About
Bob Meltzer CEO of Vital Edge
Law Firm/Business Coach and Advisor
About Bob
Bob Meltzer, is an innovative business leader with deep expertise in international and immigration law who is very experienced in launching high-growth start-ups, e-commerce businesses, law firms, legal departments, and law practices. Bob founded and grew VISANOW.com (NKA Envoy Global) and the Lawyer Exchange (acquired by EsquireX), both of which are redefining the paradigm of the legal profession.
As we see in the news every day, our business and social constructs continue to shift with the advent of new technology, e-commerce, and online services. As a partner in one of Chicago’s oldest law firms, Bob anticipated these changes many years ago and in 1997 became an early innovator in the legal services field. VISANOW was the first online legal application allowing clients direct access to their immigration attorney and file. Not only did he conceptualize and launch VISANOW, but he also drove growth to $20 million in annual revenue and over 150 employees by the time he exited the business in 2016.
The Lawyer Exchange, which he founded in 2018, is an online forum that enables lawyers to find work or help quickly on a project-by-project basis. Once again, this business model shifted the paradigm of the legal profession.
These experiences, plus his background as a partner in several law firms, building successful legal practices, and many years in advisory roles, has given him a full scope of executive leadership, operational management, and business development skills that could be applied in any industry, not just the legal profession.
Work Experience
1985
1986
1991
1993
1994
1997
1997
2018
2019
Legal Staff of the U.N. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Experience in international business transactions, contracts, humanitarian law.
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Early in my career, I was driven by a passion to assist individuals and businesses in navigating the complexities of international relocation and cross-border transactions.
Opened and grew private legal practice focusing on International Law.
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First of several successful businesses which grew and merged with law firm Katz, Randall & Weinberg in Chicago.
Joined Katz, Randall as a partner, focusing on Corporate and International law.
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Launched additional practice area focusing on Immigration Law as a natural cross-marketing strategy with International Law.
Joined Saul, Ewing, Arnstein & Lehr as a partner, focusing on International and Immigration Law.
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Joined, then Arnstein & Lehr, with a larger business law group to benefit from a larger pool of corporate clients needing help in their international business transactions.
Joined Adjunct Faculty at IIT, Chicago-Kent School of Law.
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Taught International Law
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Faculty Adviser to Space Law Moot Court Team
Created VisaNow as the first online legal services provider offering a better alternative in processing immigration visas to companies hiring foreign nationals.
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VisaNow soon became a fast-growing organization which required leaving the partnership to focus on the management and growth of the company.
Grew VisaNow (NKA Envoy Global), as its CEO to a multi-million-dollar business with over 150 employees.
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Over many years of gaining valuable skills and insights in all aspects of business growth and successful investments and exits.
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Trained by advisors and coaches from Fortune 50 companies.
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Started advising other CEOs during this time.
Launched the Lawyer Exchange, a lawyer to lawyer marketplace, where lawyers can easily find help or work on a project basis.
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Grew membership to over 5,000 lawyers.
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Acquired by lawyer marketplace, EsquireX in 2023.
Joined service company How to Manage a Small Law Firm, as a fractional CEO for client law firms.
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As a CEO gained more insight working with over 150 law firms as their fractional CEO and Coach.
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Within 6 months began helping other coaches as a Lead Coach.
2022
Launched Vital Edge Coaching to advise and coach business and law firm owners.
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Includes personal advising and coaching.
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Also began offering business workshops for law firms in 2023.
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Expanding to offer business workshops for all types of business owners in 2024.