Law Firm Management

Editor's comment: Brand Values

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | February 14, 2007

Before you can retain them, you have to attract them... A derivatives partner conceded recently that his department's efforts to retain young lawyers were focused mainly on keeping them on for a mere six months after they had become useful, such was the current demand for talented young lawyers from the investment banks.

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Tony Angel: Leading from the middle

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | February 14, 2007

Running a global law firm requires leadership and management; and they are not the same thing. Leadership is about providing vision, direction, motivation, energy and enthusiasm. Management is about providing systems, structures, metrics, rewards and controls. The problem is that most lawyers see leadership as good and management as bad. Yet both are essential and the real trick for a managing partner is to marry the two in a way that best achieves his three essential tasks:

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Management: Peak performance

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | February 14, 2007

Virtually every law firm in the country will have partners who could do better and contribute more to the firm. In many firms, a lack of a formal appraisal procedure means that their fellow partners are failing to take them to task. This can result in an established culture of underperformance within the firm, leading in some cases to complacency and poor profitability.

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Management and IT: The right resource

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | February 14, 2007

The holiday season is still a distant prospect but for law firms the New Year means the rapid approach of Easter and the long summer break. Juggling staff levels with client demand and natural peaks and troughs in activity is essential to ensure a firm's workflow does not slip into 'go-slow' in the summer. Yet how can the law, a people-centred business, balance ever-fluctuating resource planning needs with a trading environment which encourages firms to constantly drive down overheads?

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Management and IT: A lesson in retention

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | February 14, 2007

Knowledge and experience management is one of the top four most important strategic challenges faced by the UK's leading law firms, according to research conducted by Thomson Elite. Following a recent survey of the UK's 125 largest firms, 73% of those surveyed rated it as either a 'very important' or an 'important' issue.

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Management: Bedrock principles

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | February 7, 2007

Twenty years ago, partnership was the pre-eminent form of governance in most major professional sectors. In the 1980s, it began to decline in sectors such as accounting, consulting and investment banking to the extent that almost 50 of the top 100 accounting firms are now organised as privately-held or publicly-quoted corporations. So far, law firms have been slow to follow their lead, but in the UK the new Legal Services Bill brings with it the possibility of change.

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First among equals

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | January 31, 2007

The news that Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is to shed some 50 or so partners in the next year may have surprised a few at the firm's Fleet Street HQ, but at Linklaters the shock was that its arch rival had not acted sooner. Over at Silk Street, they have long shed the softly, softly approach to partnership that used to characterise the profession and managing partner Tony Angel has taken the firm in hand with obvious results.

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I predict...

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | January 24, 2007

What future trends are worrying managing partners in the US? A survey of 100 managing partners highlighted a range of concerns, such as regulatory changes, the rise of outsourcing and the generation gap. Patrick McKenna reports

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Survival of the fittest

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | January 10, 2007

With the Carter reforms set to take hold next year, insolvency is a very real threat facing law firms. David Miles offers advice on how not to go bust in 2007

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Law In Business: Out of site, out of mind

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | December 13, 2006

Searching archives stored on obsolete data formats presents a serious challenge to efficient and cost-effective e-discovery. Gordon Harris reports on how companies can index billions of files and facilitate information-searching procedures

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New York Law Journal

Partner Profits Surge 18 Percent at Weil, Gotshal & Manges

By Christine Simmons | February 26, 2018

Gross revenue grew nearly 10 percent, reaching $1.39 billion amid a record year for the firm.

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The American Lawyer

Why Elite Law Should Raise Rates

By Hugh A. Simons | February 26, 2018

If law firms have the bargaining power to raise standard rates an average of 3 percent, and realize a rate increase of 2.5 percent, then do they have the power to raise rates at, say, 7 percent and realize a 5 percent increase?

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The American Lawyer

The Rise (and Fall?) of In-House Counsel

By Hugh A. Simons and Gina Passarella | February 25, 2018

Is the bubble set to burst on the buildup of law departments or is now the time to go in-house?

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Daily Report Online

Troutman Sanders Posts Revenue, Profit Gains

By Meredith Hobbs | February 23, 2018

Building on prior years' efforts, managing partner Stephen Lewis said the firm is "on a good path forward right now."

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New Jersey Law Journal

Judge Green-Lights Foreclosure Suit Against Former NJ Bar President

By Charles Toutant | February 23, 2018

U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler granted partial summary judgment to Sun National Bank in its action to foreclose on a house in Ocean City and a building in Bridgeton owned by Kevin McCann.

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Connecticut Law Tribune

Wiggin Immigration Attorney Brings Personal Experience as New Partner

By Michael Marciano | February 23, 2018

Connecticut's Wiggin and Dana recently broadened its leadership team with the promotion of Pakistani-American business immigration attorney and recent new mother Najia Khalid to partner.

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National Law Journal

Revenue Tops $2 Billion at Hogan Lovells, Led by Corporate Practice

By Ryan Lovelace | February 23, 2018

CEO Steve Immelt said he expects more growth to be driven by the tech sector and the Chinese market this year.

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International Edition

Herbert Smith Freehills senior partner Palmer faces challenge from litigation heavyweight for top role

By Rose Walker | February 23, 2018

Corporate and litigation partners to contest top role at Anglo-Australian firm

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The American Lawyer

Nixon Peabody Sees Partner Profits Surge

By Meghan Tribe | February 22, 2018

With a continued focus on delivering better value to clients, Nixon Peabody saw gains in gross revenue and profits per partner in 2017.

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National Law Journal

Nelson Mullins Takes 11 Miles & Stockbridge Partners for Baltimore Launch

By Meredith Hobbs | February 22, 2018

The hires by South Carolina-based Nelson Mullins coincide with a leadership change at Miles & Stockbridge.

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