Ken Vrana | Banking and Financial Strategy for Law Firms That Want to Grow

Ken Vrana is a Senior Director at Western Alliance’s Juris Banking Group. He specializes in crafting customized capital solutions for law firms, alternative legal service providers, and legal tech companies. With a deep expertise in complex banking relationships, he provides his clients with in-depth guidance on operating and fiduciary account setup and ongoing management, including advising on fraud mitigation tactics, advanced payables, and receivable services to streamline overall firm operations. With over two decades of banking experience, Ken serves as a trusted advisor to stakeholders across the legal community and regularly leverages his extensive network to build meaningful connections. His unmatched dedication to navigating clients’ transactional and credit banking needs with ease underscores his long-standing commitment to legal professionals nationwide. Prior to joining Western Alliance, he had significant tenures at Capital One and Citizens Bank, where he helped clients optimize their operations, drive growth, and enhance profitability. Ken received his Bachelor of Arts from Mount Saint Mary College. WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ABOUT LAW FIRM BANKING AND FINANCIAL STRATEGY Most lawyers master the practice of law but struggle with the business side. From managing cash flow to protecting client funds from cybercrime, the financial realities of running a law firm present challenges most lawyers were never trained to handle. Ken Vrana works specifically with law firms to help them make smarter financial decisions and avoid common pitfalls. He sees firsthand how smaller firms are often targeted by fraudsters because they lack the robust protection systems of larger firms, and how many firms leave money on the table by not optimizing their payment processes or banking relationships. From startup firms hanging their shingle to established practices pursuing growth through mergers, Ken shares practical insights on choosing the right banking partners, setting up proper fraud protection, and why the relationship with your banker might be more important than you think. In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge podcast, Elise Holtzman speaks with Ken about protecting your firm's funds, streamlining cash flow, and why treating your banker as a trusted advisor could be one of the smartest business decisions you make. 1:51 - Banking challenges facing large and smaller firms 6:23 - The benefits of using specialized legal banking over a local bank branch 9:43 - Common mistakes by law firms in their banking and financial management choices 14:52 - Guidance for new law firms to start on a solid footing with legal banking 19:21 - Why legal banks like Juris see startup firms as valuable clients 21:56 - Considerations for law firms pursuing growth 23:53 - Culture mismatches as a leading cause of merger failures  27:17 - Players who should be involved in your firm’s growth or merger 29:53 - Reasons for having multiple banking relationships 32:19 - The importance of regularly re-evaluating if a banking relationship is a good fit  35:40 - Large firms’ lack of immunity to financial management problems, despite having more resources 37:24 - The value of banking relationships and understanding their importance MENTIONED IN BANKING AND FINANCIAL STRATEGY FOR LAW FIRMS THAT WANT TO GROW Connect with Ken on LinkedIn Western Alliance Bank | LinkedIn Get connected with the coaching team: hello@thelawyersedge.com The Lawyer's Edge SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE… Today’s episode is brought to you by the Ignite Women’s Business Development Accelerator, a 9-month business development program created BY women lawyers for women lawyers. Ignite is a carefully designed business development program containing content, coaching, and a community of like-minded women who are committed to becoming rainmakers AND supporting the retention and advancement of other women in the profession.  If you are interested in either participating in the program or sponsoring a woman in your firm to enroll, learn more about Ignite and sign up for our registration alerts by visiting www.thelawyersedge.com/ignite.