I highly recommend the MPF Leadership Conference. I’ve participated many times, as have several of my partners. We leave with new ideas and fresh perspectives every time.
Thank you for allowing me to participate. Your team is masterful at making all feel valued at your event and I dare say helping attendees see the value in attending.
Thank you for the invite to speak on the Managing Partner panel. Even though I have now attended 7 MPFs, I always bring back substantive and helpful information for my partners.
From my perspective, the conference went extremely well. Thank you for inviting me to participate; I was proud to be part of a very talented faculty. Congratulations to all!
Thanks for partnering with us from the ABA Law Practice Division. Very well organized. Your team knows precisely what they are doing and we appreciate you.
It was indeed a very well run and informative conference. I especially enjoyed meeting the participants and other faculty and learning from them. Thank you, John, for giving me the opportunity to participate.
Our new managing partner, Wynn Shuford, attended your conference last month and has raved about it ever since. Thanks for your continued great work in the area of law firm leadership.
The conference was tremendous and I've already made tentative plans to attend next year's event. I've also reached out to other firm leaders I know to let them know the advantages of the Managing Partner Forum. Thank you.
I've attended two events through John's Managing Partner Forum. They are always of high quality, and provide invaluable information that is useful to our firm.
Thank you for what you do for our industry. I go to a lot of conferences, and your event is the one I look forward to and gain the most from each year.
I found this conference to be extremely valuable. We all face very similar challenges, and it’s comforting to know that others share the same questions and concerns.
The MPIE sessions are always very helpful. We implemented several successful programs after the last Forum and I expect we'll do so again after what I learned today.
The group dynamics in the MPIE sessions are a great value. I liked Susan Hackett (General Counsel of the Association for Corporate Counsel) on Skype, too.
The MPF brings together the leaders of Florida's top firms, together with experienced consultants, for a great exchange of ideas and information. It's an excellent resource.
Since the majority of our firm’s business is referred by other law firms, The Forum is a great place to catch up with our clients while also learning from my peers. It’s a terrific program.
I attended The Managing Partner Forum and thought it was outstanding. The program provided an excellent opportunity to benchmark my firm’s performance with our peer group.
The MPF provides much-needed interaction for those of us in the 'isolated' role of managing partner of a mid-sized firm. I liked the professionalism of the attendees.
I truly appreciated the opportunity to interact with other managing partners throughout the region. Well done!
The successful managing partner develops a clear sense of strategic direction, so that on most days most partners are marching in the same direction. How one does this is what the Forum is all about.
The MPF provides a rare opportunity for managing partners to gather and share insights and perspectives on ways to be more effective law firm leaders.
There is a difference between leadership and management. Law firms need both. The managing partner must be the keeper of the vision and its continuous champion.
The Managing Partner Forum provides a unique venue to network with other managing partners so I can learn new ways to be more successful in today’s climate.
The Managing Partner Forum offers an invaluable opportunity to learn about the latest trends in the legal industry and to compare notes with other law firm leaders.
The exchange of practical ideas and hearing success stories from other managing partners is what I liked best. This program could have easily lasted two days.
The discussions were surprisingly open and productive. I came away with much information on where we are doing well, ideas for improvement and strategies for capitalizing on opportunities.
The Managing Partner Idea Exchanges were the best part of the day. I very much appreciate the opportunity to participate and will be here again in the future.
The Keynote Presentation was concise, to the point and had great written materials and presentation slides. It certainly measured up to its advertising and then some!
Remember the good ole days when Martindale-Hubbell ruled the world? And its coveted “av” rating? And those big books impressively displayed in your firm’s law library? Well, times have changed! Today, there are more than...
As a leader in your firm, you set the culture. Great leaders set and maintain an optimal culture where each individual enthusiastically contributes their best work for the good of the entire organization. We’re constantly...
In this period of unprecedented change in the legal profession, many firms appear to be clinging to the past and the ways they’ve always done things. After all, it’s been a successful model for many...
