Legal sector consultancy remains a strong focus of my work (although you will see that during 2014 my clients and work in other sectors increased significantly). The numerous changes from outside and within the legal market continue to challenge clients.
Research
Following the success of the 2011 White Paper “Social media in selling and relationship development in the professions” (see the knowledge section), in 2012 I prepared a similar White Paper on Apps. In 2013 I conducted a small research project in conjunction with charities Onlydads and Onlymums into the pricing of family law services. During 2014, I prepared a guide on communications, conflict management and negotiation.
In February 2014, my fourth book “Rainmakers and trailblazers: a step by step guide to business development for lawyers” was published and received six excellent reviews from people in the legal profession http://kimtasso.com/publications/rainmakers-trailblazers-business-development-lawyers/
London solicitors
During 2013, I continued to visit Royds near St Paul’s in the City. I have worked with them since the start of 2008 and we continue to make solid progress on a number of fronts – particularly in the international arena and in the commercial sector following the 2011 introduction of a social media campaign and new web site – www.royds.com – produced with www.Fresh01.com.
During the year I completed my strategy and marketing work with Laurence Kaye – leading digital and media lawyers – and was happy when they joined Shoosmiths in early 2013. I also did a conference paper on consumer strategy for the Motor Accidents Solicitors Society. In 2014 I will be working with some immigration lawyers and also doing some pricing work. New clients in 2013 included family lawyers Venters.
In 2014, I worked with content creation project with Lexis Nexis and with specialist practices in the areas of family, immigration, infrastructure arbitration and personal injury/medical negligence.
Barristers
During 2012, I finished working on a major project with one of the country’s leading sets of family barristers. As well as talking to a number of the members and interviewing 20 of their solicitor clients, I helped them develop a new strategy and worked closely with the senior clerk and marketing committee to support its implementation.
During 2013 and 2014 there were a number of assignments and a further training and coaching programme for leading construction set Keating Chambers.
Training and coaching
Training and coaching remains a large part of my work within the legal sector – whether this is for partners and lawyers or for in-house teams. 2012 assignments included London based work for S J Berwin (www.sjberwin.com) and for US firm WilmerHale (www.wilmerhale.com) and in 2013 I worked with Russell Cooke and Lawnet – both supporting their family lawyers and their business development people on Return on Investment projects. I spent some time in Frankfurt in September 2013 working with some of the leading law firms there in the area of project management.
During 2014, I continued to provide sessions at conferences across the UK organised by the Law Society, MBL and CLT (www.clt.co.uk) – most notably for its private client and family events – and have delivered a number of full day courses on “Developing a privately funded family practice” and “Business development for lawyers” which continued to run in 2014. I was also encouraged to develop and deliver a number of interactive webinars for CLT – on topics ranging from networking and social media to business development for young lawyers.
Solicitors across the regions
A long standing client, I still regularly work with Rix & Kay (www.rixandkay.co.uk) – a growing, modern practice in Sussex and Kent – on strategic issues as well as playing an ongoing part in its leadership and management development programme and providing planning support to teams such as private client and family.
I still return to Kent on occasions to work with Thomson Snell & Passmore (www.ts-p.co.uk) and am delighted to see the continuing success of its Thames Gateway initiative with which I have been associated since the start several years ago. In 2014 I returned to support the next generation of lawyers go through the business development training and coaching programme.
Previously, there was a business development coaching programme for a number of lawyers at Hampshire based Lamb Brooks (www.lambbrooks.com) and some work for Law South (www.lawsouth.co.uk) where I already work for five of its 12 members and started 2013 with some work for Withy King (www.withyking.co.uk).
During 2014, I was also involved with firms and in-house teams in Bristol and Suffolk.
Business Development for lawyers
At the start of 2014, my fourth book “Business development for lawyers” was published by Legal Monitor.