Feature Member of the Month: Naomi Arbabi
Naomi Arbabi launched her own law firm practicing real estate, immigration, and small business law shortly after being called to the bar. “I always wanted to have my own practise so that I could do things the way I wanted,” Naomi says.
And what she’s doing is certainly working. Naomi was able to reach her five year target in terms of number of clients in only six months.. “That was a big surprise,” she says. “Before I started my own practise, everyone told me that my biggest difficulty was going to be finding clients. But it turned out to be the easiest thing. The most challenging part was actually managing the practice – staff, the Law Society Rules, all of that.”
Naomi attributes much of her success to simple legwork and plenty of outreach. “In the beginning, it was a lot of just knocking on doors. Some of them opened, some of them shut in my face. But I ended up knocking on enough doors that it got my business started,” she explains. “It was also a lot of networking. I was at any event that could be beneficial to me. I was on LinkedIn contacting people, inviting them for coffee or a drink. I found that if someone made an effort to give you an hour of their day, there is a good chance they will continue working with you. A lot of people I’ve met through business networking have actually become my friends. Now it’s a lot more word of mouth. I don’t advertise anywhere. It’s all referrals from people, so it’s very organic.”
In Naomi’s work, first impressions are key. “I do a lot of transactions. Every month, I’m working with 30 to 40 new clients so there isn’t always time to get to know each other,” she says. “That’s why I run my business based on principles of transparency and fairness. Transparency is very important to me. I’m upfront and honest with my clients. My motto is ‘under promise and over deliver’ – that’s one way I try to make a good first impression.”
Now two years into her own practice, Naomi no longer needs to work from 6:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. After struggling to find dependable and detail-oriented staff, she now has a small but sturdy team of two that she can trust, and can devote a little more time to what drew her to move from Toronto to Vancouver in 2004: the mountains. In the summertime, you could spot Naomi hiking Quarry Rock, the Sea to Summit, or the Chief; in the winter, she’s snowboarding down many of those same slopes. She’s an avid kickboxer, too.
Naomi is also a passionate advocate for animal welfare. After her dog passed away a few years ago, she started volunteering her time with the BC SPCA and The Fur-Bearer Defenders as well as supporting Humane Society International – organizations that campaign for animal welfare issues, such as the fur trade. “The biggest problem is that there are no labelling requirements to say where the fur comes from and what it is. Often, it’s cat or dog fur imported from China. Unfortunately, it’s cheaper to have real fur than to produce good quality faux fur,” Naomi explains.
Naomi joined Terminal City Club in January, but in fact, she was a proponent for Terminal City Club even before she became a part of our community! She first recommended her friend, Charlotte Bhimji, join TCC to help expand her social and professional network. Charlotte joined TCC and then it didn’t take too much convincing for Naomi to follow. “The Club is a great place to meet people and to socialize – I come to pretty much all the wine tastings. I’ve always had a good experience at TCC. I enjoy the gym and the patio is perfect.”
Amanda Jun, Club Relations Manager