MPF Faculty member Bob Denney offers practical advice to firm leaders in the wake of the worst economic recession in 70 years. We couldn’t agree more with Bob’s points. It’s time for law firm leaders...
We are strong advocates for strong, competent, business-minded administrators in law firms. Management. Marketing. Finance. Human Resources. Technology. They make the trains run on time, and they make the firm more money. This article talks about...
For many years, Keith Houck was the COO of GrayRobinson, now one of the largest and most successful law firms in Florida. In his article, he compares growing a law firm to nurturing a garden. Although each plant...
For new managing partners, the responsibilities are multi-faceted and the stakeholders are diverse, both within and outside the firm. This article looks at the most common mistakes, the biggest challenges, some unanticipated surprises, and how...
Harvard management guru David Maister asks the ultimate question "Can lawyers be 'managed' at all?" Given their unique personalities, it's no easy task. We think every firm leader should read this article.
Building accountability into an important firm initiative is difficult. As firm leader, you can neither assume it will happen, nor can you demand it. Accountability measures require genuine buy-in and commitment from firm leadership, and...
Gale is a rock star in the world of CPA firms. She’s been selected as a “Most Recommended Consultant” by Inside Public Accounting for nine consecutive years, and as one of the “Top 100 Most...
Here are 12 questions that you, as an effective firm leader, should be asking yourself, your fellow firm leaders, your lawyers and your support staff on a regular basis.
Riffing on an article from Fast Company, a publication that focuses on creative individuals in the business world, Cobb issues advice for the law firm environment. Like "Find, hire and promote people that make you...
How should a firm appropriately compensate its managing partner for the non-billable time required of the role? Take a look at Peter Giuliani’s article that appeared recently in the ABA’s Law Practice Magazine.
A successful firm, according to the body of research on the subject, is one characterized by a team-oriented, firm-first culture. Anne maintains that an individual lawyer succeeds only when the firm succeeds. She writes that...
The managing partner job rarely comes with an instruction manual or even a job description. Rose polled firm leaders to find out the real concerns of new law firm leaders. Should you lead by consensus...
Patrick works primarily with leaders of AmLaw 100 law firms and has written many articles and several books on effective law firm leadership. Each year, he also presents a one-day Workshop called “The First 100...
As law firms plot their strategies to adapt to today’s hyper-competitive marketplace, the need for effective planning and leadership is more important than ever. It’s critical that firms put their best people in these critical...
It’s an extremely difficult situation when a law firm has weak and ineffective leadership. And in many smaller and mid-size law firms, the ineffective leader is often the founding partner. August contends when partners find...
After 25 years in the legal industry, I often find myself working with firms that are long on planning, yet woefully short when it comes to implementation. My advice? Pick just three meaningful initiatives, dedicate the...
“When you transform your law firm into a great place to work, the psychological engagement of your people soars,” says Larry Richard. “And engagement is the attitudinal gold standard” that leads to higher productivity, improved...
Here's a short but hard-hitting video that hammers home the dramatic changes in the legal industry over the past decade. We suggest that you play it at your next partnership meeting and ask your partners what...
MPF Advisory Board member Glenn Callison wrote this article for Texas Lawyer magazine a few years ago. In it, he talks about what he has learned in his role as Chairman and CEO of Munsch Hardt,...
“A leader’s lasting value is measured by succession,” says leadership author and guru John Maxwell. Tom Grella, a long-term member of the MPF Advisory Board, puts his spin on the topic from the perspective of...
According to Altman Weil’s 2018 Law Firms in Transition report, eighty-three percent (83%) of law firms admit to having chronically under-performing equity partners within their ranks. Instead of avoiding the issue (as many firms do),...
This is a must-read article for firm leaders, especially in these challenging times. "Out of difficulty, leaders rise. That someone might as well be you," says acclaimed author Quint Studer. The 11 bits of advice offered in this...
This article interviews a pair of Harvard Business School professors who talk about the importance of identifying future leaders, training them to be effective in their roles and retaining them as top talent – especially...
