On the path to becoming a lawyer, entrepreneurship is rarely taught as part of the process – so when it comes to building a successful law firm, an attorney is required to develop a new, specialized skill set from scratch. While many fail to navigate this drastic change and struggle to get their enterprise off the ground, Gregory Ward defies the odds.
From operating out of a modest 200 sq. ft office space, Gregory Ward now leads a worldwide team of over 200 professionals at The Ward Law Group, which has secured over $500 million for its clients and represents a versatile, fast-developing organization. Founded in 2012, with the help of co-founder Jany Martinez-Ward, The Ward Law Group embodies a unique mission to defend the rights of Spanish-speaking accident victims.
Recognized as a top-tier personal injury firm in the state of Florida, it has grown consistently, at an annual rate of 50% for the past ten years. A major contributing factor to this overwhelming success is Greg’s astute ability to identify growth opportunities and strategically steer the firm through difficulties. To this day, he remains committed to sharing his experiential knowledge by mentoring emerging business owners to achieve their own aspirations and goals.
Greg and Jany Martinez Ward, Founders of The Ward Law Group
Greg’s leadership abilities extend beyond the realm of business operations. Greg and his wife, Jany, participate in a range of social initiatives dedicated to improving the lives of Hispanic communities. The Ward Law Group’s charitable actions are not limited by the US borders, with various international charitable efforts, including sponsoring schools and orphanages, as well as providing meals and access to healthcare for low-income families.
“We believe that our firm is unique in many ways, including the fact that 95% of our client-facing staff are able to speak Spanish,” Greg says. “We are actively filling the legal services gap faced by the Hispanic community by providing them with dedicated legal representation.”
Behind the success of The Ward Law Group, Greg’s resilience has been tested multiple times, such as when his original business ran into difficulties. He also experienced personal tragedies and financial setbacks. Even while facing such huge challenges, Greg drew strength from his Christian faith. With Jany’s help, they launched The Ward Law Group.
“Our debt had reached $465,000, and I ended up sleeping on a couch,” Greg recounts. “Yet, at that point, I knew that at least, there was nowhere to go but upward.”
Since its inception, the firm has set its sights on operating with an underserved niche – members of an immigrant demographic who often face difficulty with language barriers and may be unaware of their legal rights.
Continuously learning and searching for new avenues to grow and develop, Greg soon found that his business acumen had surpassed his legal expertise. He continues: “Most law schools teach everything that could potentially go wrong in business, but they don’t teach students how to scale a company when things go right. I’m sure many people wish to grow their law firms but simply don’t know where to begin.”
Today, Greg hosts mentorship classes with other legal professionals to supply the education that seems to be lacking in this space. He emphasizes the importance of cultivating robust teams and helping other firms scale adequately. By facilitating daily and weekly meetings, the Ward Law Group has become one of the most successful across the state – reflecting Greg’s well-suited position to empower others through his well-rounded knowledge.
Gregory Ward, Co-Founder of The Ward Law Group
Other than his array of legal achievements, Greg’s community-wide impact has led him to become an in-demand speaker on both business and faith-based topics.
Having recently expanded into New York, the Ward Law Group has continued its trajectory of growth. As a resilient, compassionate, and empowering business leader, he represents a dedicated visionary leaving a lasting impact on the world around him.
