The Future of Legal Shared Services: A Strategic Tool for Modern Law Firms
While artificial intelligence dominates discussions about legal innovation, shared service centres represent a present reality that’s already transforming how law firms operate. Daniel Heymann, a former capital markets lawyer turned legal operations consultant, shares insights into how these centres are reshaping legal service delivery. The Evolution of Shared Services “AI is the future of law, […]
Introduction to a Career as a Legal Engineer: Bridging Law and Technology
As law firms increasingly embrace digital transformation, the role of legal engineer has emerged as a crucial bridge between traditional legal practice and technology. Vadym Kuzmenko, currently working with German law firm Noerr, shares insights into this evolving career path and what it takes to succeed in legal engineering. The Path to Legal Engineering “For […]
The AI Revolution in Legal: A Practical Guide for In-House Counsel
As in-house legal departments navigate the AI revolution, Olga V. Mack’s TRACE framework offers a concrete roadmap for embracing technology while maintaining human expertise. Through her TEDx talk, “Why We Need to Evolve Alongside AI,” Mack outlines a practical approach that goes beyond buzzwords. The TRACE Framework Decoded Technological Proficiency isn’t just about understanding AI—it’s […]
Law Firms’ Revolution: Mental Health Becomes a Performance Metric
The legal industry is witnessing an unprecedented shift as the Mindful Business Charter (MBC) pushes for wellbeing to become a measurable component of lawyer performance assessments. With 130 signatories, including 80 law firms and chambers, this initiative is transforming the “billable hours above all” culture. The new guidelines, “Addressing the mental health challenges in legal […]
The Path to Partnership: How Lawyers Can Make It
The traditional path to law firm partnership has long been shrouded in mystery, but that’s changing as firms face pressure to provide clearer career progression for talented lawyers. In a recent Platforum9 session, Stephen Revell, founder of Making Change Happen and former Freshfields partner of 30 years, and Moray McLaren, the co-founder of Lexington Consultants, […]
To Coach or Not to Coach in Law Firms, a Professional Dilemma
As law firms grapple with talent development and retention, coaching emerges as a powerful tool for professional growth. In a recent Platforum9 session, Patryjusz Zamorski, the European Director of Talent Development from Dentons and Ron Given, former Partner at Mayer Brown & Wolf Theiss, shared contrasting perspectives on how coaching is transforming legal professional development. […]
The Legal MBA: Strategic Choices for Law Firm Management and How to Make Them
In today’s competitive legal market, law firms face crucial strategic decisions about how to position themselves and compete effectively. James Markham, drawing from his experience with major firms like DLA, Hogan Lovells, and Dentons, as well as smaller practices, outlines the fundamental strategic choices available to law firms and their implications. The Three Strategic Paths […]
Building a Career in International Criminal Law & Human Rights
Speaking from Kyiv amid drone attacks, Aonghus Kelly shares insights from his remarkable journey from corporate law to international criminal justice. His experience offers valuable lessons for lawyers seeking to build careers in human rights and international criminal law while highlighting the growing intersection between corporate practice and human rights work. The Path to International […]
Do Clients Hire the Firm or the Lawyer?
In an increasingly competitive legal market, the age-old question of whether clients hire law firms or individual lawyers has taken on new relevance. Jonathan Selvadoray, former managing partner at CMS Cameron McKenna’s Shanghai office and ex-head of legal tech at Temasek, offers unique insights from both law firm and in-house perspectives. The Challenge of Differentiation […]
The Three Pillars of Legal Excellence: Building High-Performance In-House Legal Teams
The modern legal department faces a perplexing challenge: despite boasting brilliant individual lawyers, many teams struggle to achieve collective excellence. A new framework emerges that challenges this status quo, revealing how talented individuals can transform into high-performing legal powerhouses through three critical pillars. The Sports Team Paradox Drawing parallels with elite sports teams, the framework […]