By Stephen Poor, Chairman, Seyfarth Shaw LLP* Altman Weil’s recent survey of CLOs found that 40 percent of law departments plan to decrease the spend on outside counsel over the next 12 months. This is hardly startling news. It simply continues the pattern we have seen in the industry for a number of years. What […]
Will Law Firms Withstand The Pressure to Change? Read More »
The oil price collapse has left energy law firm Burleson LLP, based in Houston, with the decision to shutter its entire operation. And therein lie some lessons for many law firms. The firm will close all five offices by the end of this year its managing partner, Richard Burleson said. Burleson’s was a highly successful
What Are The Lessons From the Closure of A Law Firm? Read More »
Adam Smith Esq president of Bruce MacEwen wrote for The Lawyer about the issues facing law firms and current thinking regarding the existing, traditional law firm model. What future does it have? He presents some challenging thoughts regarding the law firm thinking on how firms are managed currently. My partner Janet Stanton has proposed a thought experiment:
Why Can’t Law Firms Work Like Amazon or Facebook? Read More »
A great work environment is key to achieving high productivity for lawyers. Yet a study from a major UK real estate consultancy has found that law firms (at least in the UK) are lagging behind other professionals in achieving great locations and a top environment. Duncan Weston, the Managing Partner at CMS Cameron McKenna wrote
How Should Law Firms Look At Their Real Estate Costs Read More »
The key to a firm’s international success is strong client relationships, believes Robert West, Partner at multinational law firm Baker & McKenzie. Speaking earlier this month to an audience of law students for London School of Business and Finance’s (LSBF) Great Minds Live series, Mr West said: “We follow our clients around the world, practicing
Baker + McKenzie – Key To Firm Success is Strong Client Relationships Read More »
Heidi K Gardner is a Distinguished Scholar at Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession and is writing a book about the legal profession. True rainmakers don’t need to be convinced to collaborate: referring work to colleagues and developing a loyal team capable of extraordinary client service is the only way they can build
Law Firm Rainmakers and The Keys to Collaboration Read More »
International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has announced that Edward Braham has been elected as its new senior partner. International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has announced that Edward Braham has been elected as its new senior partner. He will be part of a new global leadership team that will include Chris Pugh, Stephan Eilers
How does a lawyer pitch for a big client: explain how many things your firm can do, or pitch yourselves as a specialist? A recent interview the General Counsel at Schneider Electric, Peter Wexler, suggested pitching in a focused manner – such as focusing on a specific business development or a particular piece of litigation.
Pitching for Law Business – The Best Way Is This . . Read More »
The diversity issue among law firms is a vexed one, but also one that has some ready and fast fixes. Take the article written by Deborah L Rhode*, Professor of Law at Ernest W McFarland and author, she postulates that women and others should not be viewed by lawyers as ‘minorities’ but rather as ‘priorities’.
3 Ways for Law Firms to Immediately Increase Diversity Read More »
Seven partners establish finance, corporate, regulatory, private equity and real estate practices Global law firm Reed Smith has today announced a significant investment in its European platform with the opening of an office in Frankfurt. The opening is in response to growing client demand in the German market and builds on the success of
Reed Smith expands in Germany with new office in Frankfurt Read More »