According to the research presented in this timeless, often-cited, article by Dr. Larry Richard, lawyers are off the charts – when compared to the general population – when it comes to certain personality characteristics. Among them:...
In this article, Mark writes about research by Edward Hess, a professor at the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business, which compiles the findings of eight well-researched and highly-regarded studies about high-performing organizations....
From 1988-2015, Don served as Chairman of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP. Under his leadership, the firm grew to become a national firm with more than 500 lawyers and 25 office locations. In his two-page article,...
We’ve all spent countless hours in unproductive, time-wasting meetings. Meetings that begin 15 minutes late and have no agenda, no leadership and wander aimlessly from topic to topic. Meetings during which most of the participants...
More than ever, running a successful law firm in today’s evolving and cut-throat marketplace for legal services requires a commitment to planning and leadership. Yet, when it comes to leadership training, recent MPF surveys suggest...
Jordan Furlong is a lawyer, consultant and industry analyst who forecasts the dramatic impact the changing legal market will have on lawyers, law firms and other legal organizations. And, as we all know, leading change...
Have you ever heard this excuse from your colleagues? "I didn’t go to law school to become a salesperson!" If the business aspects of practicing law don’t come naturally to you … or to someone...
This interesting and thought-provoking article appears in January edition of the ABA's Law Practice Today. In fact, there are several good articles in this issue, but this one got my attention. Among other things, Corcoran writes...
We found this rather interesting list "100 Managing Partners You Need to Know" browsing the Web earlier this month. Not surprisingly, it appears as if one must be with an AmLaw 200 firm to be on it. Lawdragon says it contacted more...
Developing leadership skills is hard work. And it's especially difficult for lawyers who, by nature, tend to be skeptical, autonomous and risk averse. Yet the absence of strong, committed leaders who are trusted and inspire...
Brewster is founder of Rawls Law Group, a boutique healthcare firm based in Richmond, and he’s participated in several MPF Leadership Conference over the years. And while many firm leaders bemoan the flaws of the...
There is no definitive answer to the question of exactly how long an outgoing leader should stay in office after announcing his or her departure. Many management experts advocate a swift transition to avoid lame-duck...
In this article, Steve sets forth the five traits of effective law firm leadership, the obstacles that impede quality leadership at many firms, and the styles of leadership that might be right for your firm....
The skill set required of a great lawyer is far different (in fact, the exact opposite in many areas) than the skill set required of a great law firm leader. Great leaders are optimists, embrace...
Meetings are one of the most universal parts of business life, but one of the least effective communication tools. Read this article to learn ways to run more efficient and productive meetings at your firm.
Much ado has been made over the new partnership between Best Lawyers in America and US News & World Report to present their version of law firm rankings. We’ll be writing more on that topic...
Peter Marlette, Managing Partner of Damon Morey in Buffalo, New York, has recently joined the MPF Advisory Board. This outstanding article, which originally appeared in the New York Law Journal, is must reading for leaders...
John Smock believes that well-run, focused practice and industry teams offer the best opportunity for consistent and continued growth in revenue and profitability. He further maintains that it’s critically important for law firms to reward...
From strategic planning to effective committee structure, this two-pager gets right to the point. Although simple in concept, these rules are not always easy to apply and follow. But the most successful organizations do….including law firms.
Timothy Corcoran, our Keynote Speaker, was well-received in delivering a hard-hitting presentation emphasizing our theme – “Evolve or Perish: Leading Your Firm in an Increasingly Competitive Market.” Together, we wrote a two-page report immediately after...
Our inaugural Leadership Academy was a great success and we’re pleased to share a brief article highlighting four of the main topics (along with faculty commentary) we discussed. They are: Succession and Talent Management Firm...
Most firms don’t utter the "s" word — succession — until disaster strikes. This article leads off with a great example of that. Don’t let your firm fall into the malaise and wait until fate...
