Bonnie Phillips & Stefan Manche, Coulter Legal (Part One)

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 41 (Part One)  Guests: Bonnie Phillips & Stefan Manche Business Name: Coulter Legal Website: https://www.coulterlegal.com.au/ So we were talking about why some firms grow and others fall apart… and honestly it usually comes down to one thing. Not strategy. Not marketing. Just whether they actually have the right people in the room. In this episode of Remarkable Regional Business, host Caleb Maxwell sits down with Bonnie Phillips and Stefan Manche from Coulter Legal in Geelong. With offices across Geelong, Torquay, Barwon Heads, and Melbourne, Coulter Legal has grown into a mid sized firm of more than eighty people while staying deeply connected to the communities it serves. Bonnie and Stefan share how the firm has grown through major workforce change, including rapid expansion during COVID and the shift to hybrid work. They unpack what it takes to scale a professional services team without stretching people to the point where quality slips, and why hiring for culture is often more important than hiring for technical ability. Topics Covered / Growing from Geelong to a multi office firm across Victoria How Coulter Legal expanded beyond its regional roots while maintaining strong community connections. / Hiring for cultural fit and capability Why recruitment is treated as high stakes, and how cultural alignment protects both team wellbeing and client outcomes. / Scaling a legal practice sustainably How the family and relationship law team grew from four lawyers to around thirty while maintaining service quality. / Building systems that support people and clients How resourcing, support staff, and pairing senior and junior lawyers helps manage workload and maintain standards. / Leading culture in a hybrid workplace How communication rhythms, team meetings, and intentional connection help maintain culture across multiple offices. This is Part One of the conversation with Bonnie Phillips and Stefan Manche. Go to Part Two next to hear how the firm approaches leadership, workplace design, and modern client experience. // Links https://www.coulterlegal.com.au/