73. Grief was the Ground: The Rise of Sparrow Law w/ Nikka Maleki
"You don’t have to trade humanity for success." — Nikka Maleki
At just four years out of law school, Nikka Maleki co-founded Sparrow Law Group —and in its first year, Sparrow surpassed $1 million in attorney’s fees. She did it by rewriting all the rules. For her, power isn’t about prestige or posturing. It’s about showing up with empathy, fighting like hell for your clients, and never forgetting your own story.
In this episode of LawHer, Nikka shares how losing her mother on the second day of law school changed everything, how grief became her greatest teacher, and why authenticity is her firm’s most strategic asset. From the heartbreak that shaped her to the courtroom strategies she’s honed, this is a story of vulnerability, vision, and the kind of leadership that grows in the dark.
Nikka Maleki is the co-founder and managing partner of Sparrow Law Group, an employee advocacy firm based in Los Angeles. Just four years after graduating from Southwestern Law School, she launched her own firm—and in its first year, Sparrow surpassed $1 million in attorney’s fees with only two founding partners.A former defense-side litigator who once represented Fortune 500 companies, Nikka now fights for workers facing harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination.
About Nikka Maleki
LinkedIn
Sparrow Law Group: Website I Instagram
What’s in This Episode:
Power in Vulnerability: Nikka’s take on showing up authentically—and how it changes conversations, cases, and courtroom energy.
No Lane, No Limits: What it’s like to build a law firm from scratch, and how Sparrow Law Group made seven figures in year one—without sacrificing values.
Human-Centered Advocacy: Why she believes storytelling is a legal strategy—and how her firm helps clients reclaim their voice and power
Scaling with Soul: What it means to grow a business intentionally, with the right hires, the right cases, and the right kind of culture.
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