A Year of Growth and Gratitude: Reflections on Franklin & Frankel’s First Anniversary

On March 31, Franklin & Frankel LLC turns one. It is hard to believe a full year has passed since we opened our doors, and I have been doing a lot of reflecting on what this year has taught me, both as an attorney and as a small business owner.

Building on a Strong Foundation

While this is our first year as Franklin & Frankel in its current form, we did not start from scratch. We built upon something remarkable: the reputation, the relationships, and the values that Scott Franklin spent more than 40 years cultivating right here in West Hartford. Carrying that legacy forward has been the greatest professional honor of my career, and I do not take it lightly for a single day.

What Running a Business Has Taught Me About the Law

Here is something I did not fully anticipate: becoming a business owner myself has made me a better attorney for my business clients. When you are the one signing the lease, managing the team, and making the calls that keep the lights on, the legal advice you give takes on a different weight. You stop speaking in abstractions and start speaking from experience.

Our clients often come to us during some of the most significant moments of their professional lives, whether they are buying their first dental practice, forming a new LLC, or planning for what happens to their business after they are gone. I understand now, more than ever, that good legal counsel is not just about knowing the law. It is about listening, communicating clearly, and helping people make confident decisions when the stakes are high.

A Few Lessons for Fellow Business Owners

If you are starting or growing a business in Connecticut or Massachusetts, here are a few things this first year has reinforced for me:

Get your foundation right from day one. Your Operating Agreement is not a formality. It defines how your business is governed, how decisions get made, and what happens if a partner exits or a dispute arises. A thoughtful Operating Agreement drafted at the outset can prevent costly and painful conflicts down the road.

Stay on top of your compliance obligations. Requirements like state annual reports, registering with the state Departments of Labor and Revenue Services, and following industry-specific requirements are critical, and falling behind on them can create real legal exposure. Building a simple annual review process into your calendar goes a long way.

Do not wait until something goes wrong to call your attorney. The best time to address a contract issue, a partnership concern, or a succession question is before it becomes a problem. Outside general counsel relationships exist precisely for this reason, giving you a trusted legal partner to call before a situation escalates.

Invest in your team. I am only able to do what I do because of the people beside me. Suzanne, Terri, Krysta, Kelly, and Tess show up every day with the same commitment to our clients that I try to bring, and that means everything.

Thank You

None of this would be possible without the clients who trust us, the colleagues who collaborate with us, and the West Hartford community that has welcomed us. We are proud to be part of this community and excited about everything still ahead.

Here is to year two.

Aaron D. Frankel, Franklin & Frankel LLC