Reinventing Professionals

Defining and Building Client Loyalty

I spoke with Susan Duncan, a law firm management consultant, who helps firms and lawyers develop more business through client service and loyalty programs, She is also the author of Building Enduring Client Loyalty: A Guide for Lawyers and Their Firms. We discussed how she defines client loyalty, the challenges to earning it, and strategies for solidifying stronger relationships with clients in a post-pandemic environment.

Leadership and Legal Tech in Finland

I spoke with Niko Jakobsson, the Secretary General of the Finnish Bar Association in Helsinki, Finland. We discussed how the Finnish Bar Association empowers its members through technology, ways that lawyers in Finland are using technology, the pandemic’s impact on the work of the Finnish Bar Association, and the different skills required to lead a bar association.

The Growing Importance of Business Intelligence in Legal

I spoke with Chris Vorderer, Managing Director of Firm Intelligence at Litera, a software company that provides meaningful intelligence to the legal profession, and Pieter van der Hoeven, the co-founder and CEO at Clocktimizer, a business intelligence platform designed to help law firms make data-driven decisions related to matter management, budgeting, and pricing, which Litera recently acquired. We discussed the acquisition, why business intelligence has become so important in the legal sector, and the enhanced opportunities for legal tech companies in a remote environment.

The Value of Spend and Matter Management to Corporate Legal Teams

I spoke with Ian Nolan, the co-founder and CEO of Brightflag, a legal spend and matter management software platform for corporate legal departments. We discussed the value of legal spend management for in-house teams, how law departments can apply artificial intelligence to optimize their operations, and how legal departments are transforming their operations as they return to a central office.

The Connection Between Legal Recruiting, Piano Parties, and Zoom Engagement

I spoke with Dan Binstock, a legal recruiter and co-owner of Garrison & Sisson, a leading attorney search firm. He is also the creator of the Virtual Piano Party. We discussed the state of the legal job market, the genesis of the Virtual Piano Party, and the secret to engaging attendees on Zoom events.

Strategies for Producing Successful Summer Programs

I spoke with Grover Cleveland, the author of Swimming Lessons for Baby Sharks: The Essential Guide to Thriving as a New Lawyer, who provides practical skills webinars for associates and summer associates. We discussed how firms navigated summer associate programming in 2020 and how they will do so in 2021, his playbook for virtual summer programs, and how legal professionals can develop better habits in showcasing their talent and ability.

CLM and the Growth of Legal Operations

I spoke with Jason Boehmig, the co-founder and CEO of Ironclad, a digital contracting platform used by companies around the world. We discussed the genesis of Ironclad, the transition from large firm lawyer to legal tech entrepreneur, the popularity of the CLM sector, the emergence of digital contracting, and the alignment between CLM and the growth of legal operations.

What Conference Organizers Should Know

I spoke with Andrew King, the New Zealand-based founder of Legal Innovate, E-Discovery Consulting, and the LegalTechHub, as well as the producer of the LawFest conference. We discussed how he navigated the uncertainty in the planning process for LawFest, surprises from the event, what conference organizers should know when planning events in a post-COVID era, and how legal events will evolve.

Recognizing the Post-Pandemic Needs of Law Firms

I spoke with Margaret Burke, the managing director at Kolibri Law Support Solutions, a subscription-based suite of legal management and business services for law firms with a focus on helping them improve profitability by reducing overhead and enhancing operational efficiency. We discussed how the needs of law firms have changed in the pandemic, the advantages of outsourcing, and building trust with external resources.

The Changing Dynamics of International Arbitration

I spoke with Michael McIlwrath, an attorney, who spent more than two decades leading international litigation for General Electric’s oil and gas division, and until March of 2021, for Baker Hughes Company. He is the co-author of a new book for lawyers working internationally called Negotiating International Commercial Contracts: Practical Exercises. We discussed his inspiration for the book, the value of the practical exercises included in the book, the impact of unintentional negotiating, how the pandemic has impacted international arbitration, and how it will evolve.