The Kelly Firm, LLC Proves Why Small Firms Beat Big Law

February 26, 2026 Joe Stephens

Three sisters, Lauren, Erica and Gianna Kelly, switch sides, from being defense lawyers to giving a voice to plaintiffs. The result? The creation of The Kelly Firm, LLC and a transformation of the medical malpractice space.

In this episode of Between the Briefs, the trio joins hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens to explore the full story.

What You’ll Learn:

How to leverage defense litigation experience on the plaintiff side
The optimal case vetting framework for medical malpractice litigation
Why pre-suit negotiation timelines differ between practice areas
How to scale your firm without compromising on client connection and culture
The strategic deployment of AI and legal technology in resource-constrained firms
Building firm culture around distributed trust and complementary skill sets
Why smaller firms deliver measurable value that scale cannot replicate

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

About the Contributors

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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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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