Why Small Firms Can Move Faster Than Big Law ft. Nicole Brenecki

September 24, 2026 Adrian Cea

Personal injury law has a lot of big promises, big ads and big firms. Nicole Brenecki is more interested in what actually works.

In this episode of Between the Briefs, Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Nicole, Founding Partner at Jodré Brenecki LLP, for a candid conversation on personal injury litigation, boutique firm strategy, client service, New York court delays, fraud scrutiny, AI and why efficiency matters more than size.

What You'll Learn:

Why firm size can become a marketing gimmick when service breaks down
Why Nicole’s firm files suit on most cases immediately after intake
How small firms can use speed and coordination as a competitive advantage
Why New York’s fragmented court system makes client expectation-setting so important
How multilingual advocacy helps clients better understand the legal process
Why hiring for intelligence and instinct can matter more than resume polish
How Nicole uses AI for narrow tasks without giving up the personal touch
Why judges with overloaded dockets need clear, concise arguments
Why legal professionals need to cut through inefficiency instead of building careers around it

The crux of this episode: Building a firm with zero capital into a small but sharp personal injury practice that handles hundreds of cases with speed and intention.

Want to watch this episode of Between the Briefs instead? Get the full video on YouTube.

About the Contributors

Adrian Cea

Adrian Cea is Steno's Social Media Manager, leading content strategy, audience engagement, and digital brand-building across platforms. He also produces and co-hosts Between the Briefs, Steno's podcast covering the intersection of legal technology, court reporting, and the future of litigation. With a background spanning content creation, field marketing, and sales at companies like Sell Better and Chili Piper, Adrian brings a multi-disciplined lens to making complex legal tech topics accessible and engaging.

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Joe Stephens

Joe Stephens, J.D., is Steno's Director of Legal Solutions as well as a Clinical Lecturer at Texas Tech University School of Law. With over 15 years of experience in criminal defense and public service, he founded and led Texas' largest rural public defender office, which serves a 12-county area. A graduate of The University of Texas School of Law (cum laude) and Vanderbilt University (B.A.), Stephens currently serves as a Board Member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association (TCDLA) and sits on multiple State Bar of Texas committees. His expertise spans the intersection of legal practice and technological innovation in the justice system.

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