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...
by Bruce | June 21, 2007 | Articles, Cultural Considerations, Globalization, Leadership, Partnership Structures, Strategy
"Strategy" is what you do that’s outward-focused, right?—in the sense that it’s focused on what practice areas you are investing in or retrenching from, what your firm’s geographic footprint is, and how you attempt to distinguish your...
by Bruce | June 20, 2007 | Articles, Book Reviews, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Globalization, Leadership, Partnership Structures, Strategy
If you are fascinated as I am by the congeries of issues lying at the intersection of the "partnership ethos" and "corporate-like management," then you need to be familiar with the work of Dr. Laura Empson, as highlighted in Aric Press’s...
by Bruce | June 16, 2007 | Articles, Cultural Considerations, Globalization, Leadership, Partnership Structures, Strategy
Marking the 10th anniversary of the merger that created CMS Cameron McKenna, Managing Partner Dick Tyler has a piece in Legal Week reflecting on the past 10 years and the future. As he describes his goal for the article: "What has the profession as a whole...
by Bruce | June 13, 2007 | Articles, Finance, Globalization, Partnership Structures, Strategy
Bloomberg News ran a story yesterday headlined "Slater & Gordon Lifts Curtain on Global Law Firms Going Public," which features excerpts from interviews with seven people, including yours truly, offering their views on what the implications might...
by Bruce | June 12, 2007 | Articles, Cultural Considerations, Leadership, Partnership Structures, Practice Group Management, Strategy
From an interview in The New York Times on June 9 with Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of GE: "At one point in our conversation, I asked Immelt how he balanced the need to be building consensus with the need to make a firm decision and, in effect, show who’s boss. It...