A dynamic law firm growth tactic involves opening an office in a new geographic market. To move a firm into virgin territory requires careful thought about issues that go beyond simply hiring new lawyers. Indeed, expanding a firm’s footprint requires many considerations, including good intelligence about the new market’s practice characteristics, bar personality and mores,
Improving the Odds in Law Firm Merger
Law firm mergers remain popular as law firms everywhere seek an edge. Despite the high interest in merger as a difference maker, law firms considering merger need to be careful-merger can be fraught with risk. Indeed, it is reported that only about half of all law firm mergers succeed. So not only can a merger
5 Keys to Resolving Law Firm Crisis
Realizing that your law firm is in crisis can be unsettling, to put it mildly. Take heart, though crisis is a concerning condition, it need not be fatal.
Crisis can arrive in many different ways. At times it is the product of an extended period of underperforming. For other firms it can be brought on
Five Signs Your Law Firm Needs New Energy
Law firms that lack energy dim their prospects for the future. Too often law firms pass over the issue of their own vibrancy (whether by a failure of recognition or simple indifference) and plod along without taking corrective action. A becalmed law firm, especially in these times of legal industry disruption, is flirting with danger.
5 Early Warning Signs of Law Firm Decline
Most problems are more easily resolved when addressed early. Pressures driving law firm instability and decline are no exception.
The likelihood of early detection is enhanced by incorporating a routine self-examination of the firm. This periodic checkup should focus on performance as well as the satisfaction of both personnel and clients.
Here are five
Improving the Odds with Law Firm Expansion
Virtually every week brings news about law firm expansion. The news is exciting and of great interest in and out of the legal services industry. Although the firms that report lateral hires, mergers and acquisitions and new office openings are pleased with their news to share, the passage of time proves that not all
Law Firm Succession Planning-Things Small Firms Can Do Just Like the Big Firms
Is the grass greener on the other side? Some small firm leaders envy perceived advantages enjoyed by bigger firms. Leadership at big firms likewise can be found yearning for simpler times when their firms were smaller and the issues seemed simpler. Regardless of size, all law firms must work hard to succeed, especially in a
Scoping Out Future Law Firm Upheaval-Four Places to Look
Law firms perpetually are in transition. In our changing legal environment, transition can arise when business strategy requires adjustment, merger is considered, layoffs are implemented, lateral hiring is pursued, leadership succession is at hand (see Cultivating the Next Generation), crisis arises or firm wind-up is decided and implemented.
In addressing any transitional event
Does Your Law Firm Deserve a “Freshness” Review?
There has been a recent flurry of articles regarding law firm “spin offs” some referencing actions such 
as the recent Ropes & Gray IP move which appears practice specific. Others target “spin offs” as a means of getting lean. Seth Godin (who you might consider following if you don’t already) had a great and short
Finding Your Next Law Firm Leader-What to Look for?
The legal services industry is awash with profitability challenges, calls for innovation, and non-traditional entrants. Long-time law firm clients are expecting more from their law firms at the same time they weigh the option of moving work in-house or assigning it to alternative providers. Since 2008 flat demand and financial stress have fueled reactive