This is an article we wrote that appeared in the November/December issue of Law Practice magazine, published by the American Bar Association. Our advice to firm leaders? Create job descriptions. Get to know the firm’s top...
According to Gallup, 70% of employees are disengaged at work. Furthermore, 70% of an employee’s motivation is directly influenced by his/her manager or supervisor. Motivated employees are 37% more productive, and they’re 87% less likely...
If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard a gazillion (that’s right, gazillion) times from frustrated law firm leaders: “Today’s young lawyers just don’t want to work very hard like I did when I was a...
When it comes to succession planning within a law firm, we often hear from managing partners: “I’m concerned that our young partners don’t have what it takes to run this firm in the future. They...
This thought-provoking article was featured in Law Practice Today, the ABA’s monthly online magazine. In it, William Blackburn reports on a growing number of law firms that have adopted new models of governance to help them survive, even thrive, in both...
This article contends that companies that are good at growing leaders do so in the trenches at the “line manager” level, not through their HR departments. That would equate to a department head and practice...
This is a terrific article written by Tim Corcoran, a new member of the MPF faculty. Tim has worked in the legal industry for more than 20 years helping law firms, in-house legal departments and...
In this article from the ABA Journal, Dennis succinctly presents his reasons why every lawyer in private practice should have a LinkedIn profile. For starters, it's likely to be among the top three results when...
Today’s law firm leaders face extraordinary challenges. Learn steps that the top level of firm leadership can take to enhance the effectiveness and performance of their organizations.
In April 2017, McKinsey & Company published an article – “What Makes a CEO ‘Exceptional’?” – that examines and analyzes the characteristics of highly effective CEOs of S&P 500 companies. Roger’s article brings it home...
Armed with an MBA from The Wharton School, Joel has been advising law firms since he began his management consulting career in 1966. He’s a frequent speaker and author on a myriad of topics related...
Based in Dallas, Roger has been working with law firms and service providers to the legal industry for more than 30 years. Interestingly, he especially enjoys working with firms in transition. In this article, he...
As the business of law evolves, so do the leadership and governance models at today’s most successful smaller and mid-size law firms. Drawing upon bench-marking data we collected in three MPF surveys last year, this...
The success (or failure) of your firm’s practice groups will depend largely on the effectiveness of its practice group leaders. Because firms compete primarily at the practice group level, it’s imperative for your firm to...
Much has been written lately about where an effective managing partner should spend most of his/her leadership and management time. And MPF faculty member Brian Burke has strong feelings on the issue. He suggests that helping strong...
In this gem of an article, Ed says he finds little in common among unsuccessful law firms, because each one tends to fail in its own unique way. He does, however, find that there are...
According to a recent Harvard University study, more than 70% of a customer’s "brand perception" is based on experiences they have with the organization’s employees. For law firms this means both lawyers and support staff. This article speaks to the...
Back in the good ole days, a young lawyer “made partner” simply by hanging around for seven or eight years and not upsetting too many clients or too many of the current partners. Once in,...
Larry is the world’s leading expert on the lawyer personality. He’s has been on the MPF Faculty since the early days and is consistently rated one of our most popular speakers. We’ve also presented stand-alone...
David Maister writes some really good stuff and you'll find lots of his books and articles featured on our Website. This particular article discusses things like mission, vision, values and culture in the context of...
In working with hundreds of law firm leaders over the past twenty years, McKenna has observed several warning signs that often lead to weak or ineffective firm leadership.
There are three common reasons why law firms fail, says this article that appears in the June edition of ABA’s Law Practice magazine. Lack of leadership. Lack of strategic focus. Lack of financial discipline. Don’t...
According to numerous studies and our experience working with hundreds of law firms, the most successful and profitable firms are characterized by a culture of collaboration, sharing and teamwork. After all, you’re running a law...
As a new member of the MPF faculty, we’ve asked Larry to provide a few articles for our Website. This one says that, as a law firm leader, you should want and solicit feedback about...
