Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Wendy Estela, Attorney at Law, West Hartford, CT.
05/24/2025
Thank you and for inviting me to speak at the 19 Hours, Mydoma’s annual virtual design conference.
19 Hours returns June 3–4 with a powerful theme: Build Your Dream Team. Because no one builds a design business alone and having a rockstar bench to call in is how you stay ahead of the game.
Learn how to create your dream team of tools, partners, and pros—so you can scale your business with confidence.
🗓️ Two days. 100% virtual. Totally free.
June 3-4, 2025 – see link for full schedule!
Link in bio.
05/11/2025
Happy Mother’s Day everyone! Hug and love your moms and don’t hold back! Missing my mom especially today.
05/06/2025
I’m thrilled to announce I’ll be moderating the upcoming “Trust By Design” panel featuring three exceptional designers: Kristen McCory, Kathryn Hunt, and Grace Galloway!
As a Sustainer member of the Junior League of Hartford, the Show House has always held a special place in my heart. In fact, it’s where I first met my dear friend and now personal designer, Kristen, beginning a friendship (ask me how we became friends— I love our origin story) and professional relationship that has transformed my own home.
Join us for what promises to be a lively and insightful discussion about building successful designer-client relationships. We’ll share real stories, practical advice, and perhaps a few entertaining mishaps along the way!
Our event is May 17 and the link to sign up is in my bio.
05/02/2025
Today was my first time at and for Boston Spring Market. I spent my college years in Boston and it was so nice to be back. It was so nice to meet and to share some business advice. I look forward to visiting again soon. Thank you !
04/30/2025
Come see me at this Thursday (tomorrow)! Can’t wait to be back in Boston. Bring your questions and get ready for a lively discussion!
04/22/2025
So great catching up with and discussing succession planning for design businesses. Please check out the latest episode of Kimberly’s podcast which is out now!
04/16/2025
Do you struggle managing client dynamics and “friendships?” Has a client ever turned on you? If so, this blog post is for you!
04/04/2025
So many of you have reached out about how to handle the new tariffs with your design clients! It’s clear this is causing anxiety across the industry.
The key? Clear, proactive communication. Don’t wait for your clients to get surprised by unexpected costs or delays.
Swipe to see the client letter template I’m sharing with my community today! Feel free to customize it for your own business.
Remember, this isn’t about politics - it’s about managing expectations and maintaining trust. When you communicate clearly about pass-through costs:
• You position yourself as informed and professional
• You avoid awkward conversations about unexpected charges
• You give clients options before problems arise
• You protect your profit margins and business relationships
The designers who navigate this successfully will be the ones who address it head-on rather than hoping it goes away.
Tag a designer friend who needs this template! And let me know if you’d like more business communication templates.
04/02/2025
I was honored to speak at yesterday’s designer lunch & learn event hosted by ! What a pleasure to share insights on contracts, negotiation, and the business side of interior design with such an engaged community.
Thank you to the incredible hosts and co-sponsors for creating such a wonderful atmosphere and delicious lunch. Special appreciation to for organizing this valuable opportunity to connect with and empower local design professionals.
It’s always rewarding to help creative entrepreneurs develop the legal and business knowledge they need to protect their work and grow successful practices. The questions and discussions we had demonstrate how committed this community is to professional excellence.
Looking forward to seeing how you all implement these strategies in your businesses! Feel free to connect if you have follow-up questions.
03/28/2025
Come see us at at Saturday at 3pm!
Looking forward to a lively discussion with my dear friend moderated by my other dear friend .
03/27/2025
Check out my newest blog post on the website!
anyone who has heard me speak on the topic of contracts has heard me go on and on about the importance of explaining to your clients exactly how you make money. I know that you love being a creative and I know that you love helping your clients, but you need to equally love making money for yourself and your business! Explaining to your clients what you get out of the deal is very important. I call this “The New Transparency” and it’s about educating the client and elevating the industry.
03/26/2025
This week I had the pleasure of guest speaking at University of New Haven to two sections of “Professional Practices For Interior Designers.” We discussed the importance of being not only a creative but entrepreneur and business person. We also discussed contracts, disputes, and difficult clients. Thank you Lynn Brotman and Victoria Hunt for letting me take over your classes for the night!
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I started Estela Law because I have always enjoyed helping people solve problems so that they are free to focus on what is important to them. I have a passion for helping individuals and businesses grow and achieve success. With over twenty years working in corporate and in-house legal departments I have the practical experience to identify, manage and resolve legal issues. But beyond this my goal is to be your strategic and trusted advisor.
My ability to quickly learn and understand your business helps me identify, prioritize, and address legal issues early before they become problems. No one, not even businesses, wants to spend money on legal problems. In most organizations the lawyer is part of overhead, whereas in a traditional law firm model the lawyer is the profit center. My practice model aligns with your business to operate efficiently and in a cost effective manner.
The hallmarks of my practice are empathy and relationships. Adversaries and clients, employees from CEOs down, individuals and families appreciate that I listen, I am tough but easy to talk to, and I explain complex legal issues in simple terms. I may tell you things you do not want to hear, but I offer you solutions. I enjoy developing and nurturing solid relationships with direct communication, which is critical especially when conflicts arise.
Finally, at Estela Law you will experience a “bedside manner” that is different from what you may expect of a typical law practice. I see you as a partner, not merely a client, a file or a source of billable hours.
Contact us to set up a free 20 minute consultation. I look forward to the opportunity to serve and partner with you.
