Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email GroupSales@alm.com to receive your discount on a new subscription.

<b><i>Voice of the Client:</i></b> Trusted Adviser?

By Bruce Heintz
April 02, 2015

I work with law firms and lawyers to gauge their clients' levels of satisfaction and lack thereof. Over many years, I've been involved in thousands of in-person interviews with in-house legal counsel and business executives on behalf of law firms, Big Four accounting firms and other professional services organizations. During these interviews, clients have shared their observations about the professionals who serve them ' and what makes the good ones really good.

So, what is a Trusted Adviser and how do you become one, thereby deepening and strengthening a relationship? Many of the definitions I've found in print and online seem to be a bit vague, such as having “practical judgment” or being able to “influence and advocate.” But, I haven't heard these terms used very often in interviews and I'm not sure how helpful they might be. Instead, I will share with you a few of the more instructional vignettes that I have gleaned from listening to clients enthuse about their own Trusted Advisers:

Heroes Come in Many Sizes

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at customercare@alm.com or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York Image

In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?

The Benefits of Blockchain for e-Discovery and Data Preservation Image

As businesses across various industries increasingly adopt blockchain, it will become a critical source of discoverable electronically stored information. The potential benefits of blockchain for e-discovery and data preservation are substantial, making it an area of growing interest and importance.