Skip to main content
Michael B. Rynowecer

I admit it.
I am The Mad Clientist

I have conducted and directed more than 20,000 client feedback interviews and interviewed 5,000 of the best and biggest rainmakers. I use all this to do one thing – help my clients grow their clients. My love of strategy and hitting the sweet spot with clients in revenue generation led to starting BTI more than 30 years ago.

Every week, you can find me sharing legal industry news, actionable and critical insights from BTI’s independent research, powerful client analytics every firm can use, market outlook commentary and much more at my blog—The Mad Clientist.

As President and Founder of BTI, Michael has drawn on in-depth independent research to develop high-impact client feedback programs, brand preference and perception rankings, innovative business development counsel and a wide-range of strategic consulting to organizations who want to improve performance and drive growth. Throughout his career, he has been a trusted advisor to top legal decision makers. His clients include 6 of the Fortune 10 as well as more than 200 professional services firms across the globe.

Michael is also a fixture in the business press, commenting on markets, trends and strategies. He has written extensively about BTI’s world-class client feedback methodology and about the ‘17 Activities’ that BTI’s research has revealed as statistically proven to drive superior client relationships. His most recent book Clientelligence® is a definitive guide of powerful insights for client acquisition, retention, new business and revenue generation. Rated by Kirkus Reviews as a “treasure trove of useful intelligence for business improvement,” the book details research-backed and unique activities for firms to embark upon to drive superior client relationships.

Michael has authored more than 40 publications on all aspects of client relationships, client service, client feedback, business development and strategy.

  • BSBA Syracuse University

  • MBA Babson College

  • 10 Years, Practice Leader, Pwc

  • Founded BTI in 1989

  • Expertise in Client Feedback, Business Development & Client Service for 30+ years

Latest Insight from The Mad Clientist

The Mad Clientist

Nobel Laureate Discovers Why Attorneys Undermine Their Own Business Development

It's a psychological minefield trapping even the brightest of legal minds. Prospect Theory – developed by psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky in 1979 – explains how people make decisions when facing uncertainty. It especially applies when outcomes are unknown. The following 4 key insights help you eliminate the negative…
The Mad Clientist

3 Law Firm Outlooks on 2025 in Trump 2.0

Law firms’ outlooks on the legal market are as divided as the nation. We asked more than 1,000 attorneys and client-facing business professionals in December 2024 how they saw the economic outlook for 2025 for their firms. The results look like this: 29.5%% see 2025 as an amazing year 67.8%…
The Mad Clientist

Top Growth Practices and Industries for 2025

Law firms will be busy — or have the opportunity to be busy — over the next 12 months. Clients are trying to break through the growing demands, risks and complexities of the economy and the legal world. As we discussed in our 16th Annual BTI Market Outlook and Client…
The Mad Clientist

Hell No We Won’t Go: Partners Respond to RTO Mandates

Partners love their independence. Make it LOVE their independence. Remote work was the license for more independence — and a changed lifestyle for so many. And the Return to Office mandates are as much about taking this treasured independence away as it is about anything else. Maybe more. Hell No…