denotes premium content | Oct 8 2008 Managing Partner archive
Volume 4 Issue 6
Features
Does your bank pass the 'relationship banking' test?
All law firm management should take a few moments and try to pinpoint when the last time was they saw their bank manager? Or how many times has the manager changed since they started doing business with your bank. In short, firms should be assessing how well their bank knows, and understands, the nature and operations of the firm. Aidan Cullen, senior marketing manager at Allied Irish Bank, explains why your relationship with your bank is critical for a growing law firm.
E-business: design an effective legal strategy and risk management framework
The emergence of the so-called 'internet economy'(1) and the e-business (2) revolution necessitate a different way of thinking about the traditional way in which legal advice is provided to clients of law firms. In fact, some aspects of the practice and management of law as we know it today has to be fundamentally realigned to face new challenges and new models of businesses in the electronic business environment.
Event strategies: Making legal events work for your firm
The International Bar Association's (IBA) major annual conference (1), which regularly attracts over 3,000 lawyers from around the world, has established itself as the largest international market place of the legal year. This year it is in Cancun, but who is selling what to who? After promoting the event in-house for the IBA, Moray McLaren joined the marketing team at Denton Wilde Sapte where he finds himself struggling to find a framework to explain what the event means in terms of the firm's day-to-day marketing.
Follow the yellow brick road to client care
Client care is one of the buzz-phrases of the moment. But what does it really mean? And how can a concept that moves the lawyer from being a technically able legal adviser to a skilled relationship manager, be introduced into the highly competitive environment of a commercial law firm. Carolyn Roberson, director of business development and marketing at Addleshaw Booth & Co, tells how its award-winning client care programme has become central to the firm's success.
Making the transition to law firm marketing
BBC business correspondent Nik Wood caused a stir in legal circles last year when he left journalism to take up the post as director of marketing with Hammond Suddards Edge. His assignments in terrorist areas of Colombia and in the tough financial markets of Japan would, he thought, prepare him for a new life in the law. In reality he found himself being thrown in at the deep end.
Marketing legal service in a dynamic environment
The world in which law firms seek new and represent existing corporate clients is in flux. The rules by which relationships flourished for years are changing and the means by which the firms secure business are also changing. Steve Lauer argues that firms need a clear understanding of the needs and wishes of in-house lawyers and how they seek outside legal assistance is critical.
The future of transactional law
There are historical barriers to conducting high value transactions over the internet, which new technologies are removing and in doing so are creating opportunities. Henry Steen of Business Integrity Ltd discusses how this is of vital strategic importance to the legal industry, due to the declining level of deals, the uncertain economic environment, client pressure on fees increasing, competition intensifying, and the exceptional lawyer being in higher demand.
