Terry M. Isner

Owner/CEO
Branding & Business Development

302.519.8895
Why I Love My Job
The fact that my job is to be innovative, creative, playfully strategic and visually hypersensitive regarding everything I do is like never having to grow up.

Professionally Speaking

A marketing philosopher, brand consultant and dynamic speaker for the professional services industry, Terry M. Isner is known as “the empathy man” because of his humanistic approach to business strategy. Whereas many business professionals overlook compassion as part of the branding equation, Terry believes humanism is essential to a business’ success in today’s socially conscious environment. As Terry says, “If humanity gets left out of the board room, nobody wins.”

In the world of professional services marketing, Terry fulfills a niche as a business strategist with an extensive background as an award-winning creative director and artist. This unique mix of creative and analytical thinking makes him more likely to set trends than follow them. In fact, Terry often draws inspiration from other industries to formulate new approaches to professional services marketing, PR and branding. He also stays current on the latest trends in technology to devise ways to leverage innovation to advance brands. And with his flair for showmanship, his presentations have been described as inspiring, fast-paced and entertaining.

Terry’s philosophical approach to business is just that – a philosophy. Bringing concepts such as creativity, inclusion and compassion into corporate culture is a reflection of the world we live in. Firms that fail to be cognizant of such issues risk damage to their reputations and devaluation of their brands. Terry helps preserve brand equity by helping firms adapt to these changing times and sharing their unique stories in creative ways across multiple channels, including print, digital and social media. He also uses his passion and expertise to empower marketers to be effective agents of change within their own organizations and help drive their firm’s sales, branding and culture.

Increasingly, employees desire an employer that emphasizes a culture of diversity and compassion. This trend is accelerating as significant generational shifts ignite change in the workplace. Terry specializes in helping firms maintain a cohesive culture and navigate generational change through creative internal campaigns, unique team-building activities and community engagement opportunities that foster camaraderie at all levels. He also advises on external messaging and brand revisions when significant changes occur – such as leadership succession – to ensure client relationships and firm reputations are maintained.

Lawdragon top 100 recipient 2016 - 2023

SPEAKING & PODCASTS

PODCASTS

“Leadership Redefined: Navigating the New Norms of Remote Work" Podcast interview
The Recruitment Show with Lewis Maleh, July 3, 2023

“Building an Inclusive Workplace" Podcast interview
ALA's Legal Management Talk, June 15, 2023

“Leading During an Economic Downturn” Podcast interview
The Revenue Marketing Report with Camela Thompson, April 20, 2023

Embracing Humanity in Business Relationships" Podcast interview
Real Relationships Real Revenue with Mo Bunnell, March 14, 2023

“Your Brand Needs To Be People First, Not Profit First" Podcast interview
Evolution of Brand with Jason Cercone, August 9, 2022

Creating an Empathetic Workplace" Podcast interview
Your Brand Amplified with Anika Jackson, June 28, 2022

Empathy, kindness, and being your whole self Podcast interview
What's the Value with Terry McMullen, May 23, 2022

“Creating Better Places to Work” Podcast interview
BrandAPeel with Shannon Peel, May 18, 2022

“Boundless Culture for Law Firms” Podcast interview
Be That Lawyer with Fretzin, May 20, 2021

"Powered Up PR Marketing" Podcast interview
Lawyer Business Advantage with Alay Yajnik, March 2, 2021

 

SPEAKING

“Empathy and Culture Have a Seat at the Table” 
NAMWOLF Diversity and Leadership Conference, March 5, 2022

“Adapting to Sociocultural Changes Alongside Your Clients"  Bold Bites Event
ALA Annual Conference, October 5, 2021

“Empathy and Culture Have a Seat at the Table” 
ALA Annual Conference, October 4, 2021

"Public Relations Role as a Revenue Generator Post 2020: Integrating PR into your firm’s Business Development Strategy"
Legal Marketing Association Southwest Virtual Conference, May 20, 2021

"Vulnerability is Innovative Marketing” Panelist
The NAMWOLF 30 Webinar, June 17, 2020

“Your Firm's Culture in a Post-COVID-19 World”  Panelist
Managing Partner Forum Webinar, June 10, 2020

“Stranger Things: Protecting Your Firm’s Marketing Efforts in the Upside Down.” Panelist
NAMWOLF 2019 Annual Meeting and Law Firm Expo, September 24, 2019

“Marketing — The Next Generation"
Association for Legal Administrators – Des Moines, September 18, 2019

"Keynote speaker: Back to the Future. Marketing - The Next Generation."
Baker Tilly Marketing Summit – September 17, 2019

"Integrating Public Relations into your firm’s Business Development Strategy"
Legal Marketing Association – Southwest Conference, September 12, 2019