This article maintains that the managing partner must take the helm as the true owner of the law firm’s cybersecurity. We agree. Unfortunately, many firm leaders view it as an “IT issue.” Judy and Deena...
We’re constantly reminding managing partners to think “big picture” and get the day-to-day stuff off their plates. Ideally, they should think and act more like CEOs, with trusted, competent and capable COOs at their sides....
Riveting bolts or building the Golden Gate Bridge? Cutting stone or constructing Notre Dame Cathedral? Does your firm have a “Noble Purpose?” Many studies reveal that how your firm and its people perceive their contributions...
You’ve just accepted your new role as managing partner of the firm. Congratulations. Now what? This article, published recently in the ABA’s Law Practice Magazine, offers a list of savvy first steps to help you get started on the...
Rather than a formal and elaborate firm-wide training and development program, Ida believes that the best approach to developing future firm leaders is to have established firm leaders build the next generation of leaders through...
As always, Patrick delivers another set of terrific articles in the current edition of International Review. The magazine runs 24-pages and we thank him for sharing it with us. The articles in this issue are:...
Twice a year, Patrick publishes and distributes a collection of articles in a 24-page e-magazine he calls International Review. Although geared primarily toward “BigLaw,” its content is also timely and relevant for smaller and mid-size...
Twice a year, Patrick publishes International Review, an electronic magazine that contains four to five thoughtful and inspiring articles for law firm leaders. It’s geared primarily toward BigLaw but highly applicable to smaller and mid-size...
Patrick and I see eye-to-eye on many of the issues law firm leaders confront in these challenging times. As always, he delivers a fine set of articles in the current edition of International Review. Here...
Once again, Patrick has been kind enough to share with us a collection of articles he distributes twice a year in a publication he calls International Review. Patrick consults mostly with AmLaw 200 firms and...
Twice a year, MPF faculty member Patrick McKenna publishes and distibutes his magazine called International Review to leaders of firms with 50 or more lawyers in the US and Canada. He is kind enough to...
Twice a year, Patrick publishes and distributes International Review, a magazine featuring insightful articles on law firm leadership. This issue examines compensation systems, retirement plans for senior lawyers and several other thought-provoking ideas and concepts....
Twice a year, Patrick publishes a great set of articles in a magazine he calls International Review, and he distributes a hard copy to selected leaders of the very largest law firms. He also provides...
For several years now, Patrick has been kind enough to share his bi-annual collection of articles with our readers. It invariably includes some of the best, most thoughtful articles on law firm leadership and the...
Twice a year, MPF Faculty member Patrick McKenna publishes a collection of articles and insights in a magazine he calls International Review. Although directed primarily toward leaders at BigLaw, his articles are timely and relevant for...
Twice a year, McKenna Associates publishes a magazine called International Review. Each issue strives to contain a “balanced blend of contributions covering the subjects of law firm strategy, economics and leadership,” and this issue includes articles...
Twice a year, Patrick publishes a collection of articles written by him and others on law firm leadership. He calls it International Review. One of the articles we especially like in the current issue is entitled “Confronting the Underperforming...
Twice a year, Patrick McKenna distributes International Review, a magazine for law firm leaders. Although most of his work focuses on Am Law 100 firms, much of what he writes is also timely and relevant...
Twice a year, Patrick publishes his International Review, a collection of articles on law firm leadership and management. It’s geared mostly toward those who lead larger firms, but its teachings apply to managing partners of law...
This issue of Internatinal Review, published by Patrick McKenna, runs 24 pages and features five great articles every firm leader should read. They include numerous practical ideas, tips and techniques that will make you a...
Twice a year, Patrick McKenna distributes a collection of articles in a magazine he calls International Review. Each issue includes five or six thoughtful articles – which often focus on leadership transition and succession planning...
Twice a year, Patrick publishes and distributes a 24-30-page magazine he calls International Review. It typically contains four to five thoughtful and inspiring articles for law firm leaders, designed mostly for BigLaw. For many years,...
