Umbrella Legal Marketing | Lanna Barrison

About

“The man who stops advertising to save money is like the man who stops the clock to save time.”

Henry Ford

Our Story

Umbrella’s co-founders have a combined total of over 25 years of experience working in the legal industry. Prior to forming their own marketing firm, Lanna and Dan both worked for one of the largest and most respected legal information companies in the world. They have devoted their entire careers to helping lawyers improve their business efficiencies, legal marketing and client development strategies. They have seen the limited marketing options available to legal professionals, and knew they could offer something bigger and better. They handpicked a team of talented and uniquely qualified individuals with a variety of skill sets and backgrounds, in order to produce better results in every respect. The Umbrella team of creators is comprised of intelligent, talented and creative innovators at the top of their games, who are skilled at interpreting and reflecting each client’s wishes in all aspects of a marketing strategy.

Umbrella Legal Marketing offers a boutique experience in brand building. Based on a foundation of true partnership, customization and comprehensiveness we consistently deliver excellent results for our clients. We are a small company, and we pride ourselves on our personal service. We only work with a certain number of clients at a time, in order to ensure that each client always receives individual attention. With Umbrella, you won’t be lost in the crowd.

Co-Managing Partner

Lanna Barrison,

LL.B

Lanna is a lawyer by training and a legal marketer by passion. She began her professional career at a well-known mid-sized Toronto law firm and for more than 14 years has been immersed in the legal industry, including her work with one of the largest and most respected global providers of legal information in the world. During her tenure there, Lanna held a variety of roles where she developed a strong understanding of the business of law.

As a lawyer, legal marketer and business owner, Lanna brings a unique point of view and comprehensive knowledge to the multi-faceted, complex and highly-competitive legal sector. Lanna is meticulous and analytical with a creative eye and proven aesthetic flair. She is a strategic thinker by nature, which when coupled with her varied and extensive experience proves to be a powerful combination.

When Lanna isn’t helping lawyers with their brand and business development, she’s hiding from her family looking to catch up on some much needed sleep and/or Arrested Development reruns. Lanna foolishly married a criminal defence lawyer with whom she has two beautiful children and a shee-shee-poo-poo shih tzu. Lanna is a zealous advocate for narcolepsy awareness and is the author of an award winning blog on the subject. Lanna’s big heart drives success.

Email: lanna@umbrellalegalmarketing.com
Phone: 416-560-8806

Co-Managing Partner

Dan Davidson

An established industry professional with over 15 years of experience in the legal and technology sectors, Dan has a unique perspective and in-depth understanding of the legal marketing landscape in Canada.

His avant-garde sense of creativity and non-linear approach to seemingly straight forward situations allows him to help his clients standout in a saturated market. Dan’s clients appreciate his passion for challenging the status quo, his astute business acumen and his drive for positively impacting a firm’s bottom line.

Dan lives in Oakville, humbly and happily taking his place in a four-tiered family pecking order that goes beautiful wife, spirited daughter, moderately-intelligent Boston Terrier and him.

Dan is an sub-average golfer, a bit of a wine snob and an extremely enthusiastic Jays fan. Go Jays!

Email: dan@umbrellalegalmarketing.com
Phone: 416-356-4672

Public Relations & Community Marketing

Carol Endicott

With more than nine years of media and influencer relations, marketing communications, social media engagement and event management experience, Carol manages Umbrella Legal Marketing Public Relations & Community Marketing client programs.

Carol’s extensive consumer, corporate and retail PR background includes in-house as well as agency experience and she has worked on various local and global brands. With her extensive experience in media relations and strategic planning, Carol is a self-described multi-tasking ace and passionate about all-things communication.

When Carol isn’t developing powerful PR programs, she’s throwing around weights in the gym while procrastinating doing any cardio, a proud cottage “weekend warrior” in the summertime, a devoted Leafs fan since 1992, and she is a dedicated PVR’er of The Walking Dead and Games of Thrones.

Lead Developer

Derek Leung

As Lead Developer, Derek spends time on pushing pixels, and working with the team on crafting awesome digital experiences for our clients.

Coming from a background in design and then moving on to front-end development after graduating College, Derek has always enjoyed the creative process in addition to the developmental work that goes into creating any digital work. He primarily speaks HTML5/CSS3/JavaScript and enjoys working with the latest tools and frameworks that emerge through the fast-growing world of code.

When he’s not designing or developing, Derek loves to travel and occasionally likes to pretend he’s a professional photographer.

Director of Digital Communications and Legal Content

Kamila Polus

Kamila is Umbrella’s digital communications guru and legal content expert, helping lawyers and law firms maximize their online presence, build client relationships, engage with their audience, and become authoritative sources in their practice areas.

Prior to joining Umbrella, Kamila worked in private practice for several years as a labour and employment lawyer focused primarily on human rights in the workplace. Kamila also worked as a project manager organizing large-scale LSUC accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) conferences for lawyers, and has consistently contributed to a number of well-known legal publications and resources.

Kamila has always brought creative, out of the box thinking to her various roles in the legal industry. As Director, Digital Communications and Legal Content, Kamila has been able to combine her passion for legal writing with her forward-thinking nature to guide lawyers and firms in the online and social media world, an area that modern practitioners cannot afford to ignore.

