Law Firm Management

The next level

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | January 30, 2008

Technology, as IT guru Richard Susskind and others have been telling us for years, has the capacity to transform the way law firms do business, making them leaner, meaner organisations that are better able to respond to client needs and provide the working experience that their employees demand. Yet while efficiency gains have been achieved, many of the fundamentals of legal practice remain much as they have ever been and legal technology has, so far, been deployed primarily to make traditional methods of doing things quicker. After so many false dawns, it is perhaps unsurprising that the combination of the words 'legal' and 'IT' have a glazing effect on the eyes of many law firm managers.

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Watch your waste

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | January 23, 2008

Minimising environmental damage is now at the heart of corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies in today's top law firms. The chances are that you are already trying to reduce your paper usage and recycle as much as possible. But the legal profession, like the rest of the business world, is at risk if it does not dispose of its documentation in a safe and reliable manner. Do your offices have separate paper recycling bins for confidential and non-confidential paper waste? Are they lockable? What happens to evidence contained on video tapes and DVDs when you are no longer required to store it? And do you know what happens to it once it has left your offices?

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The outsourcing guide

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | January 23, 2008

It is now commonly accepted business practice to adopt outsourcing as a means of refocusing organisations on core matters, reducing non-core operational risk, improving quality and staff morale and reducing cost. Although law firms have been relatively slow on the uptake to date, the legal sector can still take advantage of outsourcing and offshoring. Magic circle giant Clifford Chance has led the field by moving back office and secretarial support to its own office in India, in order to carry out much of the company's administrative work. The outsourcing programme is expected to yield more than £9.5m in annual savings. Similarly, Pinsent Masons announced a deal to offshore its bulk typing and transcription services as part of a move to change the role of its secretaries.

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Lost in translation services

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | January 23, 2008

The demand for translation, transcription and interpretation services is growing rapidly among law firms, thanks to today's globalised business world. With this increase in demand, comes increased pressure on the suppliers of these services to meet tighter deadlines, reduce prices, maintain word-perfect accuracy and respect client confidentiality. Clients also demand a 24-hour, personalised service. Law firms are starting to realise the importance of this area of the business and study its performance with greater diligence. A procurement team at one of the UK's leading law firms recently undertook an analysis of its expenditure and current business practices in this field.

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The art of intelligent selling

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | January 16, 2008

In today's highly competitive legal services market, building an effective 'sales culture' is seen by many law firms as critical to the long-term success…

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Net that student

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | January 9, 2008

In the world of legal business, law firms are recognised by certain characteristics that observers perceive as being synonymous with them. People recall a firm from their perception of it - think litigation, think Herbert Smith - resulting in an image or brand that can be difficult to control. Reputations are formed, talked about, enhanced, damaged, consolidated. Yet how are perceptions actually gained in the first place, or altered, and how do they affect decision-making? For clients, practice area reputation and trusted recommendation are likely to be major factors. But what about graduates; how are their perceptions changed and how does this sway their choices come application time?

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The chosen few

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | December 12, 2007

As general counsel respond to pressure to reduce and rationalise their choice of legal adviser, legal panels are shrinking. Philip Hoult reports on the findings of this year's Legal Week Intelligence Client Satisfaction Survey

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Managing/Senior Partner of the Year 2007: David Pester, TLT

By Ben Wheway | December 6, 2007

The British Legal Awards 2007: Managing/Senior Partner of the Year. Winner: David Pester, TLT. Finalists: Peter Crossley, Hammonds; Kevin Gold, Mishcon de Reya; Moira Gilmour, Field Fisher Waterhouse; David Gray, Eversheds; Joy Kingsley, Pannone

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International Edition

Managing/Senior Partner of the Year 2007: David Pester, TLT

By Ben Wheway | December 6, 2007

The British Legal Awards 2007: Managing/Senior Partner of the Year. Winner: David Pester, TLT. Finalists: Peter Crossley, Hammonds; Kevin Gold, Mishcon de Reya; Moira Gilmour, Field Fisher Waterhouse; David Gray, Eversheds; Joy Kingsley, Pannone

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Managing a Law Firm: The pricing bazaar

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | December 5, 2007

How do you decide prices? Not just your headline rates, but the actual fee an individual client pays for a specific piece of work. How much do clients really care about prices and how do you communicate pricing decisions to them?

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International

Pinsent Masons Sells 'New Law' Compliance Business to Dow Jones

By Alex Berry | March 19, 2018

U.K. firm sells Cerico compliance business it co-founded in 2013.

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Daily Report Online

Litigator Moves Seamlessly to Mediator

By Robin Hensley, Raising the Bar | March 16, 2018

Construction litigator Keith Lichtman built a healthy practice helping clients address disputes, then he followed his passion and launched a mediation practice, too.

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International Edition

'An event no firm wants to go through' - new Locke Lord London head turns page on record SDT fine

By Joseph Evans | March 16, 2018

Locke Lord's new London managing partner James Channo looks to the future after last year's SDT scrutiny

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Daily Report Online

Moments From the McIver Trial: Slideshow

By Jonathan Ringel | March 16, 2018

Here are photos from the end of jury selection and the first days of testimony.

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Law.com

The Law Firm Disrupted: What Does Litigation Finance Do for Big Law's Capital Cravings?

By Roy Strom | March 15, 2018

Burford Capital's big income and profit figures could give managing partners room to maneuver.

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The American Lawyer

When CEO Resignations Put Law Firms in the Hot Seat

By Miriam Rozen | March 15, 2018

The aftermaths of corporate ousters at Uber and Wynn Resorts highlight the turmoil outside law firms can face when a client's CEO goes down.

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The American Lawyer

Record Profits, Revenue for Schulte Roth in 2017

By Scott Flaherty | March 15, 2018

The firm built on steady years in 2015 and 2016, increasing its revenues and profits to their highest-ever levels in 2017.

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National Law Journal

Smaller Wilmer Partnership Enjoys Record Profits

By Ryan Lovelace | March 15, 2018

Average partner profits reached more than $2.1 million last year at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

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International

Offshore Law Firm Crippled by Hack to Close Its Doors

By Brian Baxter | March 15, 2018

Panama's Mossack Fonseca is poised to shut down at month's end, almost two years after suffering a massive data breach. Its founders are facing money laundering charges.

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International Edition

'Shillito speaks for the disgruntled litigators' - why is James Palmer being challenged for the HSF senior partner role?

By Rose Walker | March 15, 2018

Is Mark Shillito's senior partner run indicative of long-running resentments at HSF?

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