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, Tuesday, May 14, 2024 (subject to health protocols and sufficient enrollment)

Program Schedule

Additional speakers to be announced.

  • José Eduardo Carneiro Queiroz Memorial Lecture from Pedro Whitaker de Souza Dias, Managing Partner, Mattos Filho

  • 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

    Palmina M. Fava, Partner, Vinson & Elkins

    Rafique Bachour, Global Managing Partner, Freshfields

    CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

  • 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

  • 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

  • This panel will cover centralized vs. decentralized governance in law firms, key officers, key committees, and elections and voting rights among firms.

    Featuring:

    Susan Raridon Lambreth, Co-Founding Principal, LawVision

    Andrew C. Kassner, Partner and Chair Emeritus, Faegre Drinker

    CLE Credit: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

  • 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

  • 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

    Joanna Desposati, Legal Recruiting Manager, Clifford Chance

    Hy Pomerance, Chief Talent Officer, Vinson & Elkins

    CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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:

    Stephen Allen, Chief Scout, Trampelpfad

    Joshua A. Fireman, President & Founder, Fireman & Company

    Elisabeth Cappuyns, Director of Knowledge Management, DLA Piper

    Amadeu Ribeiro, Partner, DLA Piper

    CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

  • 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

    Peter M. Ellis, Partner, Reed Smith

    CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

  • This panel will discuss what is most important when it comes to client service, how to excel at it, and pitfalls to avoid.

    Featuring:

    Jose Luis Guerra, General Counsel, International Private Bank, JP Morgan

    Nishat Ruiter, General Counsel, TED Conferences

    Sheea Sybblis, Associate General Counsel & Practice Group Leader, Genentech

    CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

     

  • 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

    Diana Santos, Senior Counsel, Global Generative AI Lead, IBM

    CLE: 1.0 cybersecurity, privacy & data protection general credits for NY, 1.0 professional practice credits for NJ

  • 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

  • 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

    Lisa Smith, Principal, Fairfax Associates

    CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

  • May 14: Optional Event and Cocktail at Mattos Filho New York Office, specifics TBA

Register for the program.

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)

Pay for the program using a credit card.

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
  • 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
  • Polsinelli Law Firm
  • Pérez-Llorca
  • Positive Pricing
  • Proskauer Rose LLP
  • Reed Smith
  • Simmons & Simmons
  • Skadden
  • TED Conferences
  • Vinson & Elkins
  • WarwickPlace Legal
  • White & Case
  • Willkie Farr
  • Vinson & Elkins
  • Von Wobeser y Sierra

Testimonials

photo of Begoña Cancino

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)

photo of Tomás Allende

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)

photo of Alessandro Bovio
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)

photo of Leila Zubi
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)