It has been a good while since I have written on this topic but two recent events prompted me to address it again.
The first: last week, Bruce Matson, former General Counsel of LeClair Ryan, reportedly (subscription required) admitted embezzling $2.5 million dollars from a client trust account.
The second situation relates to a
“What gets measured gets managed” – Peter Drucker
I had the pleasure of serving as a guest panelist last week at a Managing Partner Forum webinar on “Which KPIs Are Best For Your Law Firm?” The program was a lot of fun and, I hope, beneficial to the participants.
The program was chocked full
For some time, law firms have felt heightened competition from not just other law firms, but also from clients moving needs in-house and alternative service providers picking off peripheral services. As reported by Bloomberg Law in Arizona First State to Allow Nonlawyer Co-Ownership of Law Firms, looming rule or legislative changes in a number
Virtually every day, the news includes reports of additional law firm closures, layoffs, and compensation reductions.
What is driving these decisions, and what does it mean for your firm?
Without question, catching any developing problem early makes it easier and less traumatic to take appropriate action, increases confidence in management, and enhances the likelihood of
In a conversation last week, a friend who is a partner in an AMLAW 100 firm told me that he received a record number of calls from search firms during the previous month. In a separate conversation last week, a Managing Partner client noted the incredible number of calls she was receiving pertaining to hiring
As law firms (and businesses generally) confront the growing financial challenges associated with the Covid-19 crisis, a plan for an escalating response is necessary. The appropriate answer for a particular law firm will depend on its current and projected condition and its culture, but consider the following as you develop your plan.
Government assistance –
Law firms and the economy
Many or even most law firms are coming off their best year ever. It may be a time to celebrate, but I continue to think about the inevitable bursting of the bubble. Yesterday I was catching up on some long-overdue reading and came across this Forbes article by Mark Cohen
Although many law firms are enjoying increased demand, revenues and profitability, not all firms are so fortunate. For the firms seeing a sustained slackening of demand, there is no shortage of ideas on how to combat the problem. “Work harder,” “get out and hustle,” and “reconnect with your relationships,” are but a few of the
Let’s get real for a moment.
Most law firms are woefully unprepared for any significant economic downturn — let alone a prolonged, decrease in demand.
This is a startling reality; but here are a few undeniable facts:
The concentration of law firm financial strength narrows as fewer AmLaw 200 law firms can be counted among the fortunate. As Mark A. Cohen argues in his The AmLaw 200 Is Down to 50 – Maybe 20. What does It Mean? a fiscal separation among bigger firms has occurred and continues. Cohen concludes that the
