Do You Understand your Firm’s DNA? What Are the Good and the Bad Bits?
The DNA acronym is sometimes used with reference to the inherent characteristics of a firm or a part of the firm. Unlike the originating definition of DNA – an organic chemical of complex molecular structure which codes genetic information for transmission of inherited traits – which is fixed, the important thing about this loose use […]
When the Monkeys Run the Zoo
In running any business, reaching wise and sensible decisions is never easy. And in competitive markets, many who are charged with managing professional-service firms can suffer sleepless nights attempting to get decision-making right. But trying to get the right outcome can become a ‘worst nightmare’ in firms without a clear governance structure or with a […]
Managing and Growing a Law Firm: Part 2 of 3
In this series of three articles, I highlight the legal scene in Asia, the changes to the legal industry, and the different resources available to law firms for expansion. In my first article, I shared my thoughts about managing and growing a law firm. In Part 2 of this series, I share thoughts on the global […]
Managing and Growing a Law Firm: Part 1 of 3
In this series of three articles I highlight the legal scene in Asia, the changes to the legal industry, and the different resources available to law firms for expansion. Being a lawyer and managing a law firm are two different spectra and require different sets of skills. Some 85% of law firms in Asia are actually […]
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – Privacy Protection for EU Citizens
We currently retain your email address for the purpose of sending you our Edge International Communiqué (EIC) as well as occasional insights and reports. Whether you are in the European Union or outside it, we respect your right to privacy and believe you are entitled to all of the protections offered by the GDPR. Therefore, if either now or upon […]
Getting the job done: Some practical examples
A year ago, I published an EIC article titled ‘Forget systems and structures – getting the job done is the key’. In that article I suggested effort often goes into putting in systems or structures, but not enough emphasis is put on ensuring the success and implementation of projects – and that, consequently, results don’t […]
Ten Steps toward a Happier Firm
I have been involved in the management of professional service firms for upwards of twenty-five years, and during that time much of my effort has been directed towards helping firms to develop and build what might loosely be described as “success” – strategic success, financial success, business development success, organisational success and positioning success (relative […]
Lawyer-to-Partner Gearing or Leverage. Yes or No?
The concept of lawyer-to-partner gearing or leverage – the number of lawyers a firm employs for every partner – continues to go through changes. It is not uncommon to hear partners say things like “My clients want partners on their jobs“, “My type of work is too complex for non-partners“, “I simply don’t have the […]
Forget Systems and Structures – “Getting the Job Done” Is the Key
Successful businesses and law firms succeed because they get the right things done. They determine a vision, identify strategic key objectives, strategies to achieve those, make decisions around these and then make sure they are implemented. This gets results – the real test of everything. Too often I think firms and even my consulting colleagues around […]
The More Things Change…
Observations on 30 years in the legal profession As I enjoyed a break in the New England mountains of Australia last week, kayaking and fishing for the magnificent native Murray cod, I realised I had been closely associated with leadership and management of law firms for close on thirty years – about twenty in managing partner […]