Practice Management

Recovering from information overload (McKinsey Quarterly)

Posted on February 08, 2011
All of the Managing Partners with whom I work are devoured by their "multitasking work environments".  "Recovering from information overload" (McKinsey Quarterly, January 2011) authors Derek Dean and Caroline Webb have succinctly laid out their take on the problems and solutions: Problems (multitasking): slows us down, hampers creativity and makes us anxious and it's addictive) Solutions (Coping with the deluge): Focus, Filter and Forget Perhaps the most valuable part of the article lies in an exploration of how to hit the "reset button"...

Few Lawyers Have Formal Negotiation Training

Posted on January 12, 2011
Most of the top law firms I deal with have armies of lawyers who negotiate all the time whether on deals or resolving disputes.  So when I ask for a show of hands from anyone who has taken a course or read a book on negotiating, the responses suggest that fewer than 5% of lawyers have done so...

Presentation Calendar - inspiration for each month

Posted on January 09, 2011
  Make your presentations far more effective by drawing on the fabulous ideas in this presentation calendar

Attorney at Work Delivers Daily Ideas for Lawyers

Posted on December 09, 2010
I am honoured to be in the esteemed company of the publishers and advisors of Attorney at Work that promises 'One Really Good Idea Every Day' There is no cost to subscribe and the ideas will flow starting in January. I recommend that you subscribe now Congratulations in particular to my long time friend, Merrilyn Tarlton who conceived this idea with Joan and Mark Feldman  

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Simon Tupman's Future Firm Forum 2010 New Zealand The Management Imperative

Posted on November 07, 2010
Download by clicking on image or HERE  Registered participants were provided with Password in session.

"Do, Don't Say !" Seth Godin simply nails it.

Posted on October 30, 2010
Sorry for offering the punchline in the title… but Yoda would be so proud (of Seth Godin) Extract from Seth Godin's blogpost: Won't get fooled again  If you catch yourself making a promise that's been made before, stop. Don't spend a lot of time and effort building credibility with this sort of promising, because it doesn't pay off...

Finding Success in a Global Paradox (Keynote ALPMA Sydney 22 Oct 2010 -- Password Protected -- registered participants only)

Posted on October 24, 2010
  Participants, I am awaiting assistance from the tech folks at Lexblog to upload your pdf copy of this presentation so you can download your password protected version.  Please check here in a few days.  If you need it right away, shoot me an email, please: riskin@edge-international...

EFFECTIVE MARKETING FOR ADR PROFESSIONALS September 24th, 2010 (Password Protected - registered particpants only)

Posted on October 06, 2010
  Download by clicking on image or HERE  Registered participants were provided with Password in session.

Around the World Speaking Tour (Gerry Riskin -- Edge International)

Posted on September 23, 2010
SEPTEMBER 2010 September 24th, 2010 ADR Institute of Canada National Conference September 23-24, 2010 Plenary Session: Optimal Marketing for ADR professionals Workshop: Effective Marketing for ADR professionals Calgary, Alberta OCTOBER 2010 October 9th, 2010 Fordham Law School (for Prof Silvia Hodges) Guest Lecture: Law firm management: Strategy New York, New York October 14th, 2010 (with Nicole Auerbach a— Valorem Lw Firm)) Making Alternative Fees Work in Litigation: How to Approach and Craft AFAs Virtual Program… webinar: Find out how to incorporate AFAs for your litigation matters, and how to avoid the many pitfalls that can arise along the way in this information-packed audio conference...

Welcome to Edge International, Pam Woldow !

Posted on September 02, 2010
My Edge International partner, Jordan Furlong, has done a nice welcome piece on Pam Woldow already (at his Law 21 blog) but I thought I would echo that Edge International is so very proud and delighted to have her on board. Also, thank you to friends who have joined us in congratulating Pam, like Valorem's awesome founder, Pat Lamb, who expressed delight in his In Search or Perfect Client Service blog post...

Will the Legal Profession Use the World's First Temporal Analytics Engine?

Posted on August 20, 2010
I met virtually with Recorded Future this morning for a close up briefing of how their Temporal Analytics Engine might be used by law firms.  Firms who use this can better predict the needs of their own clients and prospective clients as well...

Would you associate these powerhouse law firms with "Quality of Life"?

Posted on August 12, 2010
Top 10 recipients of associates' seal of approval: 1.    Ropes & Gray 2.    Williams & Connolly 3.    Morrison & Foerster        4.    Fitzpatrick 5...

Bold Move by CMS Cameron McKenna: "pay what you think its worth" option

Posted on August 09, 2010
Speaking of bold, CMS Cameron McKenna has a pricing team!  (See page 14 of their brochure, The future of fees: your route map to value.) Punchline:  CMS Cameron McKenna has 122 Equity Partners and employs over 1,000 fee earners in 10 offices...

VAULT.COM and Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) present 5th annual legal diversity career fair

Posted on July 20, 2010
(Please pass this forward to 2 and 3rd year law and lateral candidates.) According to Claude Sheer, CEO of Vault.com., 'The Vault/MCCA Legal Diversity Career Fair will offer a hands-on insider's perspective of the progress that top firms are making to increase diversity and to advise minority, women and GLBT law students and associates on their legal career options...

SECURITY -- a lucrative future-oriented practice area awaiting your firm

Posted on July 17, 2010
Greg George, Managing Partner of top security firm GTI Advisors Threat Management Practice Group has created a comprehensive due diligence report — among his many recommendations, he suggests that businesses consult a law firm  - is your law firm ready to answer that call?  SECURITY may be a lucrative future-oriented practice area awaiting your firm...

