Company: Krüger Law Firm
Founder: Edith Krüger
Date founded: January 1, 2020
Industry and company: Legal advice / legal services industry 

What drives you? What is your motto?
"Those who stop improving have stopped being good." – Philip Rosenthal. What drives me? The tireless urge to continuously grow and seize opportunities.                              

What is your start-up about and what makes it special?
My start-up is about offering companies clear and understandable access to data protection and legal security. What makes my law firm special is its practical approach: I translate complex legal requirements into simple, implementable solutions that not only offer legal protection but also build trust among customers. That's why I offer tailor-made solutions that enable companies to take a proactive approach to data protection and thus increase their competitiveness.

What are your first successes?
One of my first successes was providing comprehensive advice to a large corporation on the implementation of the GDPR. This collaboration not only led to a significant improvement in data protection measures, but also strengthened the company's confidence in my expertise. To this day, this corporation is one of my most important clients, which gives me a great sense of achievement and shows how valuable my work can be for large companies.

What is your professional background?
My professional career began as an employed lawyer in various companies such as Deutsche Telekom and Bertelsmann, where I was able to gain valuable experience in dealing with legal issues within a corporate group. But the desire to provide independent advice led me to self-employment. Although many people around me, such as my parents, who had secure jobs as civil servants, were skeptical at first and had concerns about the risks, I did not let myself be discouraged. I wanted to realize my own vision and use my independence to have a positive impact on the companies I advise.

What was the trigger for you to start your own business?
A key experience that led me to self-employment was the moment I realized how restricted I was in my role as an in-house lawyer within the corporate structure. I often felt inhibited in my creativity and freedom of decision-making, as in this role you are subject to the authority of your superior. This insight led me to reflect on my professional goals. I no longer wanted to realize the visions of others, but to develop my own ideas and solutions. This need for independence and self-determination motivated me to take the step into self-employment.

Who advised you, who are your helpers and mentors?
My family, especially my parents, were skeptical at first, but ultimately supported me emotionally. My husband was a crucial source of support, not only backing me up, but also actively helping me to implement my start-up project. In addition, mentors from my professional network were on hand to advise me and give me practical tips on how to win clients and build up my law firm. This combination of family support and professional advice was crucial to my success.

How did you experience your first days as a founder?
In the early days of my start-up, I was a mixture of excitement and nervousness. It was fascinating to finally make my own decisions and implement my vision. At the same time, I was overcome with uncertainty: Would I win enough clients? Would everything work out? These questions swirled around in my head, while at the same time I felt the freedom and new opportunities. The first call from a potential client was a decisive moment—it confirmed that I was on the right track. Those days were full of intense emotions and instructive experiences that prepared me for the journey of self-employment. 

What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
When I started my business, the business management side was initially my biggest challenge. I had to familiarize myself intensively with topics such as cost accounting, liquidity planning, and controlling. Through continuous training, I not only developed the necessary skills, but also discovered my passion for entrepreneurial management. Today, I see this initial hurdle as valuable added value for my personal development as an entrepreneur.

How do you draw attention to your company? What is your best marketing idea?
I draw attention to my company by regularly sharing three weekly LinkedIn posts on my company page and my private account. These posts offer valuable insights into current data protection issues and our expertise. Word of mouth also plays a crucial role, as satisfied clients often talk about my firm. This personal recommendation is one of the most effective forms of advertising and has already brought me many new contacts and clients.

How did you finance the start-up?
The financing came from my own funds, as unfortunately there is no funding available for law firm start-ups – unlike in other industries. The biggest investments were in secure infrastructure and suitable software.

What dream would you still like to realize? I would
like to realize one of my dreams by expanding my law firm into a recognized center of excellence for data protection. In the long term, I aim to build a large team so that I can effectively support even more companies and develop new projects together.

Please complete the following sentence: If I had more time, I would...
… pursue my hobbies more intensively again, especially playing tennis. 

What is your special tip: What would you recommend to founders?
My special tip for founders is to build a strong network early on. Contacts with mentors and like-minded people not only offer valuable advice, but also support in difficult times. And don't be afraid to ask for help—no one expects you to do everything on your own!