LMA 40th Anniversary Member Spotlight Series: Brittany Lewis

As part of our celebration of LMA’s 40th anniversary, we’re shining a light on the individuals who make our community so vibrant. In this Q&A, we sit down with Brittany Lewis, marketing manager (department head) at Bell Nunnally, to learn how she got started in legal marketing, ways the LMA community has influenced her career and her take on the future of the profession.

Tell us about your career journey and how you became a legal marketing professional.

I graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2008 with an English degree — right in the midst of the recession — so jobs were scarce. I was fortunate to land a temporary placement as a marketing assistant at a law firm in San Diego, where I quickly discovered my passion for this field. That role gave me a comprehensive foundation in what a marketing and business development department does within a law firm, from proposal writing to event coordination to client relationship management.

In 2015, I made a bold decision to relocate to Texas on a whim, drawn by the state's robust legal market, abundant opportunities and lower cost of living. I spent a few years working at another firm, first as a marketing events coordinator and then as a business development coordinator, continuing to build my expertise. In 2018, I found my professional home at Bell Nunnally, where I've been able to deepen my experience in a leadership role in an environment that truly values marketing as a strategic function.

How has being part of the LMA community influenced your professional journey?

LMA has been transformational to my career as a legal marketing professional. Honestly, it's difficult to capture everything this organization has meant to me. I'm not sure there's another profession where you have thousands of peers genuinely invested in your success — supporting you through challenges, celebrating your wins, and continuously sharing knowledge and best practices. The collaborative spirit within LMA is simply unmatched, and it's elevated not just my skills but my entire approach to the profession.

As LMA celebrates 40 years, what role do you think the organization has played in shaping the profession?

LMA has been instrumental in legitimizing and professionalizing legal marketing over the past four decades. The organization has elevated our profession from an administrative function to a strategic business discipline. Through its comprehensive educational programming and networking opportunities, LMA has created a framework for professional development that's truly unparalleled. Perhaps most importantly, it's fostered a culture of knowledge-sharing that has raised the bar for what legal marketing can and should be.

This month's editorial theme is business development. How does it connect to your work or perspective on the profession?

Business development is at the heart of what I do at Bell Nunnally. I genuinely enjoy serving as a strategic partner to our attorneys, whether I'm coaching them on individual business development initiatives or conceptualizing firm-wide activities that create meaningful client and referral source connections.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is helping attorneys develop their business development skills. They're exceptional lawyers, but they aren't trained to think like marketers or salespeople. Bridging that gap — helping them feel comfortable and confident in networking, relationship-building, and articulating their value — is both challenging and incredibly fulfilling.

What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges for legal marketers in the years ahead?

The biggest challenge and opportunity can be summed up in two letters: AI. Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how we approach everything from market research and content creation to client targeting and data analysis. The challenge lies in learning to integrate these tools effectively while maintaining the strategic thinking and human touch that make marketing truly impactful. The opportunity is that AI can handle many time-consuming tactical tasks, freeing us to focus on higher-level strategy, creativity and relationship-building — the areas where human expertise is irreplaceable.

What advice would you share with the next generation of legal marketing professionals?

Get involved! While LMA membership has been foundational to my career, I gained exponentially more when I started actively volunteering. Working alongside talented professionals on the LMA Southwest Communications Committee, Dallas Local Steering Committee and LMA Southwest Region Board was transformative. These experiences not only sharpened my leadership and organizational skills but also connected me with some of my closest friends, most trusted mentors and biggest cheerleaders. Don't just be a member — be a participant. The relationships you build and the visibility you gain will open doors you never imagined.

What do you imagine the next 40 years of legal marketing will bring?

Change seems to be accelerating exponentially! I'm genuinely excited about the value AI will bring to our profession. I don't think it will replace our jobs; rather, I believe it will enhance the strategic value we bring to our attorneys and firms. As AI handles more tactical execution, we'll be freed to focus on what humans do best: creative strategy, emotional intelligence, relationship cultivation and critical thinking. I also anticipate we'll see legal marketing continue to evolve into an even more data-driven, ROI-focused discipline, with CMOs having a seat at the leadership table in ways that would have been unimaginable 40 years ago.

Celebrating 40 Years of Legal Marketing Excellence The content in this feature correlates with LMA's 40th anniversary celebration. Be part of the momentum as we mark four decades of innovation, leadership and community. Explore the stories that shaped our past — and the vision driving our future. Join the celebration.