Control or Consensus?
Every law firm starts life with a flurry of entrepreneurial adolescence and adulthood, the unmet demands of strategic and managerial decision making can cause the firm to plateau or even regress. Identifying the four phases of law firm development can be the key both to avoiding premature stagnation and to progressing toward institutional status. I […]
New Year’s Resolutions for Law Firm Managing Partners
Tired of New Year’s resolutions that go nowhere? This candid article offers bold, practical strategies for managing partners to reset priorities, empower staff, improve efficiency, and refocus law firm operations—with real-world tactics that go beyond the usual year-end chaos.
Making the Statue of Liberty Disappear
With no mandatory financial reporting standards, many law firms subtly manage their public financial data to shape perceptions. From partner satisfaction to merger leverage, the motivations vary—but the numbers don’t always tell the full story. Understanding how firms “stage” their performance is key to decoding the truth behind the spreadsheets.
A Global Survey of Large Law Firm Compensation Practices
Global law firms may be more aligned than ever. As lockstep fades and subjectivity rises, partner compensation systems around the world are converging—while cultural nuances, like bonus practices and pay spreads, still tell a different story.
Five Unintended Consequences of Economic Recovery
As the economy recovers, law firms face a critical crossroads. From government expansion and lost talent to globalization, IT reinvestment, and deflation risks, this article outlines five game-changing trends that will separate the firms that adapt from those left behind.
Is Candor the Best Policy?
In tough times, communication in law firms can make or break leadership. This article explores the structural barriers, cultural challenges, and strategic missteps that hinder transparency—and offers key lessons for delivering difficult news with honesty, clarity, and trust.
Plan B
In uncertain times, having a solid strategy isn’t enough—law firms also need a clear Plan B. This article explores why alternative strategies can stabilize partnerships, build confidence, and ensure survival when the unexpected hits.
Blessed Are the Meek
Many law firm leaders hesitate to act, fearing backlash or overstepping boundaries. This article explores why timidity stalls progress—and how setting clear ground rules, taking visible action, and celebrating wins can transform a firm’s ability to implement change.
Underproductive Partners
Underproductive partners aren’t new—but today they’ve become one of the toughest issues law firm leaders face. From tenure-like structures and collapsing practices to boredom, depression, and fading collegiality, the causes run deep. Instead of relying on reactive measures like demotions or firing, firms can protect their future by setting clear expectations, spotting early warning signs, and investing in long-term strategies that prevent “problem partners” from emerging in the first place.
Can We Make Knowledge Management Work?
Knowledge management may be the legal industry’s favorite buzzword, but real success comes down to creating incentives that benefit clients, attorneys, and firms alike. By sharing work product in a way that generates commissions and credits, firms can turn a hot-topic challenge into a differentiating advantage—or decide it’s just a costly distraction.