My colleague Ed Wesemann takes a tongue-in-cheek look at Associate Business Development

Posted on June 06, 2010
My Edge International colleague and good friend, Ed Wesemann, has some fun providing tongue-in-cheek advice for new law firm associates on how to develop business. Enjoy, and better yet have your associates look at this.

Think Pink ! Motivators More Powerful than Money (revisited)

Posted on June 05, 2010
This clever animation may reinforce Dan Pink's message from his new book Drive.  Compensation has been the tool of choice in law firms to reward good performance, punish the absence of it and drive change. You will not want to believe what you are about to hear and see…  ask yourself why? If you are enlightened, gather your management team and start thinking about how to harness the learnings to create peak performance and lower turnover in your firm...

Appreciation as an Action

Posted on April 03, 2010
    Appreciation is not assumed — it has to be communicated…  if you think your clients know you appreciate them, ask your self "how would they"…  Make it explicit and you'll separate yourself from the masses !

Driving 2010 Revenues through Rainmakers First

Posted on February 28, 2010
I've witnessed first- hand increases per participant ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to millions of dollars. Download this article (or read on line) with my compliments. (Click on image)

Want to Improve Your Business development? Smell the Coffee !

Posted on February 20, 2010
Be judged more favourably… your hot coffee makes you seem warmer and also enhances the way you perceive your prospective client. So says that wonderful blog: Neuromarketing: Where Brain Science and Marketing Meet in a post called: Heat Up Sales – With Coffee! After years of experience,  we tend to trust our judgment but good old research can offer a competitive advantage, if we pay attention...

Edge International Review Winter 2010

Posted on February 03, 2010
We are very proud of our latest Edge International Review.    For a complete downloadable version (or just the articles you want) click on the cover or go to EdgeInternationalReview.com If you have any questions , comments or suggestions, please shoot me a note...

Great Lakes Law Firms - Legal Market Analysis Now Available

Posted on January 15, 2010
If your firm has offices in the Great Lakes Region (or is thinking of expanding into it) there is an unprecedented and unmatched comprehensive analysis available: '2010 Legal Market Analysis Great Lakes Region' Cities included: Chicago Milwaukee Detroit Indianapolis Cincinnati Minneapolis Columbus Buffalo Cleveland Pittsburgh I think this is a fantastic deal...

The Shifting World of Associates: Virtual Panel

Posted on January 12, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010  Noon EST The Shifting World of Associates: Making Sense of New Models Range of Topics: Identifying the drivers of the shift in current associate models Trends in client demands and law firm reactions Models other firms have adopted or are considering Risks and issues related to each model Key indicators a firm should change…or not Building buy-in within the firm for a new model Keeping associates motivated and engaged throughout the process Our Distinguished vPanelists: Phil Donnelly, Chief People Officer, White & Case, London, UK Liz Price, Professional Personnel Partner, Alston & Bird, Atlanta, GA Gerry Riskin, Edge International Pam Woldow, Principal, Altman-Weil, Newtown Square, PA vModerator: Paul Trout, CEO, Shift Worldwide, Chicago, IL Schedule (all times in EST): 11:45 a...

Guru to the Gurus: David Maister

Posted on January 12, 2010
Nearly three decades ago, in the early days of Edge International, there was only one writer in the area of managing a professional firm that commanded our unqualified respect and attention. That was David Maister. 'Managing the Professional Services Firm' is the Bible, according to many leaders of some of the largest professional service firms in the world...

Valorem's Nicole Auerbach in TOP 50

Posted on January 10, 2010
Nicole Auerbach is one of the adventurous Big Firm refugees that founded Valorem, a genuine "Alternative Billing Arrangements" firm.  Here's a quote from Nicole's bio: The billable hour is an antiquated, inefficient and a potentially unethical measure of value provided...

What magazines (and your promotional material?) might look like

Posted on January 04, 2010
(The video is 8 minutes - watch at least the first full minute then more if it grabs you) Law firm leaders You don't need to embrace social media or love technology or even be a gadget freak to have a peak at how we'll all read magazines and papers soon… I thought a second reason to show you this was to have you think about the publications your firm produces from articles to brochures...

EXCELLENCE: 2 mins on "Don't Fear Failure" with TOM PETERS

Posted on January 02, 2010
Tom Peters gave me the thrill of my life when he endorsed my book The Successful Lawyer.  I have revered this genius over his many masterpieces starting with In Search of Excellence and then so many more amazing literary, video and blogging contribution So, law firm leaders, as you think about excellence in 2010, enjoy this message delivered by one of my heroes, Tom Peters (in under 2 minutes)...

Happy Holidays and an AMAZING 2010

Posted on December 25, 2009
May this New Year bring you peace, joy and prosperity…  

Law Firm Leadership Eye Openers

Posted on December 05, 2009
Take a few moments at the beginning of your next (executive, practice group, industry group, client team) meeting and watch this piece from Australia's George and Margaret Beaton (Beaton research and Consulting).  They have been friends for a long time and not only built an amazing high end consultancy but have done it with panache and imagination...

Gerry Riskin Luncheon Social Media Keynote to LPM section of ABA October 19, 2009 in St Maarten

Posted on November 01, 2009
This is a private password protected copy of my Social Media slides for the Social Media Presentation to the LPM (Law Practice Management) Section of the American Bar Association in St. Maarten on Oct 19, 2009.  Those in attendance can obtain the password from Tom Grella...

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