Structural Issues in Law Firm Management
This program will pull back the curtain on what it means to be a law firm partner and the role of partners in law firms.
The program is open to all, but is most highly recommended for senior associates, counsel, partners, and legal services professionals at law firms. Sessions will be conducted in English.
Online via Zoom Fridays, January 19 - May 3, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
$1,000 per person / $750 discounts available
Optional In-Person Colloquium, Thursday, May 9 - Friday, May 10, 2024 (subject to health protocols and sufficient enrollment)
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- January 19 Welcome/Program Introduction and José Eduardo Carneiro Queiroz Memorial Lecture
- January 26 Firm Strategies and Business Models
- February 2 Firm Structures and Governance
- February 9 Compensation Systems Part I
- February 16 Compensation Systems Part II
- February 23 People I: Law Firm Leadership
- March 1 People II: Recruiting, Training, and Retaining Talent
- March 8 Law Firm Finances: Pricing and Efficiency
- March 15 2024 Trends in the Marketing of Law
- March 22 Knowledge Management
- April 5 Managing the Client Relationship Part I: Firm Strategies
- April 12 Managing the Client Relationship Part II: The Client Perspective
- April 19 Technology and AI
- April 26 Risk Management and Ethical Issues
- May 3 Law Firm Mergers
- May 9-10 Optional Live Sessions (tentative events)
This schedule is subject to change.
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Natalie Alhonte, Director of Strategy, Latin America, Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Stephen Allen, Chief Scout, Trampelpfad
Rafique Bachour, Global Managing Partner, Freshfields
Robert C. Bata, Founder & Principal, Warwick Place Legal
Matt Burnstein, Executive Partner, Holland & Knight
Pedro Campos, Vice President, Elevate
Gabriel Yomi Dabiri, Office Managing Partner, Polsinelli
Pedro Whitaker de Souza Dias, Managing Partner, Mattos Filho
Peter M. Ellis, Partner, Reed Smith
Deborah Farone, Founder, Farone Advisors
Palmina M. Fava, Partner, Vinson & Elkins
Joshua A. Fireman, President & Founder, Fireman & Company
Peter Furci, Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton
Thais Garcia, Partner, Clifford Chance
Joe Green, Chief Innovation Officer, Gunderson Dettmer
Jose Luis Guerra, General Counsel - International Private Bank, JP Morgan
Christopher Escobedo Hart, Partner, Foley Hoag
Verity Jackson-Grant, Head of Pricing, Simmons & Simmons
Colin Jasper, Principal, Positive Pricing
Jamila Jean, Deputy General Counsel, Baker McKenzie
Pablo Jimenez, Partner, Von Wobeser y Sierra
James W. Jones, Principal, Legal Management Resources
Andrew Kassner, Partner and Chair Emeritus, Faegre Drinker
Susan Raridon Lambreth, Co-Founding Principal, LawVision
Benjamin Longlet, Strategic Advisor, Duco
Richard Lorenzo, Regional Managing Partner, Hogan Lovells
Mara-Leticia Ossa Daza, Partner, Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Deborah Martin Owens, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Cravath, Swaine & Moore
Zia J. Mody, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, AZB & Partners
Alexandra Paslawsky, Director of Global Legal Recruiting, Milbank
Sarah Posner, Head of Legal Recruiting, Clifford Chance
Amadeu Ribeiro, Partner, DLA Piper
Nathaniel Robinson, Senior Director of Client Value, Goulston & Storrs
Elizabeth A. Rogers, Partner, Michael Best
Allan Schoenberg, Chief Communications Officer, Vinson & Elkins
Chahira Solh, Partner and Chair of the Executive Committee, Crowell & Moring
Lawrence S. Spiegel, Partner & General Counsel, Skadden
Sheea Sybblis, Associate General Counsel & Practice Group Leader, Genentech
Christopher K. Tahbaz, Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton
Sophia D. Tawil, General Counsel, Cravath, Swaine & Moore
Constanza Vergara Jaakola, Partner, Pérez-Llorca
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- Toni Jaeger-Fine Senior Counselor, Fordham Law School
- Pablo Sorj Partner, Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Avogados
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CLE credit was approved for the 2024 program in accordance with the requirements of the New York State and New Jersey State CLE Boards for a maximum of 13 credits. New York credits are nontransitional (experienced) in the following areas (subject to change): 10.0 Professional Practice, 1.0 Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection General, 1.0 Law Practice Management, and 1.0 Ethics credits for New York; and 12.0 Professional Practice and 1.0 Ethics credits for New Jersey. Attendees seeking credit in another state must apply to their states' CLE Board for credit.
