Note from the Editor: Looking Forward to 2008

As I sit here writing this, it is six days before Christmas and I'm feeling the pinch of getting everything accomplished before my family and friends arrive for a two-day, non-stop celebration complete with large gatherings on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Christmas Evening. All the cards have been sent, the gifts wrapped, the charitable donations made and now I turn my attention to the food, and when you are Italian, there's a lot of it ' but I digress.

By the time all of you will be reading this, we will be in a new year and a new year brings new projects and new challenges, all of which are exciting and fulfilling. At this point in my career, I have the luxury of taking on engagements for which I have a real interest and can make a significant contribution. Lots of projects come to my attention in one way or another and, while many offer lucrative remuneration, if I cannot 'wrap my arms around' the project, I tend to pass on it. I have always believed that any engagement or project has to be fun and fulfilling because if it is not, you might get it right, but you will never feel like you accomplished the real end game ' success.

I am happy to report that most of our regular columnists are returning for 2008. In addition, we have one new column which actually had its premier in November and one new columnist taking over an existing column.

Our new column, Law Firm Leadership, is written by David Freeman, a former lawyer from New York. David is the founder and CEO of the David Freeman Consulting Group, based in Boulder, CO. He has 25 years of experience and has worked with thousands of lawyers as a coach, consultant, trainer, retreat designer, and certified facilitator in nearly one hundred law firms across North America (with nearly half in the AmLaw 200). David has written a book called 'Weekly Reminders for Revenue-Focused Leaders,' he produces 'Tips of the Month' focused on leadership and business development, and he is also an internationally recognized speaker who has appeared at scores of law firm retreats, national and regional legal industry conferences, bar associations, and law firm network conferences. His inventive approach to law firm leadership is one of the reasons I encouraged him to write a column for MLF. I'm thrilled he accepted my invitation. David sits on our Board of Editors.

Beginning in February, Michael DeCosta, a Client Partner with Korn/Ferry International, based in its Stamford, CT, office and a member of the firm's professional services practice, will be writing the Career Journal column. Mike focuses on search assignments for management and IT consulting, accounting and law firms. Prior to joining Korn/Ferry, he served as Senior Recruiting Manager for Deloitte Consulting, where he helped launch a highly successful senior-level recruiting group focused on attracting partners and directors into the firm's global leadership team. Mike originally joined Korn/Ferry as a Senior Associate in the firm's Boston office, where he conducted assignments in both the professional services and healthcare industries. Health care clients included leading health insurers and world-class academic medical centers. I have to say that after meeting Mike and discussing his plans for the column, I am quite certain that he will bring another dimension to the world of professional services marketing. Mike will also serve on our Board of Editors.

We have another new addition to our Board of Editors, and she also comes from outside the legal industry. Gwen Nugent Flanagan is Director of Marketing for RR Donnelley's Financial Services Group. She is based in Donnelley's Arlington, VA, office. In her role as Director of Marketing, Gwen is responsible for crafting and implementing marketing strategies to acquire and retain clients, create and seize market opportunities and gain market share to grow sales revenue. To accomplish these goals, Gwen manages marketing communication and client education programs directed at the C-suites of Fortune 1000 companies, law firms, and investment banks. Most recently, she administered the creation of the Women In Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF), a networking group of over 400 women from blue-chip New York law firms. Prior to assuming her current duties, she served as Pricing Director at RR Donnelley. Gwen earned her MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and started her career as a CPA with KPMG.

So here we go ' welcome to MLF 2008. Enjoy and if you have any suggestions, questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

' Elizabeth Anne 'Betiayn' Tursi

    Editor-in-Chief

As I sit here writing this, it is six days before Christmas and I'm feeling the pinch of getting everything accomplished before my family and friends arrive for a two-day, non-stop celebration complete with large gatherings on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Christmas Evening. All the cards have been sent, the gifts wrapped, the charitable donations made and now I turn my attention to the food, and when you are Italian, there's a lot of it ' but I digress.

By the time all of you will be reading this, we will be in a new year and a new year brings new projects and new challenges, all of which are exciting and fulfilling. At this point in my career, I have the luxury of taking on engagements for which I have a real interest and can make a significant contribution. Lots of projects come to my attention in one way or another and, while many offer lucrative remuneration, if I cannot 'wrap my arms around' the project, I tend to pass on it. I have always believed that any engagement or project has to be fun and fulfilling because if it is not, you might get it right, but you will never feel like you accomplished the real end game ' success.

I am happy to report that most of our regular columnists are returning for 2008. In addition, we have one new column which actually had its premier in November and one new columnist taking over an existing column.

Our new column, Law Firm Leadership, is written by David Freeman, a former lawyer from New York. David is the founder and CEO of the David Freeman Consulting Group, based in Boulder, CO. He has 25 years of experience and has worked with thousands of lawyers as a coach, consultant, trainer, retreat designer, and certified facilitator in nearly one hundred law firms across North America (with nearly half in the AmLaw 200). David has written a book called 'Weekly Reminders for Revenue-Focused Leaders,' he produces 'Tips of the Month' focused on leadership and business development, and he is also an internationally recognized speaker who has appeared at scores of law firm retreats, national and regional legal industry conferences, bar associations, and law firm network conferences. His inventive approach to law firm leadership is one of the reasons I encouraged him to write a column for MLF. I'm thrilled he accepted my invitation. David sits on our Board of Editors.

Beginning in February, Michael DeCosta, a Client Partner with Korn/Ferry International, based in its Stamford, CT, office and a member of the firm's professional services practice, will be writing the Career Journal column. Mike focuses on search assignments for management and IT consulting, accounting and law firms. Prior to joining Korn/Ferry, he served as Senior Recruiting Manager for Deloitte Consulting, where he helped launch a highly successful senior-level recruiting group focused on attracting partners and directors into the firm's global leadership team. Mike originally joined Korn/Ferry as a Senior Associate in the firm's Boston office, where he conducted assignments in both the professional services and healthcare industries. Health care clients included leading health insurers and world-class academic medical centers. I have to say that after meeting Mike and discussing his plans for the column, I am quite certain that he will bring another dimension to the world of professional services marketing. Mike will also serve on our Board of Editors.

We have another new addition to our Board of Editors, and she also comes from outside the legal industry. Gwen Nugent Flanagan is Director of Marketing for RR Donnelley's Financial Services Group. She is based in Donnelley's Arlington, VA, office. In her role as Director of Marketing, Gwen is responsible for crafting and implementing marketing strategies to acquire and retain clients, create and seize market opportunities and gain market share to grow sales revenue. To accomplish these goals, Gwen manages marketing communication and client education programs directed at the C-suites of Fortune 1000 companies, law firms, and investment banks. Most recently, she administered the creation of the Women In Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF), a networking group of over 400 women from blue-chip New York law firms. Prior to assuming her current duties, she served as Pricing Director at RR Donnelley. Gwen earned her MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and started her career as a CPA with KPMG.

So here we go ' welcome to MLF 2008. Enjoy and if you have any suggestions, questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

' Elizabeth Anne 'Betiayn' Tursi

    Editor-in-Chief