Embracing Culture As A Path to Survival
May 01, 2016
A strong, powerful and constructive culture has a significant impact on a business's ability to differentiate, to offer top-shelf client service, to attract and retain talent at all levels and to reach new levels of profitability. Regardless of how technology continues to help the legal industry reinvent itself from a mature industry to a young and thriving industry, culture and people will remain a key driver of any firm's long-term success.
The Coming Tsunami in the Legal Profession
May 01, 2016
There have been four waves of change over the last 50 years. We are now entering the fifth wave and this one will be a tsunami. The lawyers who do not recognize the trends will not be able to enter a new era and survive. The fifth wave will turn partnership leverage, compensation systems and the business model upside down. There is not much time to make the incremental changes that will support sustained profitability in law firms.
To Merge or Not to Merge?
May 01, 2016
The "one-percenters" that we are hearing so much about in this year's primary election campaigns also have an analogous place in current law firm economics. The rich are getting richer, and most others are struggling to hold their own.
Professional Development: Building Excitement Around Business Development
May 01, 2016
Ask lawyers what they find EXCITING about selling (it is okay to use the "sales" word) and most will say winning, followed closely by developing new relationships. On the flipside, they fear rejection and failure. Add risk aversion and low resilience to the mix and business development can feel daunting.
This Very Curious Real Estate Cycle
May 01, 2016
Every commercial real estate cycle is basically the same ' including that point, somewhere in the mid to end of the cycle, at which people become convinced that this one will be different for some specific reason. And here we are at that point again.
Business Crimes Hotline
April 01, 2016
In-depth discussion of two major cases, one out of Colorado, the other from New York.
How To Run Your Law Firm More Like a Business
April 01, 2016
If your firm is like most law firms, your top goals include growing revenue, and in turn, increasing profitability. You've implemented practice management software, and probably even a customer relationship management (CRM) system to help you achieve those objectives.
What Non-Delaware Lawyers Need to Know About e-Discovery in Delaware
April 01, 2016
Many non-Delaware lawyers will, at some point in their careers, find themselves practicing in a Delaware court after being admitted pro hac vice. For those that do, it is important to note that the Delaware courts take e-discovery seriously and have a sophisticated understanding of it. This article serves as a primer on conducting e-discovery in the Delaware courts.
Seventh Circuit Voids Lien-Securing Rescue Loan
April 01, 2016
A "bank [making a secured rescue loan] had information that should have created the requisite suspicion ' to conduct a diligent search for possible dirt" ' <I>i.e.</I>, whether the debtor had the right to pledge $312 million of customer securities, held the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on Jan. 8, 2016.
Leasing Can Make Your Information Security Processes Bullet Proof
April 01, 2016
Security issues are cited repeatedly as the number one concern for law firms and most recently topped all other current trends. This year, firms are estimated to spend more than $6.9 million or 1.92% of their gross annual revenues on information security.