Powerful marketing is a requirement for those firms seeking to build and fortify strong positions in their chosen market segments. Meeting the competitive challenge will require many firms to sharpen focus and concentrate greater effort on fewer, higher quality, coherent and consistent marketing drives if they are to be clearly heard in a crowded market.

There is an air of cautious optimism across the legal sector that a return to healthy income and profit growth is just around the corner. Fuelled by a strengthening economy, increased corporate confidence, rising capital markets and an upturn in M&A activity, it is no surprise that firms see a more buoyant and profitable future ahead.