This is one of the better White Papers we’re read in recent years on firm leadership, and we highly recommend that you take a few minutes to check it out, as well. August and his...
This hard-hitting and ground-breaking report, which includes an abundance of benchmarking data drawn from two MPF surveys conducted earlier this year, serves as a wake-up call for leaders and owners of smaller and mid-size US...
From the inaugural issue of the Managing Partner Forum newsletter, firm leaders reveal their top management concerns and thoughts on strategic planning. Our response? It’s time to assume the role of CEO in order to...
In our work with smaller and mid-size firms, we find that most have challenges achieving diversity and inclusion. And they are not alone as even the largest US law firms face similar challenges. Since...
Over 90 managing partners, firm leaders and top consultants to the legal industry participated in The MPF 2010 Annual Conference on April 29th in Atlanta, Georgia. This comprehensive White Paper summarizes the key findings revealed through...
The role of law firm maning partner is like no other and they teach you little about how to lead lawyers in law school. This report summarizes the results of a 30-question survey in which...
In November 2010, Patrick McKenna published this six-page report consisting of survey results to a series of questions posed to 92 leaders of law firms with more than 100 lawyers. Its findings are very consistent with data...
In talent driven firms, stars, say the authors of Aligning the Stars ($39.95, Harvard Business School Press), make the difference between winning and losing – and they walk out the door each day. Outstanding firms align stars across...
There has never been a book quite like this one. First Among Equals ($26, Free Press) is among the foremost books ever written on leadership within a professional services firm and is essential reading for law firm...
Good to Great ($29.99, HarperCollins) is one of the leading books on organizational performance in many decades. It discusses concepts like Level 5 Leadership, First Who (first get the right people on the bus, then figure out...
Collaboration among highly autonomous partners is essential and still too rare. Learn the six psychological secrets behind people's powerful impulse to comply, how to put them to work on your behalf and how to defend...
Leading for Lawyers ($39.95, ABA Publishing) is the first book of its kind written by a lawyer for lawyers, judges, law firm administrators and others in the legal profession and provides practical advice on how...
Over the past few years, MPF Faculty member Tom Grella has written numerous articles and several books on law firm leadership and strategic planning. Through a series of practical lessons, Tom draws on his own...
As the legal profession evolves, competition heats up and law firms continue to grow, an increasing number of firms are choosing to run themselves more like businesses and less like loose confederations of sole practitioners....
If you had to pick just one book to read to be more a more effective managing partner, this is it. Managing the Professional Services Firm ($26.00, Free Press), written by David Maister, covers a wide array of topics ranging...
In this best-seller, Ferrazzi writes about how to build a lifelong community of colleagues, contacts and friends without becoming a networking jack-ass. Never Eat Alone ($24.95, Doubleday) is on almost every rainmaker's short list of recommended reading. It makes...
According to HBR, 70% of all change initiatives fail. Don’t let yours be among them. This collection of ten must-read articles helps firm leaders understand that change involves a long-term, multi-faceted approach in order to...
If we've heard it once, we've heard it 1,000 times. Leading a law firm is by no means an easy task…and they certainly didn't teach you much about it in law school. Thank goodness for...
The Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) holds a treasure trove of great information about the business side of running a law firm. This groundbreaking book – written especially for law firm management professionals – provides practical and...
The Knowing-Doing Gap ($32.50, Harvard Business School Press) confronts the challenge faced by many law firms and their leaders. They know what to do, but they just don't do it! This book is a candid, uselful and realistic...
This meticulously researched book puts into plain language an undeniable fact: The modern workplace, law firms included, is beset with assholes. Sutton argues that assholes – those who deliberately make co-workers feel bad about themselves...
The Tipping Point ($39.95, Hachette Book Group) is another international best-seller from Malcom Gladwell, whose other books include Blink and Outliers. Gladwell examines the phenomenon of social change – that magical, defining moment when an...
