A fractional CFO for law firms.
A law firm can be busy, well regarded and still short of cash. Highline Financial helps attorneys and firm administrators see the firm as a business and manage it with the same care they give their clients.
Why a busy law firm can still run short of cash.
Uneven fee income
Contingency cases, flat fees and hourly matters all pay on different timelines, so a strong quarter can follow a very thin one.
Unbilled time and slow collections
Hours worked, hours billed and dollars collected are three different numbers, and the gaps between them are where profit goes missing.
Partner pay and draws
When draws are set by habit instead of by what the firm can sustain, the firm ends up funding them with a line of credit.
Overhead
Staff, office space, research tools, software and marketing grow steadily, and few firms review them as a whole.
What Highline does for a law firm.
Practical, one-on-one work with Matt DeHart, built around your own numbers.
Cash flow planning
Build a forward view of operating cash that accounts for case timelines, payroll, taxes and partner draws.
Profit by practice area
See which practice areas, fee types and matters carry the firm once their true costs are counted.
Overhead review
Go through staffing, rent, technology and marketing line by line and decide what earns its place.
Partner compensation
Tie draws and distributions to what the firm actually produces and can afford to pay.
Your firm administrator lives in the numbers. We work with them too.
Most firm administrators were promoted for being great with people, then handed the books. Highline gives them the financial footing the role demands, and gives the owner a partner who speaks the same language.
What firm administrators take away
- How to read the reports. What the profit and loss statement and balance sheet are saying, and what to flag.
- A monthly review rhythm. A short, repeatable check on cash, collections and spending.
- Better conversations with the owner. Clear numbers in place of gut feel when decisions come up.
- Confidence with vendors and lenders. Knowing which costs are worth questioning.
Three steps, at a pace your schedule can handle.
Every meeting is one-on-one with Matt, by Zoom or phone, and scheduled around your client and patient hours.
A 45-minute consultation
We talk through where the practice is today and what is keeping you up at night. There is no sales pitch. If Highline isn't the right fit, you'll still leave with a clear next step.
A financial analysis
We go through your numbers together: cash flow, revenue, margins and expenses. Then we meet again to walk through what they show and where the real opportunities are.
Ongoing CFO support
We meet regularly to review the numbers, make decisions and keep the plan moving. You and your office manager gain a finance lead who knows the practice.
Common questions from law firm owners.
Do you work with solo attorneys and small firms?
Yes. Solo and small firms are the ones least likely to have a finance lead of their own, and often gain the most from having one part-time.
Do you handle trust accounting or IOLTA compliance?
No. Client trust accounting and bar compliance stay with you, your bookkeeper and your CPA. Matt works on the firm's operating finances: cash flow, profitability, overhead and compensation.
Our firm works mostly on contingency. Can you still help?
Yes. Contingency work makes planning more important, not less. Matt helps you plan operating cash and case costs around income that arrives unevenly.
Get a clear financial picture of your firm.
Pick a time that works around your schedule. Bring your office manager if you like.