Cheryl Bame leads a team of seasoned public relations professionals at Bame Public Relations who implement communications programs for law firms and legal service providers involving: media relations, social media, editorial nominations, speaking engagements and other strategic programs to bolster professional reputations.
Tell us a little about how you got started in the industry, and how you got to where you are now.
As a former TV news journalist, I leveraged my knowledge of the news business to enable lawyers, law firms and legal service providers to best engage with all the platforms available. I founded Bame PR in 2005 after my former boss and mentor in PR retired. I set out to build a PR agency that focused exclusively on professional services firms.
Is there an achievement or contribution that you are most proud of?
First, my client loyalty. I’m fortunate to collaborate with amazing firms, their marketing and communications teams, and of course lawyers, general counsel and executives. Equally important, I am proud of the growth and longevity of my business. I have to thank LMA for providing an opportunity for me to connect with clients and people who have become life-long friends. And I have to mention my husband Nat Slavin. I would not have met him if not for LMA.
What is your passion outside of work (or a favorite hobby)?
I am a fitness fanatic who loves to walk, ride a Peloton bike, box and practice Pilates. I know the importance and value of physical and mental health and I incorporate all of those activities every week. It makes me feel balanced, empowered and youthful.
What’s helped keep you/your team motivated through the past year?
Our team has been working together for 10 years and are all motivated by and truly care about not only our clients’ success but also each other’s success. We stay motivated by constantly challenging ourselves to deliver on our promise to always find ways to add value to our client relationships, even when asked to do something beyond the scope of our engagement. We are all passionate about PR and love what we do.
What new things have you/your team tried recently?
We are keeping an eye on new outlets like Substack as top journalists leave traditional media and become self-publishers. We are also always on the lookout for new industry focused media outlets that have a smaller audience but have high-levels of engagement. There’s a lot of truth to the old adage: quality over quantity. We want to make sure our clients have opportunities that range from the New York Times and Wall Street Journal to industry specific publications and even more focused platforms on discreet topics of interest to their clients.
What trends are you seeing in the industry?
Podcasts are at the top of that list. It’s not new, but there is increasing interest in being a guest on podcasts as well as law firms creating their own podcasts. The ability for a leading expert to speak on something they are passionate about, inform clients on things they should be thinking about, and the variety of formats all mean that podcasts are here to stay. Of course, podcasts will evolve and change as a new technology or platform emerges that will make it even easier for firms to broadcast their messages and engage current and potential clients.
Cheryl & her dog Ryder at Dog Beach in Huntington Beach, CA
Cheryl with her boxing coach Jason James.