for a positive culture, which include transparent communication, flexibility and strong relationships.

​​Eagan became Lightfoot’s first female managing partner in 2018. She has decades of experience defending high-stakes product liability and catastrophic injury lawsuits and has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict in the Southeast. Eagan also represents medical providers facing malpractice claims and serves as appellate counsel for multiple clients. Benchmark Litigation has named Eagan one of the country’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation” for the past two years. She is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America© and Mid-South Super Lawyers, and the National Law Journal has recognized her as an Elite Boutique Trailblazer.