In recent years many law firms have felt the effects of the downturn in the economy. A combination of loss of client interest, new market entrants and threats emerging from changes to family legal aid, personal injury costing principals and criminal legal aid have provided new challenges for law firms.
How are you going to grow your business in 2014?
The Law Management Section aims to be at the forefront in helping law firms through these difficult times by providing the skills and knowledge to help firms develop and thrive in a sustainable manner. The annual conference features several highly specialised speakers who will provide practical advice on how you can:
- Overcome the effects of the economic downturn
- Take positive steps to counter the competition
- Emerge in better financial shape.
Programme
09.00 - 09.30 Registration and refreshments
09.30 - 09.40 Welcome and introduction (Robert Banner, chair, Law Management Section Executive Committee)
09.40 - 10.30 Keynote presentation: Getting on an even keel - stability planning for 2014 (Nick Jarrett-Kerr, specialist adviser to law firms)
- Top tips for financial recovery
- Good corporate governance to manage risk (and to satisfy the SRA)
- Confidence - building external and internal communications
10.30 - 11.10 Plenary 2: Re-building a law firm - from dark night to bright stars (Simon McCrum, managing director, Darbys)
How did Darbys move from a trading loss in 2007 to:
- record years and 35% year on year growth in 2012 and 2013?
- aspiring to become the country’s first national legal brand?
11.10 - 11.30 Morning refreshments
11.30 - 12.15 Plenary 3: Cash flow - the key to surviving and thriving (Barry Wilkinson, consultant, Wilkinson Read)
- Designing a cash positive firm
- What should we expect anyway?
- The biggest blockage?
- The ultimate quality control measure?
12.15 - 13.00 Plenary 4: Planning for and negotiating a merger or acquisition in the current climate (Mark Jones, partner, Addleshaw Goddard)
- The context of the marketplace
- Getting into shape
- Execution: a suggestion of ten commandments
13.00 - 14.00 Lunch
14.00 - 15.00 Breakout sessions
A1: Social media for law firms (Melissa Davis, managing director, MD Communications)
A2: Fixed share partners in LLPs: New tax rules - employee or self employed? (Alastair McQuater, partner, Buzzacott LLP, Accountants, Alison Downie, partner, head of employment, Goodman Derrick LLP
A3: Small firms - Keep calm and carry on! (Tony Roe, principal, Tony Roe Divorce & Family Law Solicitors; Paul Bennett, partner, mediator and arbitrator, Aaron and Partners LLP)
15.00 - 15.20 Afternoon refreshments
15.20 - 16.00 Q&A session
16.00 - 16.40 Plenary 5: Business development - the dreams vs reality in cross-selling (Kim Tasso, consultant)
- Get ready: Fine tuning the client experience and revving their loyalty
- Aim: Managing traditional and digital client information
- Set: Crafting a coherent client development strategy
- Fire: Motivating your lawyers to win the race
16.40 - 16.50 Closing remarks (Robert Banner, chair, Law Management Section Executive Committee)
16.50 - 17.45 Networking drinks reception
Who should attend?
- Managing partners / senior partners
- Directors
- Chief executives
- Anyone working in law management
