How to Bring Your Legal and Scientific Expertise to a New Industry feat. Raana Kashani Gregg

Raana Kashani Gregg, attorney-turned-beauty entrepreneur, shares her journey from running her own law practice to founding Lunaescent Clean Skin Labs, an innovative skincare brand. After experiencing severe dermatitis from applying eczema treatments to her son, she saw a gap in the market for hygienic, non-porous skincare applicators—and decided to create one herself. In this episode, Raana opens up about pivoting from law to entrepreneurship, navigating the patent process, and why lawyers have the skills to build businesses in any industry.

LISTEN TO LEARN

  • How Raana identified a problem in skincare application and turned it into an innovative business
  • The realities of patenting a product and what lawyers should know before creating their own invention
  • How legal skills like negotiation, research, and strategic thinking help in launching and scaling a business

WE ALSO DISCUSS

  • Raana’s transition from running her own law practice to becoming a beauty entrepreneur
  • The challenges of entering the skincare industry without a marketing background
  • Why lawyers should embrace risk-taking and entrepreneurship, even in industries outside of law

Want to start a podcast?Save time and create faster with KD Creative. KD Creative offers done-for-you podcasting services by launching podcasts for small business owners and editing podcasts for existing podcasters. If you’re ready to get your content in the ears of your ideal customers, start working with KD Creative. Visit skiptheboringstuff.com to hire a podcast coach.

How to Bring Your Legal and Scientific Expertise to a New Industry feat. Raana Kashani Gregg

<iframe width="100%" height="180" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://share.transistor.fm/e/bfbc5734"></iframe>

How to Bring Your Legal and Scientific Expertise to a New Industry feat. Raana Kashani GreggHow to Bring Your Legal and Scientific Expertise to a New Industry feat. Raana Kashani Gregg

About This Episode

Raana Kashani Gregg’s Background

Raana Kashani Gregg is the founder of Lunaescent Clean Skin Labs, a beauty brand that bridges the gap between science, skincare, and hygiene. Before stepping into the world of beauty, Raana spent years as an attorney, running her own estate planning and corporate law practice. Her shift from law to skincare was driven by a deeply personal experience—while treating her son’s eczema, she developed severe dermatitis from applying steroid creams by hand. Frustrated by the lack of hygienic, reusable skincare applicators, she realized she had to create one herself.

“I went online to buy an applicator, and there was nothing. And that was my 'aha' moment. If I couldn’t find it, I had to create it," shares Raana Kashani Gregg on You Are A Lawyer.

Despite having no formal experience in product development, Raana leveraged her research skills, legal expertise, and scientific background to bring her idea to life. Her journey showcases the power of combining professional expertise with personal passion to solve real-world problems.

Why Law School

Raana’s legal journey began with an education at Santa Clara University School of Law, but her path to practicing law was anything but linear. After graduating, she took an unexpected detour—accepting a position at an international law firm in Iran that specialized in trade agreements. Though the experience provided invaluable insight into global business, gender discrimination in the workplace ultimately led her to return to the U.S. and establish her own practice.

"I was doing high-level work, but when it came time for meetings in Switzerland, I wasn’t invited. And I was like, ‘Wait a minute—I wrote this agreement. Why am I not in the room?’," reflects Raana Kashani Gregg on Episode 180 of You Are a Lawyer.

For Raana, law school was a foundation, not a limitation. Her career has been defined by adaptability and problem-solving, whether advocating for clients in estate planning or pioneering hygienic beauty tools. She believes the versatility of legal training allows lawyers to pivot and innovate across industries.

<iframe width="864" height="486" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6nHXEm-bexg" title="" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

What Can You Do with a Law Degree

Raana’s career proves that a law degree isn’t just about practicing law—it’s a toolkit for critical thinking, problem-solving, and risk-taking. When she saw a major gap in the beauty industry, she knew she had the skills to research, develop, and protect her own product. Filing for patents, structuring a business, and negotiating with manufacturers all required the same analytical mindset she had honed as an attorney.

“I saved a lot of money when it came to the legal stuff. When you start a business, there’s a lot of law involved—patents, trademarks, contracts. My law degree helped me navigate all of that," emphasizes Raana Kashani Gregg on Episode 180 of You Are a Lawyer.

Beyond legal strategy, her background in law gave her the confidence to advocate for herself in an entirely new industry. Whether it’s reading complex agreements or pushing back on unfair business practices, Raana demonstrates how legal training provides a competitive edge in entrepreneurship.

