Marianne Marchesi is on a mission to simplify legal services. With an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for people, she’s part of a new generation of professionals determined to do business differently.
Marianne is the Founder and Principal Lawyer of Legalite – a law firm offering fixed fees, a clear scope of work, outsourced legal counsel and proactive advice. Her vision is ambitious in an industry renowned for its deeply entrenched way of doing things – not to mention the complexity of its services!
Forging a new path
Marianne worked in traditional firms for a decade before launching her own. Although a specialist in commercial law, she’d never run a business and there were few people in her network she could ask for support. But she was increasingly frustrated by a business model that billed by the hour and didn’t let her get close to clients. She knew there had to be a better way to serve them – and that she would need to lead the way.
Today, Legalite is thriving. The firm has a growing base of small businesses, entrepreneurs, and start-ups, with a specialist niche in franchising. As a business owner herself, clients find Marianne relatable – so much so, that they voted Legalite as Australia’s Best Law Firm for two years in a row in the NAB Professional Services Awards. She is inspired by helping businesses grow and scale – a philosophy that aligns with the mission of her accounting firm, Propeller.
Marianne and Katie first connected at a networking event over their shared business values, and now have a close working relationship. They often work jointly to give businesses holistic support. Katie and her team can help clients incorporate, then hand over to Marianne and her team for the legal set-up, like shareholders agreements.
Looking over the Horizon
Mariane is an entrepreneur at heart. She recently launched Horizons – an innovative business model inspired by Airbnb, Uber and franchise models. Other principal-level lawyers can ‘join’ Legalite, and access Marianne’s resources and business acumen whilst growing their own practice. Marianne’s mentorship is certain to produce more entrepreneurial lawyers who can ‘run their own race’ and change the legal landscape for the better.
