Muriel Raggi

I attribute much of my success to my support system. I have been incredibly fortunate to have people in my life — my husband, my children, my parents, and my late sister — who believed in me even during moments when I doubted myself.

They consistently reminded me of my potential, my resilience, and the bigger vision I was working toward. Building a career in high-stakes litigation and later co-founding a law firm requires sacrifice, perspective, and endurance, and I do not take for granted the people who helped me carry that weight along the way.

Their belief in me taught me the importance of building the same kind of trust and support for my clients, my colleagues, and the people around me.

Early in my career, while working in Big Law after having my son, another attorney gave me advice that stayed with me ever since. He told me: “It’s okay to give 90%. Your 90% is still better than most people’s 100%, so save that other 10% for yourself and your family.”

At the time, I was working in an environment where perfectionism and nonstop performance were the norm, and that advice completely changed the way I thought about sustainability, balance, and long-term success.

It taught me that excellence does not require self-destruction. Some of the most effective leaders are the ones who learn how to protect their energy, prioritize what matters, and build careers that are sustainable as well as successful.

Dream bigger than people expect you to.

For a long time, women entering demanding professions like law were told there was a ceiling — especially if they also wanted a family and a full life outside of work. I do not believe that anymore. The profession is evolving, technology has changed the way we work, and there are more opportunities than ever to build a successful career without sacrificing who you are personally.

My advice is to stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of strategy, resilience, and sustainability. You do not have to choose between being ambitious and being present for the people you love. You can build both a meaningful career and a meaningful life.

Most importantly, do not wait for permission to take up space. Walk into the room prepared, confident, and willing to work hard — and let your substance speak for itself.

One of the biggest challenges — and opportunities — has been learning the business side of building a law firm. I spent years training in high-level litigation environments and learning from exceptional lawyers, but founding a firm requires an entirely different skill set. You are not only practicing law; you are building a business, a culture, a brand, and long-term client relationships all at the same time.

Fortunately, I have an incredible partner in Kenny Oh. We worked together before co-founding KOR Law, and one of our greatest strengths is our ability to challenge each other, collaborate strategically, and continue learning together as we grow the firm.

I also think the legal industry is in the middle of a major shift. Clients today want more than technical legal skills. They want responsiveness, strategy, efficiency, transparency, and trusted advisors who genuinely understand the pressures they are facing. That creates enormous opportunities for modern boutique firms that are sophisticated, agile, and relationship-driven.

That is exactly the kind of firm we are building at KOR Law.

One of the values that matters most to me — both professionally and personally — is remembering that clients are people first.

In business and in law, it is easy to reduce situations to numbers, transactions, or bottom lines. But behind every dispute, business challenge, or legal issue is a person, a family, a livelihood, or something someone spent years building.

That perspective has shaped the way I practice law and the kind of firm we are building at KOR Law. I believe you provide better counsel, better strategy, and better outcomes when you take the time to truly understand the human side of what is at stake.

Relentless advocacy and compassion are not mutually exclusive. In my experience, the strongest client relationships are built on trust, communication, and genuinely caring about the people you represent — not just the case itself.