Lawyer Side Hustles

Raana’s journey into entrepreneurship started with a single idea: a hygienic, reusable skincare applicator. While most beauty founders come from marketing or cosmetic chemistry backgrounds, she approached the industry as an inventor—relying on her problem-solving mindset, legal expertise, and a scientific approach to product development. Her brand, Lunaescent Clean Skin Labs, is built on innovation, sustainability, and hygiene, filling a crucial gap in the skincare industry.

“A lot of skincare brands have a marketing background—I had to figure everything out from scratch. But I also had the legal and research skills to protect my invention and bring it to market,” shares Raana Kashani Gregg in Episode 180 of You Are a Lawyer.

Beyond product development, Raana has embraced brand collaborations and digital marketing to scale her business. She has partnered with major skincare brands to bundle her applicators with high-end serums, positioning her product as an essential tool rather than just another accessory. Her story is a masterclass in how lawyers can build successful side businesses—whether through invention, consulting, or creative entrepreneurship.

Join the FREE mailing list!

Get behind-the-scenes content from You Are A Lawyer. 

1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com

2) Add your email address to the Subscribe pop-up box OR

3) Enter your email address on the right side of the screen

4) Get emails from me (I won't fill your inbox with junk)!

About Raana Kashani Gregg

Raana is licensed to practice law in DC.

Learn more about Raana

Interact with You Are A Lawyer

Kyla Denanyoh hosts the You Are A Lawyer podcast. 

Follow the podcast:

YouTube: youtube.com/@youarealawyer

Instagram: instagram.com/youarealawyer

Twitter:  twitter.com/YouAreA_Lawyer

Website: youarealawyer.com

<iframe width="535" height="268" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DMzIU5xQtWI" title="" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Recent Episodes

How a Health Scare Made a Patent Prosecutor Change Careers featuring Krista Contino Saumby

Krista Contino Saumby explains how studying calculus in the fifth grade led to becoming a patent lawyer and the importance of mentoring new lawyers.
Read and listen here

From Intern to Data Privacy Counsel featuring Terrance Pryor

Terrance Pryor shares his inspiring journey from a career in IT at General Motors to transitioning into the legal field, all while pursuing his law degree part-time. Through his determination and strategic planning, Terrance navigated through various roles in data privacy and DevOps, showcasing his ability to adapt and excel in different areas of expertise. Join us as Terrance reflects on his experiences and the pivotal moments that shaped his career path.
Read and listen here

Why I Switched Sides; From Prosecutor to Criminal Defense Counsel featuring Christon Halkiotis

Christon Halkiotis explains why she attends court every day and the importance of bringing kindness to the legal profession.
Read and listen here

How to Build a Career in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Work feat. Jaya Saxena

Jaya Saxena explains how she uses her J.D. to create diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies for a global consulting brand.
Read and listen here

How To Start a Law Firm Right After Graduation featuring James Mattox III

James Mattox III explains why he opened a law firm immediately after law school and how law school removes limitations from each student.
Read and listen here

How Bold Women Lawyers are Changing the Rules featuring Sharon Christie

Sharon Christie explains why she went to law school after being an ICU nurse and the importance of being a bold woman lawyer.
Read and listen here

Why High School is the Right Time to Start Thinking about Law School featuring Jolene Blackbourne

Jolene Blackbourn explains the importance of knowing your debt to income ratio while choosing a law school.
Read and listen here

Finding Success in the Legal Field with a Technology Background feat. Devin Zito

Devin Zito, a technology professional and lawyer, shares his unique journey from running his own IT company to becoming the Director of Information Services and Corporate Counsel at Assurance Financial Group. He discusses the intersection of technology and law, the value of a legal education in various industries, and the importance of embracing non-traditional paths to career success.
Read and listen here

Why People Avoid Estate Planning (And How Lawyers Can Change This) featuring Justin Stivers

Justin Stivers explains the importance of empathy as a lawyer and how consistency converts social media followers to clients.
Read and listen here

Why I Never Mention my Yale Law Degree featuring Elisabeth Steele

Elisabeth Steele explains how to be confident in Zoom meetings and dodge questions about never taking the bar exam.
Read and listen here

How Technology is Changing Law Firms (and Why Lawyers Don’t Know It Yet) featuring Maya Markovich

Maya Markovich explains why networking is easy and how diverse law applicants will innovate the legal field.
Read and listen here

How to Knock Out the Bar Exam featuring Caroline Vickers

Caroline Vickers explains why she created Bar Prep Champs and the importance of working with first time bar exam takers.
Read and listen here

©2025 You Are A Lawyer LLC.
All rights reserved.