by Bruce | September 28, 2005 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Globalization, Leadership, Partnership Structures, Strategy
This being an equal opportunity blog in terms of eligibility for criticism or praise, today I offer a heartfelt endorsement of what Clifford Chance is doing right—and add that other firms aspiring to a truly sophisticated approach to their strategic...
by Bruce | September 27, 2005 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Leadership, Marketing, Partnership Structures, Strategy
Actually, this post is less about hockey players and associates than it is about how the top firms are all able to mysteriously agree on the "going rate" ($125,000 for first year’s) without colluding, and on the dynamics behind the scenes when that...
by Bruce | September 17, 2005 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Leadership, Partnership Structures, Strategy
The Lawyer (UK) is one of those publications you ignore to your impoverishment: Somewhat like the role the Financial Times has vis-a-vis The Wall Street Journal, or The Economist vis-a-vis Business Week, The Lawyer provides a refreshing, candid, often cheeky,...
by Bruce | September 13, 2005 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Leadership, Strategy
With all the attention we pay to strategy, globalization, M&A and consolidation, practice group and knowledge management, and other issues in firm management on the more or less empyrean plane, it’s time for a word about associates. For starters, associates...
by Bruce | September 8, 2005 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Globalization, M&A, Strategy
The Lawyer is out with their annual "UK 100" (for 2005), and it shows that while the Magic Circle is pulling away ("going galactic," as they gaily put it), the interesting action is in what they newly dub the "Silver Circle," or the...
by Bruce | August 30, 2005 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Globalization, Leadership, Strategy
File this under better late than never: The New York Times has finally covered the Coudert meltdown, with a tale that aptly captures the romantic, idealistic, and ever so slightly out of touch with reality aura of the firm at its best and yes, at its...