Editorial: New Routes to Strategic Growth
When a firm has good and valid reasons to grow, or at least to extend its reach, the question changes from whether to grow to how to grow. The favoured traditional route — indeed, the only route for most firms — was a merger, a complicated and challenging move that could deliver major benefits but […]
Harvesting the Diamonds
If you’ve read the previous article by Nick and Ed, then you already know that “verein” is the German word for “association.” That relatively casual and distant word reflects the fact that such firms typically involve separate profit centers, a financial state of affairs that does not always encourage cross-selling to the same degree that […]
Fall 2012 – Edge International Review
The Fall 2012 issue of the Edge International Review provides legal leaders with insights on alternative growth strategies in the legal industry, covering topics like Swiss Vereins, global alliances, and non-merger affiliations. It discusses non-traditional expansion methods that law firms can use to enhance their market presence and competitiveness, while also examining case studies, best […]
Defusing the bomb: Dealing with difficult partners
Almost every firm has experienced it: the powerful partner with the toxic personality whose behavior terrorizes the rest of the firm and damages both morale and productivity. Here is a step-by-step guide for law firm leaders to address the seemingly intractable problem of the monster partner.
Edge International Communique’ December 2011
“Fighting the Last Talent War” Instead of fighting the last talent war, aim to win the next one instead. By Jordan Furlong “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished” Avoiding making hard choices by creation of non-equity partners to avoid difficult personnel decisions often results in long term difficulties. By Ed Wesemann “Driving Execution” Seven ways to […]
The emerging new capitals of law
New York, London and Hong Kong may vie for the title of world’s financial capital. But the debate isn’t so straightforward in the law, with centers like Gurgaon, Belfast, and Dayton, Ohio competing for a growing share of legal work that needn’t be performed in law firms’ urban headquarters. Here’s a preview of what might […]
Don’t touch that compensation system (yet)!
Law firms struggling with partner compensation — which is to say, almost all firms — often blame the compensation system. But more often than not, the problem lies with the ways in which the compensation process plays out, including expectations of partner behavior and the communication of the process by which a figure is reached. […]
7 business development tactics in a down economy
The global economy is in rough shape and will get worse before it gets better. That means law firms must sharpen their business development efforts if they hope to improve profitability over the next 12 to 24 months. Here are seven ways in which your firm can increase its chances for major business victories. At […]
Leading @ Edge
Twenty-eight years ago, when I co-founded “The Edge Group,” (now Edge International), I could not have hoped for nor imagined the talent of its current partners. But you needn’t take my word for the quality of Edge’s thought leaders — I believe the six feature articles in this edition of our Edge International Review, along […]
Why The Best Managing Partners Need Coaches
The best managing partners are talented, accomplished lawyers who command the respect of their peers and want their firms and their people to succeed. It seems counter-intuitive that they would need a coach. However, there are extraordinary benefits, both personally and professionally, to be reaped from a good coaching experience — and the better the […]