ARE YOU AN OUTLAW? MEET ROBERT ALGERI
Who has redefined what it means to think outside the law (aka OUTLAW) and is helping each of us in the process? Meet Robert Algeri. 
Robert is a co-founder of Great Jakes, a website design and development agency that works exclusively with large and mid-sized law firms. Robert is an active member of the legal marketing community, having held numerous board and committee positions in the LMA over the years. This year, he has the honor of being co-chair of the 2018 Your Honor Awards, with Heather McCullough. (yeah!) You can reach him at ralgeri@greatjakes.com.
What is your idea of happiness? Spending a weekend with my wife and girls (ages 6 and 3) exploring something new. They’re my joy. If we can mix that with a big family get-together – with all the grandparents and cousins, where all the kids get to run around and be silly – that’s bliss.
Who is your real life hero? If I had to choose one person, I would say my maternal grandfather, Alexander Karas (not to be confused with football player and actor Alex Karras). The man was amazing. He came to this country with little more than a sense of adventure, a will to work hard, and a good head on his shoulders. He ended up a successful businessman and a respected member of his community (and of course, a wonderful grandfather, father, and husband). The adventures he had, and challenges he overcame along the way, could fill volumes. His life story could be a movie. Many times I’ve thought to myself, “What would Papou do?”
What got you into working in the legal industry? It was a very deliberate decision. Despite our past experience working successfully with an array of companies in such areas as pharmaceuticals, technology, finance, and professional services, as our business matured we realized that we couldn’t claim to be marketing and website experts in each of those areas. So we did what we had been advising our clients to do, which was to pick a niche and to pour resources and energy towards establishing ourselves as a top player within that area. We chose the legal industry – and it was the best decision we ever made.
Who are your favorite authors/ what are your favorite books? I think I’ve read almost everything by W. Somerset Maugham. My favorite book of his is “The Razor’s Edge.” Willa Cather is another favorite author. Her short stories are gems. And I adore R. K. Narayan. He’s a master storyteller. I highly recommend reading “The Guide.” It’s a classic that you will want to read again and again.
Where would you like to live? Drop me on an island in Greece. I think I could get used to that life.
Finish this sentence- if I won the lottery tomorrow I would... Start scouting for my Greek island!
Prior to founding Great Jakes, Robert honed his business management skills in the entertainment industry as a line producer (a sort of Chief Operating Officer) of feature films for companies including Paramount Pictures, Fox Searchlight, HBO, Michael Jackson Productions, Warner Brothers, and NBC. He also co-founded an online entertainment company that he and his business partner, Dion Algeri (his brother and still business partner), sold in 2001 to CMGI, a large Internet holding company. Learn more about Robert and Great Jakes here.