Program Schedule
Additional speakers to be announced.
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José Eduardo Carneiro Queiroz Memorial Lecture from Pedro Whitaker de Souza Dias, Managing Partner, Mattos Filho
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This panel will cover how to define a firm's purpose, and what it stands for in a greater context. In addition, speakers will discuss how to compare global firms vs. national firms with a global reach.
Featuring:
Peter Furci, Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton
Andrew Kassner, Partner and Chair Emeritus, Faegre Drinker
Palmina M. Fava, Partner, Vinson & Elkins
Rafique Bachour, Global Managing Partner, Freshfields
CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ
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This two part series will cover the lockstep model and its variations, models that reward individual performance, and the pros and cons of different compensation models.
Featuring:
James W. Jones, Principal, Legal Management Resources
CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ
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This two part series will cover the lockstep model and its variations, models that reward individual performance, and the pros and cons of different models.
Featuring:
James W. Jones, Principal, Legal Management Resources
CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ
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This panel will cover centralized vs. decentralized governance in law firms, key officers, key committees, and elections and voting rights among firms.
Featuring:
Thais Garcia, Partner, Clifford Chance
Susan Raridon Lambreth, Co-Founding Principal, LawVision
Andrew Kassner, Partner and Chair Emeritus, Faegre Drinker
CLE Credit: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ
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This panel will cover the role of leadership at law firms, and the role a partner plays within the greater context and goals of a firm.
Featuring:
Richard Lorenzo, Regional Managing Partner, Hogan Lovells
Gabriel Yomi Dabiri, Office Managing Partner, Polsinelli
Zia J. Mody, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, AZB & Partners
Chahira Solh, Partner and Chair of the Executive Committee, Crowell & Moring
CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ
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This panel will cover recruiting practices at law firms, with a special focus on diversity and inclusion. The panel will also include tips on providing effective training for a diverse population, as well as talent retention.
Featuring:
Constanza Vergara Jaakola, Partner, Pérez-Llorca
Sarah Posner, Head of Legal Recruiting, Clifford Chance
Deborah Martin Owens, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Cravath, Swaine & Moore
Alexandra Paslawsky, Director of Global Legal Recruiting, Milbank
CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ
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This panel will discuss how billing/pricing policies and strategies work, including non-billable hour methods. Metrics such as profit per partner will also be covered.
Featuring:
Pedro Campos, Vice President, Elevate
Colin Jasper, Principal, Positive Pricing
Verity Jackson-Grant, Head of Pricing, Simmons & Simmons
Nathaniel Robinson, Senior Director of Client Value, Goulston & Storrs
CLE: 1.0 law practice management credits for NY; 1.0 professional practice credits for NJ
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This panel will cover the importance of a firm's history and purpose for branding, the role that social media plays in today's world, strategies for effective communication with clients, and tips on developing new business.
Featuring:
Deborah Farone, Founder, Farone Advisors
Natalie Alhonte, Director of Strategy, Latin America, Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Allan Schoenberg, Chief Communications Officer, Vinson & Elkins
CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ
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This session will explore the importance of and key components to legal knowledge management. Panelists will analyze tools professionals can use to assist with knowledge management and barriers they may experience. The discussion will also include how to develop a knowledge management plan and metrics to measure success.
Featuring:
Amadeu Ribeiro, Partner, Mattos Filho
Stephen Allen, Chief Scout, Trampelpfad
Joshua A. Fireman, President & Founder, Fireman & Company
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This panel will cover client groups and other strategies law firms implement, as well as client service and their experience.
Featuring:
Pablo Jimenez, Partner, Von Wobeser y Sierra
Mara-Leticia Ossa Daza, Partner, Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Peter M. Ellis, Partner, Reed Smith
CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ
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This panel will discuss what is most important when it comes to client service, how to excel at it, and pitfalls to avoid.
