by Bruce | July 18, 2007 | Articles, Finance, Globalization, Just Plain Interesting, Partnership Structures, Strategy, Technology strategy
My friend Professor William Henderson at Indiana University School of Law—Bloomington just sent word of a new initiative the law school is launching in conjunction with the American Bar Foundation. Called the "Law Firms Working Group," the...
by Bruce | July 17, 2007 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Globalization, Leadership, Partnership Structures, Strategy
When we left Allen & Overy in June 1971, Jim Thomson had just died. "He, more than any one other single individual, represented Allen & Overy; in the minds of many people in the City, clients and competitors alike, Jim Thomson was Allen &...
by Bruce | July 10, 2007 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Globalization, Innovative Managing Partners, Leadership, Partnership Structures, Strategy, Technology strategy
The FT is out with its second annual "Innovative Lawyers" Survey and much has changed since I reported on the original survey a year ago. Primarily, the survey is far more ambitious in scope this year: "The 2006 report covered only UK lawyers...
by Bruce | July 5, 2007 | Articles, Finance, Globalization, Leadership, Partnership Structures, Strategy
The current issue of the ABA Journal (July 2007) has an article recapping the debate on the likelihood and advisability of publicly-traded law firms in the United States. Some of the more notable positions on the topic are: “It’s hard to say anything...
by Bruce | June 29, 2007 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Leadership, Partnership Structures, Practice Group Management, Strategy
Behold a thunderclap of common sense. Might our industry be about to introduce the camel’s nose of "merit-based pay" into the tent? Washington-based Howrey (630 lawyers) just announced, as reported on law.com, that they are ditching lockstep...
by Bruce | June 28, 2007 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Globalization, Leadership, Partnership Structures, Strategy
Here on "Adam Smith, Esq." I’ve been writing about the possibility of outside investors in law firms—and even IPO’s of firms—starting in December 2004. For the full roster, see that piece, plus: How to Change Everything/December 2004...