If we could only recommend one book to a lawyer in private practice, it would be True Professionalism ($26, Simon & Schuster)! Maister's lesson is clear: believe passionately in what you do and never compromise your standards and values....
John Kotter is widely regarded as the world’s foremost authority on leadership and change. Leading Change ($26.95, Harvard Business School Press) outlines in just over 200 pages an actionable 8-step process to initiate and sustain organizational change….even in...
At 184-pages, The Extraordinary Managing Partner ($65, ALA) is a must-read for anyone serving or aspiring to serve as a managing partner in a law firm. In 2010, John Michalik stepped down as Executive Director of the Association of Legal...
Law Practice Today is a monthly digital publication by the ABA’s Law Practice Division that provides “the most current information and trends in the legal industry by delivering anecdotes from professional in the field of...
It’s a good idea for firm leaders to look outside the legal industry from time to time to gain leadership and management perspectives and ideas. This is the best place to find them. The Harvard Business Review ($79/year...
Even today, 60% of mid-size commercial law firms do not have a written strategic plan. Among those that do, 90% report that it has led to improved firm profitability and performance. Why, then, do most...
For this year’s Reports, ALA (Association of Legal Administrators) has collected data for 60+ different positions in 40+ metropolitan areas, including compensation information for law firm COOs, Executive Directors and other key positions, as well...
Founded in 1971, the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) has grown to more than 10,000 members in 30 countries. If your firm is looking for a new administrator, its Career Center has a number of...
According to its website, “The ALA is the undisputed leader for the business of law, focused on the delivery of cutting-edge management and leadership products and services to the global legal community.” If you are...
On May 7th, more than 100 managing partners and law firm leaders gathered in Atlanta to learn with and from peers at our 24th law firm leadership conference. During the Opening Session, we featured audience...
We’re pleased to share the audience polling results from The MPF 2014 Leadership Conference held on May 8, 2014 in Atlanta. More than 100 managing partners and firm leaders participated. The bench-marking data in this...
On May 5, 2016, more than 100 managing partners and law firm leaders gathered in Atlanta for The MPF 2016 Leadership Conference. During the opening session, we distribute audience polling devices and asked participants to...
Too many lawyers. More demanding clients. Increasing competition. Industry consolidation. Globalizing economy. Advances in technology. Proliferation of disruptors. Yikes! What’s a law firm to do? As we know, change surrounds the legal industry, yet smaller...
Most law firms don’t have a written job description for the managing partner. Grab this one. How does it compare to your responsibilities and duties as leader of the firm?
This is an invaluable scorecard. Rank executive committee members on a scale of 1 to 5 based on performance attributes including collegiality, marketing and technical expertise.
Change surrounds the legal industry. The marketplace for legal services is more competitive than ever, and the pace of change will accelerate into the future. Law firms that embrace strategic planning and innovation, invest in...
On August 29th, we presented a Managing Partner Breakfast Roundtable in San Diego. The meeting attracted 20 firm leaders from the region and was sponsored by UPS. The topic was “How to Be a More Effective...
This seven-and-a-half (7-1/2) minute video about building trust and leading change is well worth the time. In it, Spence talks about how effective change leaders can build trust among those they lead. He discusses the...
On April 16, 2013 MPF President and CEO John Remsen, Jr. spoke at the ALA’s Annual Conference on a topic near and dear to The Managing Partner Forum. It was entitled “Law Firm Leadership: The Critical Role...
Last week, we spoke at the 20th Annual Meeting of LEGUS, an international network of law firms, in New Orleans. We were asked to discuss the importance of investing in young lawyers and grooming them...
Each month, John Sterling offers insightful analysis of his “Law Firm Strategy Question of the Month” and presents a new question for the coming month. Recent topics include: • Partner Compensation System Satisfaction, • Profit...
We asked a series of questions, utilizing state-of-the-art audiance participation technology, to more than 35 managing partners and firm leaders at the inaugural Managing Partner Forum for Northeastern Law Firms held on November 4, 2011 in Boston. Their answers...