Kamila is a proud Hamiltonian, eating her way through the city’s exploding restaurant scene. In her spare time, she likes to cook elaborate meals for herself and her partner, practice regular yoga to combat the effects of all the food, and explore the world/collect stamps in her passport. Kamila is currently legitimizing her long-standing love of wine through completing her Wine Specialist Certificate at George Brown College.

Email: kamila@umbrellalegalmarketing.com

Account Manager

Natalie Maizlin

Natalie Maizlin completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree with honours at York University and later went on to earning her diploma as a paralegal. She has many years of legal experience as a paralegal where she worked for a personal injury firm. Following that, she worked as an in-house law clerk for a fast-pasted corporation, which prides its self on being a leader in the consumer loyalty program industry.

After many years in the legal industry she took time off to be with her family and to raise her 4 beautiful children ranging in ages from 2 to 11 years old. Raising her 4 kids has made her a master at managing deadlines, juggling multiple schedules and keeping organized.

When she isn’t working hard at keeping her clients needs met and her co-workers organized, she’s volunteering at her kids school events and classroom activities, cheering them on at soccer, basketball and karate, and most recently taking up skiing lessons to try and keep up with her boys!

Manager, Client Engagement

Jake Scott

Jake Scott is a husband, father, reader, writer, skier, music enthusiast, movie snob, gamer, and yoyoist. He lives north of Toronto with his lovely wife and his two beautiful daughters.

After getting his degree in English literature from York University, he pursued work in the totally related field of information technology. Jake soon began working in the systems department of a large retail chain. There, he enjoyed working with both hardware and software, thriving on troubleshooting, problem-solving, streamlining, teaching, and documenting. He eventually came to specialize in systems security, earning his CISSP certification, and leadership of the security team. While in this role, Jake enjoyed planning and designing security measures for systems in development, teaching and training associates on company security protocols, and documenting and maintaining Sarbanes Oxley and C-SOX compliance.

After taking time off to raise his girls (did he mention they were beautiful?), Jake decided that what he needed was a new direction. His new career path seemed clear, his next step obvious: his future was in legal marketing. Thus, he found a home here at Umbrella, where he is happily embarking on a new set of challenges and opportunities.

What Our Clients Say About Us

I could not say enough good things about Umbrella. My firm has been working with Umbrella for several years and everyone there has been great to work with. Thanks to Umbrella my firm has had very positive results in developing our reach online and in social media. There is no doubt that our practice has grown thanks to Umbrella. They are good people who do great work.

David Derfel

Derfel Injury Lawyers

“Umbrella Legal Marketing assisted enormously in transitioning and re-branding Petker Campbell Postnikoff. Dan was an invaluable resource, with long-range strategic advice, hands-on practical design ideas and a willingness to work with us to give shape to our vision. Lanna was OK, too. It was refreshing to work closely with talented professionals who clearly care about the service they provide, the product they deliver and the people they work with. We collaborated with ULM to make sure that our web presence was an expression of what we represent as lawyers, not a modified template solution that we had to make ourselves fit into. Try ULM if you want to stand out.”

Richard Campbell

Personal Injury Lawyer

You know the mirror that makes you thinner, the friend that makes you smarter, the circumstances that make you act better? That is Umbrella Marketing. They find the essence of the best you and show it to the world. They call themselves Umbrella, which makes me think of protection from rain, but really they bring sunshine into your life. They have a great team, are wonderful and timely to work with. I highly recommend them.

Sue Carlyle

Carlyle Peterson Lawyers LLP

“Dan, Lanna, and the team at Umbrella have been great to work with (even when we have not made it easy for them to work with us). We are extremely pleased with the website they produced (and their ongoing services) and have seen tangible results in terms of an increase in traffic, lead generation and new clients.”

Peter A. Hertz

Duncan, Linton LLP

“Since I hired the Umbrella Legal Marketing, my expectations have been exceeded.

When I first met ULM, I really wasn’t interested in online marketing, or much marketing for that matter. However, after several meetings, I decided to give them a try. As a result, my online presence has skyrocketed and I am dominating the local market.

What I like best about ULM is the balance of their service. For several years, I went with a high profile “national” webpage developer. While the product was very good, initially, there was no personal follow-up. With ULM, I get the best of both worlds: high quality and professional development along with tremendous individual attention.

I recommend ULM to everyone, but my competitors!”

Jason Howie

Certified Specialist in Family Law

From Our Blog

The Importance of Balancing On-Site Content and Off-Site Content

Sep 25th, 2018

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Umbrella Legal Marketing

Your law firm’s website is your digital calling card. A website that is up to date, optimized, and regularly updated is a critical element in positioning your…

Marketing Yourself As A Trusted Resource

Sep 10th, 2018

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Umbrella Legal Marketing

Putting a well-organized marketing plan into place can be difficult for lawyers. Lawyers are often extremely experienced in certain areas of the law, and it’s easy to…

Law Society Calls for Hearing into Marketing Practices of Infamous Toronto Personal Injury Firm

Aug 23rd, 2018

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Umbrella Legal Marketing

We’ve previously blogged about the Law Society of Ontario’s (LSO) scrutiny of the marketing practices of lawyers and firms in Ontario, and the discipline that may result…