246. Sharon Toerek, Toerek Law, on Smart Legal Strategies for PR Firms

Mar 16, 2026

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Most agencies treat legal like a necessary expense—something to deal with when contracts need signing or problems arise. But what if legal strategy could actually become a driver of revenue, protection, and long-term growth?In this episode of The PR Podcast, we sit down with Sharon Toerek, a marketing and intellectual property attorney who works with independent PR, marketing, and creative agencies across the United States. Sharon is the founder of Toerek Law and the host of The Innovative Agency podcast, where she helps agency leaders navigate the complex legal landscape surrounding intellectual property, contracts, compliance, and growth.Sharon digs into the legal issues many agencies overlook—from protecting the value of their creative work to avoiding contract pitfalls that can quietly erode margins. They also explore the rapidly evolving risks surrounding AI, data privacy, and influencer marketing, and why agencies need to start thinking about governance and legal structure much earlier in their growth cycle.Sharon also explains how strong legal foundations can actually increase an agency’s valuation, especially when preparing for mergers, acquisitions, or future expansion. Instead of being a defensive expense, she argues that legal strategy can become a proactive advantage for agency owners who want to scale with confidence.If you run an agency—or work inside one—this conversation will change the way you think about contracts, intellectual property, and the role legal strategy plays in building a stronger business.In this episode, we discuss:- Why legal should be seen as a strategic asset—not just a cost- How agencies can protect and monetize their intellectual property- The contract mistakes that quietly hurt agency profitability- The growing legal risks around AI, influencer marketing, and data privacy- How legal preparation affects agency valuation during mergers or acquisitions- Why governance and compliance matter even for smaller agenciesThe PR Podcast is a show about how the news gets made. We talk with great PR people, reporters, and communicators about how the news gets made and strategies for publicity that drive business goals. Host ⁠⁠Jody Fisher⁠⁠ is the founder of Jody Fisher PR and works with clients across the healthcare, higher education, financial services, real estate, entertainment, and non-profit verticals. Join the conversation on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ at @ThePRPodcast.

Sharon Toerek

Website: LegalAndCreative.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharontoerek

Podcast: The Innovative Agency

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