The Last Word – Reflections and looking ahead

Posted on |

Senior figures provide personal perspectives on a changing industry for our 250th edition

Working with Salz

‘I worked for Anthony as an associate. In order of descending seniority, Phil Richards, me and Will Lawes were his “bag carriers”. It was an exciting time. During the 1980s our M&A team were the new kids on the block and the firm was undergoing a reputational transition from a traditional Bank of England adviser to a push-the-envelope transactional adviser. By the 1990s, Freshfields was the go-to firm.

Continue reading “The Last Word – Reflections and looking ahead”

Guest post: money or culture? What culture really means to law firms

Posted on |

Circling in the wings around almost any discussion of management and leadership issues in law firms, sometimes touted as a virtue above all others and sometimes only alluded to with caution, as one might a wraith, is the issue of a firm’s ‘culture’.

Continue reading “Guest post: money or culture? What culture really means to law firms”

‘We won’t break lockstep, we see it as a strength’: Clifford Chance US chiefs talk growing revenues and love of the lockstep

Posted on |

As fellow Magic Circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer targets the US market, Clifford Chance’s US leadership is seeking to upscale its offering in the Americas, and are actively looking to recruit fresh talent across all levels, from associate to partner. But, such growth, explains Americas managing partner Evan Cohen and Washington DC managing partner David DiBari, will be achieved without breaking away from the firm’s traditional remuneration system. 

Continue reading “‘We won’t break lockstep, we see it as a strength’: Clifford Chance US chiefs talk growing revenues and love of the lockstep”

Leadership and innovation – Profession, disrupt thyself?

Posted on |

The Innovator’s Dilemma has become arguably the most influential business book of the last 20 years and is often cited as a key text for a profession facing unprecedented challenges. Legal Business assesses its relevance to global law.

‘The picture… is truly that of an innovator’s dilemma: the logical competent decisions of management that are critical to the success of their companies are also the reasons why they lose their positions of leadership.’
Clayton Christensen, The Innovator’s Dilemma Continue reading “Leadership and innovation – Profession, disrupt thyself?”

Leadership and innovation – The partnership dilemma

Posted on |

Demanding clients, advancing tech and a tough economy have ushered in intense pressure for law firms to change. Can law firm leaders press their institutions to adapt or does the partnership model fundamentally block innovation?

Steve Jobs, the late co-founder, chairman and chief executive of Apple, once remarked that ‘innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower’. This is a sentiment that could easily be applied to the modern legal market, where clients have been increasingly vocal in demanding a more imaginative approach to legal services and the most progressive law firms are trying to find new ways to stay ahead of the competition. Although we are unlikely ever to see the equivalent of the iPhone, there is plenty of room for a visionary law firm leader.

Continue reading “Leadership and innovation – The partnership dilemma”

On Chancery Lane – Law Society appoints NHSLA head as successor to outgoing chief

Posted on |

In the days when in-house lawyers have gained increasing influence in law and business, the Law Society could be seen to have played safe in the appointment of its new head. Chancery Lane today (14 August) announced the appointment of NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) chief executive Catherine Dixon to succeed its outgoing chief executive Des Hudson, who is to retire at the end of August.

Continue reading “On Chancery Lane – Law Society appoints NHSLA head as successor to outgoing chief”

Guest post: The Age of Anxiety – In London, in New York, it’s still hard out there

Posted on |

We’re just back from a week in London – coincidentally smack in the middle of the UK firms’ earnings-release season – and for reasons far more profound than that annual roll call of bragging rights, the level of preoccupation with the future in the great City has never to us seemed higher to us. A telling, and extremely representative, moment came when one managing partner we were meeting with started to enumerate the threats facing his (very solidly performing) firm as, ‘One,…., and two…., and – oh hell, there are threats everywhere!’

Continue reading “Guest post: The Age of Anxiety – In London, in New York, it’s still hard out there”

Morrison & Foerster appoints Paul Friedman to newly-created European managing partner role

Posted on |

Paul Friedman has become Morrison & Foerster’s first managing partner for Europe, overseeing 26 partners and 43 associates across London, Berlin and Brussels.

The securities and white-collar litigator has 32 years under his belt at the top 30 Global 100 firm, including 28 years as a partner, and will relocate from San Francisco to London to assume the role. Continue reading “Morrison & Foerster appoints Paul Friedman to newly-created European managing partner role”