Tag Archives: 2012

Tempus fugit, or why lawyers don’t record time

Research conducted by Walker Clark LLC suggests that, at a conservative minimum, 10% of all billable work performed by lawyers in law firms never is recorded. Never recorded, these hours are never billed.  Never billed, the value of this time … Continue reading

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After the honeymoon

There has been a remarkable, but not unexpected, increase in merger activity among law firms in the first quarter of 2012. Careful planning and due diligence are absolutely essential in law firm mergers and acquisitions. However, most law firms give … Continue reading

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Good news, bad news

Good news This morning’s announcement that the U.S. unemployment rate continued to decline in January 2012 is certainly good news. It is a reason for optimism about the continuing, but still somewhat delicate, recovery in the U.S. That optimism is … Continue reading

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Korean law firms at a crossroads

Major Korean law firms are at a historic crossroads as we begin 2012.  This year will probably bring a massive entry of foreign law firms into South Korea, which will introduce sweeping changes into the legal marketplace. The free trade … Continue reading

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Nigerian law firms in a crisis year

Today’s general strike in Nigeria, protesting the withdrawal of subsidies for retail fuel prices, and the recent rise in domestic terror in the north of the country foretell a difficult year ahead. 2012 is going to be a crisis year … Continue reading

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

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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Stopping the revolving doors

When I was a very young boy growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, my father would tell me that the revolving doors at Kaufmann’s department store were what powered the escalators.  It made sense at the time.  As my father pointed … Continue reading

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“New year’s resolutions” for European law firms in 2012

I noticed that the first three news links on Page One of the Walker Clark website this morning were all about the economic prospects for Europe in 2012, particularly the euro economies. Here are four things that we are asking … Continue reading

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Two key planning concepts for an uncertain new year

One of the most difficult challenges to well-informed business planning for 2012 is that the economic forecast remains hazy in most countries. Those of you who follow our news feed on Page One of our website have been treated to predictions … Continue reading

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Rough seas ahead for M&A?

Having been very busy helping our clients with their 2012 business plans this week, I have only this morning gotten to an important analytical piece in yesterday’s Financial Times on-line: “Collapse in M&A amid debt turbulence” by Helen Thomas and Anousha … Continue reading

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