by Bruce | December 8, 2010 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Leadership, M&A, Partnership Structures, Strategy
A few days ago LegalWeek had a short piece announcing that: Hogan Lovells is set to offer marquee lateral hires above-lockstep pay deals as part of ambitious plans to dramatically expand its City M&A practice. The strategy is intended to underpin the firm’s...
by Bruce | November 29, 2010 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Partnership Structures
Rarely have I used a reader’s correspondence as the premise for an entire column, but sometimes the thoughtfulness and clarion good will that come through deserve that it be shared (anonymously, in almost all cases, as here) with the larger Adam Smith, Esq....
by Bruce | November 14, 2010 | Articles, Cultural Considerations, Leadership, M&A, Partnership Structures, Strategy
As has been widely reported (for example, on law.com), Proskauer and SJ Berwin announced shortly before the weekend that they had called off their merger talks, which were originally disclosed over half a year ago. The predictably anodyne statement, issued jointly,...
by Bruce | November 12, 2010 | Articles, Cultural Considerations, Practice Group Management
Does it strike you that there’s a lot of talk in the air lately about “happiness” in our profession? Just a few pointers recently: The American Lawyer writing last month about law schools “trying to close the gap between their...
by Bruce | November 2, 2010 | Articles, Cultural Considerations, Leadership, Strategy
Creativity and innovation–two characteristics conventionally thought to be in short supply in law firms–are assumed to be of ineffable origins. Oddly satisfying, that, isn’t it? If no one has a clue how to encourage or foster it, we are...
by Bruce | October 22, 2010 | Articles, Cultural Considerations, Innovative Managing Partners, Leadership, Strategy
I had occasion recently to reflect on the situation facing a fair number of firms who have managing partners (or chairs, or CEO’s, whatever their titles) who have held the post for a relatively long time and where there is, to the outward eye at least, no heir...