Category Archives: Uncategorized

Survival skills: preparing the next generation of leaders

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Norman Clark

Your firm might have a great team of partners and a strong record of success, but all of that could evaporate in as little as ten years. This is the seventh of a series of posts about eight business skills … Continue reading →

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After the Gold Rush III: “Where’s the gold?”

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Norman Clark

This is the final part of three posts on the frequently overlooked short-term results of law firm mergers. financial performance in practice groups As Walker Clark LLC has observed law firm mergers, especially those involving small and midsize firms, we … Continue reading →

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Who’s afraid of Norton Rose?

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Norman Clark

Norton Rose has announced its latest accomplishment in its relentless march to global status, a merger with U.S.-based Fulbright & Jaworski. This announcement comes as other substantial intercontinental deals appear to be in the works, such as the reported three-way … Continue reading →

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Why Strategic Planning Fails: Obsolete Governance

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Norman Clark

This is the first of a series of posts on why strategic planning fails in so many law firms. “We had the strategy, but not the structure to execute it.” This comment by a managing partner of an underperforming law … Continue reading →

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Planning for a difficult future in Europe

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Norman Clark

The bad news continues in Europe The gloomy news currently coming from Europe (Spain, Greece, the euro, economic slowdown in Germany and the U.K.) has recently been reinforced by equally depressing mid-range (12 to 18 months) economic forecasts for the … Continue reading →

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Is an open Indian legal market inevitable?

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Norman Clark

India has remained one of the great obstacles to globalization of the legal profession and law firms that aspire to be “truly global.”  Legal Week reports today that the opening of the legal market in India might be one step … Continue reading →

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Thinking outside the “black box”

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Norman Clark

As I advise law firms on their partner compensation systems, I occasionally encounter a partnership that uses a “black box” system to make compensation decisions. In such a system: A partner’s compensation is determined in secret by a managing partner … Continue reading →

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Junk science and lawyer career management in law firms

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Norman Clark

Walker Clark principal Lisa Walker Johnson was a speaker and panelist today in a half-day session on Talent and Career Management at the IBA Legal Business Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania. One of the worst mistakes that law firms make when … Continue reading →

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Four reasons why good law firms get fired

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Norman Clark

In our firm’s work with in-house counsel and business leaders in international companies, one of the most reliable topics for lively conversation is the general level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with law firms. Even the biggest and most famous law … Continue reading →

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Happy days are here again…or maybe not quite yet?

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Norman Clark

The report today of a drop to 8.5% in the U.S. unemployment rate is good news, but what does it mean for American law firms? Are happy days here again? Three important points come to mind: It will be more … Continue reading →

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