Featuring:
Benjamin Longlet, Strategic Advisor, Duco
Jose Luis Guerra, General Counsel - International Private Bank, JP Morgan
Sheea Sybblis, Associate General Counsel & Practice Group Leader, Genentech
CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ
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This panel will try to answer the question of how AI will more broadly impact how lawyers work, and how firms can avoid some of the pitfalls presented by generative AI.
Featuring:
Joe Green, Chief Innovation Officer, Gunderson Dettmer
Elizabeth A. Rogers, Partner, Michael Best
Christopher Escobedo Hart, Partner, Foley Hoag
CLE: 1.0 cybersecurity, privacy & data protection general credits for NY, 1.0 professional practice credits for NJ
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This panel will cover best practices for managing law firm's risks, evaluating a firm's risk tolerance, aligning risk around a mission, and communicating policies around risk assessment. Featuring:
Christopher K. Tahbaz, Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton
Jamila Jean, Deputy General Counsel, Baker McKenzie
Lawrence S. Spiegel, Partner & General Counsel, Skadden
Sophia D. Tawil, General Counsel, Cravath, Swaine & Moore
CLE: 1.0 ethics credits for both NY & NJ
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This panel will strive to identify all considerations when going through mergers - including, but not limited to, strategic, financial, leadership, staffing, and cultural considerations. Panelists will touch on their own experiences in handling and transitioning through firm mergers.
Featuring:
Robert C. Bata, Founder & Principal, Warwick Place Legal
Matt Burnstein, Executive Partner, Holland & Knight
Andrew Kassner, Partner and Chair Emeritus, Faegre Drinker
CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ
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May 9: Optional Event TBD
May 10: Optional Closing Keynote Speaker and Colloquium at Fordham Law School, Details TBD
Program Fee
Payment is accepted by credit card. If you need to pay by an alternate method, contact [email protected].
- Individual registration: $1,000
- Registration for Fordham Law alumni: $750 (indicate your year of graduation and program in the notes column when paying)
- Registration for 3 or more registrants from same firm: $750 per participant (indicate your affiliation in the notes column when paying)
Featuring Speakers from the Following Firms and Organizations
- AZB & Partners
- Baker McKenzie
- Clifford Chance
- Cravath, Swaine & Moore
- Crowell & Moring
- Davis Polk
- Debevoise & Plimpton
- DLA Piper
- Duco
- Elevate
- Faegre Drinker
- Farone Advisors
- Foley Hoag
- Fordham Law School
- Freshfields
- Genentech
- Goulston & Storrs
- Gunderson Dettmer
- Hogan Lovells
- Holland & Knight
- JP Morgan Chase
- LawVision
- Legal Management Resources
- Mattos Filho
- Michael Best
- Milbank
- Polsinelli Law Firm
- Pérez-Llorca
- Positive Pricing
- Proskauer Rose LLP
- Reed Smith
- Simmons & Simmons
- Skadden
- Vinson & Elkins
- WarwickPlace Legal
- White & Case
- Willkie Farr
- Vinson & Elkins
- Von Wobeser y Sierra
Testimonials
I really enjoyed the program. It was a great approach to the 360° view required for all law firms managers, and it was specific enough to obtain useful insight regardless of the size, location or specialization of any law firm.
Begoña Cancino
Partner
Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enriquez, S.C. (Mexico)
The program had a perfect balance between theory and practical experience. The speakers were excellent and very generous in sharing their knowledge and experience. This course is a must for those who are in a managerial position at law firms or those who would like to improve their organizations.
Tomás Allende
Partner and Member of Executive Committee
Estudio Beccar Varela (Argentina)
The program offered broad scenarios of the main challenges in law firm management, focusing also on the professional personae, differences in opportunities and growing processes for professionals, and structural organization. Furthermore, the example of bigger firms’ structures reflects the legal market trends and represents a model for boutiques.
Alessandro Bovio
Partner
Alture Legal (Italy)
The list of speakers is the who’s who of the legal world, and the topics are highly instructive and current. The participants are just as impressive as the speakers and elevate the discussions throughout the program. The co-directors moderate each session with grace, intellect, and camaraderie. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in learning more about the inner workings of law firm management.
Leila Zubi
Managing Partner
Zubi Rosner LLP (USA)