As appeared on LinkedIn on March 13, 2023. What I wish I could tell each brand-new professional is this. Your future is next to you…right now. Each year I meet with newly-minted law firm partners with whom I find myself thinking, I wish I had met you ten years earlier. I would have loved to be able to share these…
At a time when legal services can often be seen as interchangeable, whether choosing between two law firms or deciding between a law firm and an alternative legal service provider, the quality of client service can be a significant distinguishing factor. On February 16th, I joined Ilene Marquardt of Wells Fargo and Elena Antonetti of Travelers for a special…
From the February 13, 2023 edition of The American Lawyer. In-house consultant Susan Hackett and legal marketing consultant Deborah Farone offer examples of what happens when the industry focuses on small tweaks, collaboration with colleagues and clients, and adds in a dash of empathy. A recent Law.com piece, “Rising Client Expectations Escalate Pressures on Law Firms” by Jessie Yount and Hugo Guzman,…
As featured in Bloomberg, February 8, 2023. Last year saw 46 completed law firm mergers, and according to Fairfax Associates, more are on the way. For years, middle market pressures led large firms to expand and add new practice capabilities, while smaller specialist firms developed their own position in the marketplace. We now face a second pressing, and smaller and…
As featured on LinkedIn, December 6, 2022. Congratulations. You’ve minted a new group of partners. Now what? While law firms use the “now you’re a partner” step, as a way to grow their firm and retain talent, what happens when these newly elevated partners are expected to grow their own practices? Those of us who have been CMOs have seen…
Lucy is a Doberman puppy with her own Instagram account. She insisted on starting one. It’s been more than a decade since our last four-footed friend Gracie the Dalmatian left us. As a dog mom, I’ve had to get up to speed on an array of new products, companies and services. With everything from locating the just-right chewable puzzle toys…
As featured on LinkedIn, November 22, 2022. If I knew then what I know now. It was great to have the chance to speak to a group of terrific young women undergrads at Cornell University as part of the Forte Foundation program. Thank you, Tatum Shearer (a junior, graduating in 2024), for the lovely invitation. The topics ranged from careers,…
As featured in PM Magazine, July/August, 2022. Talented people, check. Great technology, check. Partners love them, check. It sounds like your firm’s marketing and business development department is buzzing away. Yet, just like any organisation, it’s essential to take a good look at the indicators of your operation’s health to ensure its wellbeing for the future. There are seven factors…
As featured on LinkedIn, June 6, 2022. Why are so many executives asking questions about the craft of personal branding? Does this require posting on Instagram 4 times a day, or launching a dedicated You Tube channel? Does it involve a personal shopper? Personal branding is an outgrowth of professional services marketing. While most of us in the field started off…
