The 21st Annual Law Firm COO & CFO Forum

2021 was another record year for law firms. Yet despite unprecedented demand and growth rates not seen in over a decade, firms found themselves entangled in an escalating talent war, all while balancing higher expenses with evolving client needs. Given the cautious optimism over COVID-19’s ebb, what might the current and forthcoming year hold for legal professionals? What opportunities exist within key sectors or practice areas? Should law firms expect another banner year or be prepared for modest returns? Join us for our annual, data-driven examination of key trends and headwinds impacting legal services.

Presenters:
James Jones, Senior Fellow, Center on Ethics and the Legal Profession, Georgetown University Law Center
Gretta Rusanow, Head of Advisory Services, Law Firm Group, Citi Private Bank

For all the optimism of 2022 economic forecasts, evolving supply chain issues, persistent inflation, market volatility, and even the impact of financial sanctions on Russia have ostensibly derailed short-term momentum heading into 2023. On the eve of the US midterm elections, what is one to make of the overall health of the domestic and global economy? What impact will shifting attitudes toward public health and hybrid work arrangements have on US GDP and global growth? This keynote welcomes expert economists in a roundtable exploration of key economic drivers and potential storm clouds with significant, far-reaching implications.

Given the accelerating number of so-termed “alternative business structures” outside the United States, the national debate over (inevitable) industry transformation continues to crest. Utah, Arizona, and California are actively exploring or have formally recognized an initial spate of non-traditional providers. And while, in the words of the Utah Supreme Court, a regulatory sandbox offers an admirable approach to curtailing the access to justice “crisis,” broader, state-level resistance toward abolishing ABA Rule 5.4 suggests ominous pitfalls for wider adoption. This session delivers an earnest inquiry into the viability, practicality, and future of alternative business structures. Is there room in a crowded and ever-evolving industry for this new breed of competitor?

Recent events have underscored the intrinsic value of strategic alliances and external partners with extensive global reach and process efficiency. Such engagements highlight a marked shift toward more bespoke, potentially complex legal services and an implicit nod to pandemic-era financial controls still in place across the Am Law 200. This conversation builds upon collaborative synergies within the current market. How are firms maximizing the impact of third-party partners and professional associations on such matters as client service, business development, people management, or operational infrastructure?

Identifying R&D opportunities toward improved products and/or services is a regular practice for corporations. As the legal industry continues to retrench, opportunities for R&D investment may provide a competitive edge amid increased market competition.  For a firm looking to pursue such an approach, where best to establish roots? How do firms identify key areas of investment and how much of their overall budget or resources can be truly dedicated to R&D? Please join us for a lively exploration of short- and long-term successes (and failures) in pursuit of transformative growth.

Talent management in a pandemic era persists through divergent and dynamic means. When not defining hybrid working models or (re)calibrating office strategy, many firm leaders find themselves grappling with elevated associate attrition and pockets of existential angst over career trajectory, professional purpose, compensation, or work-life balance. This conversation asks not what (or whom) each firm can afford to pay, but what makes sense for a given organization? How are leaders addressing itinerant talent in modern legal services? How are firms incorporating notions of “culture” and “value” within their own compensation models? Is the current industry arms race truly sustainable for most of the Am Law 200? And perhaps, most intriguingly, are heightened attrition levels emblematic of short-term social disruption or much broader, institutional change?

Emerging from austerity into a sputtering economy creates significant operational and financial strain. In addition to enhanced operating costs and resumption of employee travel, managing the pandemic-era order-to-cash process, bolstering fraud and cybersecurity controls, or even marketing and client development spend yields considerable risk in a climate of tepid optimism. How are firms protecting themselves in a rapidly evolving landscape? This session explores emergent strategies in risk management as firms continue to stay vigilant and alert.

Technology and business intelligence (“BI”) help identify growth opportunities and overall operational efficiencies. Yet with the pandemic moving most law firm operations to the cloud, and industry forecasts predicting a gradual decline in market momentum, firms may do well to access intelligence outside their usual purview, eliciting important questions over a scalable, growth-oriented knowledge management (“KM”) plan for the firm. How can firms establish a versatile and cohesive KM strategy in the modern workspace? What collaborative approaches (whether within or without) can accelerate or enhance existing processes and resources?

Client- and employee-driven expectations around environmental, social & corporate governance (“ESG”) continue to impact both the business and practice of law. As business and people leaders, C-Suite officers play key roles in establishing policies and broader expectations across the enterprise. This breakout asks participants to examine current and forthcoming ESG investments within their firm. Where and how has the organization made strides (or perhaps come up short) regarding expectations and behaviors?  Please join us for a dynamic and interactive exploration of strategic vision and execution.

Please join us for drinks as we wrap up the day’s proceedings.

Please join us for a series of consecutive 15-minute presentations designed for law firm executives.

With expectations of a so-called “red wave” in the US midterm elections against the backdrop of a tumultuous global stage, all eyes are on Capitol Hill and America’s volatile regulatory landscape in year two of President Joe Biden’s administration. Bipartisan antitrust bills, aggressive SEC actions, a conservative-leaning SCOTUS, ongoing culture wars, and a renewed emphasis on environmental sustainability are core political flashpoints with direct, global ramifications for law firm leaders. Please join a panel of esteemed political commentators for a lively roundtable on national politics and federal oversight during a pivotal moment in US history.

The next frontier for legal services is rooted in digital expansion. Once the stuff of science fiction and fantasy, decentralized virtual planes contain discrete economies and world-building potential rife with possibility and promise. This closing keynote offers a compelling take on the scale and impact of this ever-evolving technology upon modern commerce. How and where might this latest evolutionary leap influence the next generation of legal clients and how might firms need to prepare for new business trends in an evolving digital age?