Key Strategies for Law Firms during a Downturn - 2009

Key Strategies for Law Firms during a Downturn, held in London, Bristol & Manchester was aimed at helping law firms overcome recession related issues that they are currently facing.

From cost saving and restructuring to practice management, risk, compliance, outsourcing, IT and raising capital, the events delivered case studies and in-depth information from a panel of expert speakers.

As well as delivering engaging advice, the events offered many opportunities for delegates to network and receive one-to-one advice from the conference sponsors and partners.

Highlights

Delivering the Keynote presentation at all three events, Prof Stephen Mayson summed up the challenges. Not only is the legal profession facing severe recession, but it faces an increasing erosion of its dominance of the legal services market as "non-reserved" activities are increasingly more efficiently being delivered by alternative providers like AA Legal Services, The Co-operative Legal Services and government itself via the Legal Services Commission and DirectGov.

The outlook is bleak though smaller firms may face such competition through alliances such as the Legal Alliance and Quality Solicitors.

To better serve clients demanding ever better value firms must abandon time-based billing and reduce overcapacity - not just too many people, but people doing the wrong jobs.

Nick Holmes
Infolaw

Speakers & Panellists - Bristol

Speakers & Panellists - London

Mike Gannaway - Director of Marketing & Business Development - Denton Wilde Sapte

Round Table Discussion - Strategy

Richard Guyatt - Partner - Bond Pearce

David Shufflebotham - Head of H.R - Burges Salmon (Guest Speaker) - Table Discussion