by Bruce | August 27, 2005 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Globalization, Leadership, Strategy
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait. For what? For the results of Legal Week’s survey of the intentions of the top 50 UK firms regarding conversion to LLP status to come true: 14 of the top 50 have already converted; 28 of the...
by Bruce | August 24, 2005 | Articles, Compensation, Finance, Globalization, Strategy
The Lawyer’s UK 100 listing will be out right after Labor Day, but we have an advance peek at the top 10 today. Linklaters is #1 at £410-million in revenue (US$738-million), up over 8% on strong corporate-department performance. Clifford Chance...
by Bruce | August 18, 2005 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Globalization, Leadership, Partnership Structures, Strategy
We note with great sadness the passing of a 150+ year old firm, a pioneer on the international scene in ways many are still trying to emulate. (Also here.) The firm’s demise strikes me as exceedingly unnecessary—given the long perspective—but...
by Bruce | August 17, 2005 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Leadership, Marketing, Strategy
Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the obvious. Permit me to remind you: Ours is a talent-driven profession. Professionals—"elevator assets"—are highly mobile. The best people are always in limited supply. Turnover is...
by Bruce | August 12, 2005 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Leadership, Partnership Structures, Strategy
Imagine a highly productive partner with a stand-out book of business that other firms would salivate over, years of experience and accumulated wisdom, and deep ties to blue-chip clients. What are the odds a firm would introduce a clause in its partnership...
by Bruce | August 10, 2005 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Globalization, Leadership, Partnership Structures, Practice Group Management, Strategy
Is "leadership" a verb or a noun? I’m not trying to be cute—the real question is whether leaders are simply born, or can be made. To step back, leadership is one of those ineffable qualities the intrinsic desirability of which no one...