2022 Summer Vacation Special: Experiencing Morocco
I spoke with Yavor Gradinarov, the Sales Manager at the Hotel Sahrai in Fez, Morocco about the return of leisure travel, ideas for exploring the city of Fez, and the key elements of client service.
The Rise of Hospitality and Hoteling in Law Firms
I spoke with Anthony Davies, the Chief Revenue Officer for Forrest Solutions, an onsite outsourcing, flexible staffing, and alternative legal services provider. We discussed how the move to a hybrid work model has impacted attorney retention, recruitment, and collaboration, the “rise of hospitality” in law firms, and the changing expectations of working in an office.
The Value of a Career Check-Up
I spoke with Zelda Owens, the founder, and CEO of Owens Williams & Associates, a career development coaching company focused on supporting legal professionals. We discussed the current job market, the value of a career check-up, and creative ways to empower your legal career.
How Law Firms and Legal Departments Should Approach Innovation
I spoke with Tjeerd Van Ginkel, the founder of Innovatie Meester and an Amsterdam-based freelance innovation manager, who helps law firms and legal departments innovate. He is the former head of innovation at De Brauw, one of the largest law firms in the Netherlands. We discussed how law firms and legal departments should approach innovation, mistakes some are making, and client-facing innovation that makes a difference.
The Connection Between Legal Recruiting, Piano Parties, and Zoom Engagement
I spoke with Dan Binstock, a legal recruiter and co-owner of Garrison & Sisson, a leading attorney search firm. He is also the creator of the Virtual Piano Party. We discussed the state of the legal job market, the genesis of the Virtual Piano Party, and the secret to engaging attendees on Zoom events.
Creating Career Opportunities in 2021
I spoke with Michael Potters, the co-founder and CEO of the Glenmont Group, a leading recruiting firm in the legal industry. We discussed how recruiting has evolved over the past two decades, the positions that are in highest demand today, how the Glenmont Group pivoted in the pandemic, the qualities and types of experience on which employers are focused, advice for candidates, and tips for employers interested in securing the best talent in 2021.
Flexible Lawyering
I spoke with Jackie Donner, the co-founder and CEO of Lawflex, an alternative legal services provider based in Israel, teaming experienced lawyers with law firms, financial institutions, and other corporations on a flexible basis. We discussed the genesis of Lawflex, how the pandemic has impacted the use of alternative legal services, and where she sees the greatest opportunity for growth.
Design Thinking in Navigating Legal Transitions
I spoke with Katherine Porter, an executive coach for female attorneys and the founder of the Transition Navigator. We discussed how design thinking can enhance a professional’s work, its relationship to the practice of law, the advantages of incorporating a designer’s mindset to client service in legal, ways to overcome the barriers to using design thinking to improve law firm operations, and how it can help law firms through this period of uncertainty.
Going Public in the Pandemic
I spoke with Johannes Stiehler, the CEO of ayfie Group, an Oslo-based company that provides technology for collecting and processing data from different silos using linguistic technology. We discussed the company’s mission, how the appeal of linguistic technology at law firms and corporate legal departments has evolved, and ayfie’s listing on the Merkur Market in Oslo in July of 2020.
Law Firms Creating Related Businesses
I spoke with Ray Biederman, a partner with Mattingly Burke Cohen & Biederman in Indianapolis, the co-founder and CEO of Proteus Discovery Group, and the president of DiscoveryMaster. We discussed whether attorneys with large firm backgrounds should take the leap and start their own firms, the trend of attorneys and law firms to develop related businesses, and the most common misconceptions or frustrations about e-discovery.