Since
1985, I have been privileged to work with hundreds of law firms,
and other professional practices around the world.
My consulting work now tends to concentrate on strategy, economics,
and ownership issues. In particular, I advise on strategy, globalisation
and mergers, and carry out reviews of profitability and financial
performance. I give advice on ownership issues, including profit-sharing,
valuation and capitalisation, planning and performance reviews,
admission, retirement and expulsion. I also act as a coach or
mentor to managing partners and heads of department, and as
a non-executive member of a management or policy board. In addition,
I attend many retreats and conferences as speaker or facilitator,
and conduct management workshops. I have also acted as an expert
witness on law office management.
I have a particular interest in the post-Clementi world of legal
practice. I therefore advise firms looking to position themselves
strategically to succeed in the new competitive landscape, as
well as working with new providers of legal services and those
raising or contributing capital and investment.
My approach to legal practice is driven by the belief that law
is a know-how business, and that strategic and financial success
is the result of effective implementation as much as making
the right choices. Professional service and knowledge-intensive
firms present business needs, cultures and management challenges
that may not be experienced in other types of businesses or
industries. As a result, the motivation and interests of owners,
the knowledge base and culture of the firm, and the needs of
clients, must all be sensitively considered if a law firm is
to succeed and be sustainable.
I have always taken the view that my clients are entitled to
confidentiality. For this reason, I do not disclose the names
of clients that I have advised or worked with, unless that information
is otherwise in the public domain. Generally, however, my clients
are principally larger providers of legal services; barristers'
chambers; corporate and public sector legal departments; patent
attorneys; banks; law societies, and public and professional
bodies.
Although most of my work has originated in Great Britain, it
has also involved working with organisations in many other places
around the world: the United States, Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Sweden,
Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal,
Greece, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Rumania, Turkey, Singapore,
Malaysia, and Brunei.
I am also non-executive
chairman of The Legal Practice Group, through which additional
services and support are available: www.tlpg.uk.com
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