"Marketing and Business Development Workshop"
Managing Partner Forum (MPF) – 2019 Leadership Conference, May 1, 2019

"Scandal and the Brand: Strategies from Adoption to Litigation and Beyond" Panelist
NAMWOLF 2019 Conference, February 18, 2019

“Humanity Isn' a Trend – It's the Key to Digital Marketing and Branding Success”
Legal Marketing Association – Ohio City Group, February 6, 2019
Legal Marketing Association – Detroit City Group, February 26, 2019

“Accept It. Culture and Branding Are All That Matter”
NAMWOLF 2020 Diversity & Leadership Conference, February 22, 2020
Legal Marketing Association – Southeast Conference, September 26, 2019
Legal Marketing Association – Mid-Atlantic Conference, November 1, 2018

“Humanity Isn' a Trend – It's the Key to Digital Marketing and Branding Success”
Association for Accounting Marketing – Chicago Chapter, June 6, 2019
Legal Marketing Association – National Conference, April 10, 2018
Legal Marketing Association – Southeast Pre-Conference,September 26, 2018
Legal Marketing Association – Chicago City Group,November 15, 2018

“The Culture Conundrum: Culture as Strategy in Legal Business Development” Panelist
Marketing Partner Forum – Annual Conference, January 26, 2018

“Build a Better Sandbox” Panelist
Legal Marketing Association – North East Conference, Philadelphia, November 10, 2017

"Get Your Brand High on Tech"
Legal Marketing Technology Conference Midwest – Chicago, September 26, 2017

“Are Law Firms Ready to Use Gamification to Improve Productivity?”
Managing Partner Summit – New York City, May 23, 2017

“Keynote Presentation: Highlights of the MPF Law Firm Leadership and Governance Survey”
Managing Partner Forum (MPF) – 2017 Leadership Conference, May 4, 2017

“Keynote Presentation: Highlights of the MPF Law Firm Leadership and Governance Survey”
Managing Partner Forum (MPF) – 2016 Leadership Conference, May 5, 2016

“Who Are You Really? Getting to the Heart of Your Law Firm Brand”
Legal Marketing Association – National Conference, April 12, 2016

Think Tank Live! Stop Being Anti-Social: Why Hasn’t the Legal Industry Embraced Social Media
Like the Rest of Us?

Association of Legal Administrators – Orange County Chapter, September 30, 2015

“Social Media Guide to Branding”
Legal Marketing Association – Southeast Conference, Atlanta, September 16, 2015

“Stop Being Anti-Social: Why Hasn't the Legal Industry Embraced Social Media Like the Rest of Us?”
Legal Marketing Association – Texas Chapters: Houston, Austin & San Antonio and Dallas, May 12-14, 2015

“Latest trends in Marketing & Business Development”
Managing Partner Forum (MPF) – 2015 Leadership Conference, May 7, 2015

“It's All about Storytelling”
Managing Partner Forum (MPF) – 2015 Leadership Conference, May 7, 2015

“Advancing Communication: The Story of the Value” Panelist
Legal Marketing Association – National Conference, April 14, 2015

“Branding Your IP Firm” Panelist
Association of Intellectual Property Firms – Washington, DC, September 30, 2014

Importance of Social Media in Law Firms” Panelist
Association of Legal Administrators – Orange County Chapter, September 24, 2014

Best Marketing Practices for Attorneys Using Social Media, Content Marketing and Digital Media
JAMS, Inc., September 17, 2014

What Are Today’s Firms Doing, and What Say the Experts?” Panelist
Managing Partner Forum (MPF) – 2014 Leadership Conference, May 8, 2014

The Best Practices and Sharpest Insights from the Midwest Your Honor Awards” Moderator
Legal Marketing Association – Midwest Chapter, Chicago, March 18, 2014

Understanding Analytics: Turning Statistics into Strategy
Legal Marketing Association – Virginia Chapter, 2012

Favorite Interests

Scuba diving, surfing, painting, traveling, watching my three daughters become their own individuals, gardening, and sharing our beach town with my husband, our friends and family.

Personally Speaking

When he’s not lending his ingenuity to client campaigns and leading Jaffe through the changing legal marketing environment, Terry can often be found at his easel, bringing a different kind of vision to life. Through his years of experience as a painter, he has honed his ability to communicate even the most complex and abstract ideas visually. It is this same artistic eye that gives Terry an inventive perspective on legal marketing.

He also is an avid waterman and enjoys scuba diving, riding the waves and paddle-boarding near his home in the oceanfront community of Rehoboth Beach, DE. It is in the water where creative inspiration often strikes Terry. He also enjoys giving back by supporting charitable causes such as CAMP Rehoboth, the Special Olympics, HeART of the Community and the American Heart Association.