Just got back from a couple of days at Camp Shin Go Beek, a Cub Scout camp in northern Wisconsin. That’s my son, Steven, on the left. The lake was low this year, and with 10 Scouts and 10 adults on the dock, there was too much risk in casting, so the fishing was pretty… Continue Reading
Monthly Archives: June 2007
Hungry? Learn from Bob Dylan and the Buffalo
Posted in Leadership and ManagementLine from Bob Dylan: "Don’t be afraid not to follow the herd – because where the herd’s gone, the food is already eaten." Thanks to the folks at the Brand Builder for their great post, Bob Dylan On Fresh Ideas & Innovation. When you think about, it is important to be thankful for the herd. … Continue Reading
Good Example Of Client- Driven Client Service
Posted in Client ServiceSometimes good client service happens because 800 pound gorillas insist on it. Here’s a good example. Kudos to the heavyweights.
Customer Focus is About Perspective
Posted in Client Service"At a famous presentation at Black and Decker, a consultant held up one of these, a drill, and asked the Black and Decker executives if this is what they sold. They all recognized the product and answered “yes”. He then suggested to them, that from the customer’s point of view, what they are selling is… Continue Reading
Influential Business Leader Speaks. Please Listen.
Posted in Hourly Rates and Alternatives, Leadership and Management"Put most bluntly, the most fundamental misalignment of interests is between clients who are driven to manage expenses, and law firms which are compensated by the hour." So says Cisco General Counsel Mark Chandler in a recent speech, which is posted here. From the same speech: My answer to this question is therefore simple: first,… Continue Reading
Recipe For Success
Posted in Leadership and ManagementI have been spending considerable time trying to identify the character traits firms must have to succeed. Here’s my top ten list. Feel free to add to it. Discipline Execution Passion An ability to be dispassionate Commitment Creativity Excellence Customer-focus Comfort with Change and willingness to experiment Maniacal effort to improve I know that being… Continue Reading
Like Sheep To The Slaughter
Posted in Hourly Rates and AlternativesLike most other firms of its size in Chicago, Butler Rubin is approached regularly by much larger firms looking to merge (read, swallow). Because my partners are a polite group, we smile, say thank you and then politely decline. You see, most of us are big firm refugees and we would rather not relive those… Continue Reading
Demand Destruction.
Posted in Hourly Rates and AlternativesThat’s the moral of a recent "flash survey" of top General Counsel by Altman Weil on the latest round of salary increases for starting associates. And that’s demand as a noun, not a verb. Here are the key findings and insightful comments submitted by GC s: 58% of the GCs believe the newest increases are… Continue Reading
Back To Regular Programing–Billable Hours Run Amuck
Posted in Hourly Rates and AlternativesWhile its much more entertaining to write about Raquel Riskin (for those interested, vote here), I return to an issue at the core of this blog–hourly billing. Here I am reading the June 2007 issue of American Lawyer. Nice little story about the San Diego City Attorney recommending that the City take legal action against… Continue Reading
Vote Riskin. Vote Early. Vote Often.
Posted in GeneralNot Gerry. Raquel. Let me explain. Gerry was in Chicago yesterday, so we planned dinner as is our habit when he is visiting. He called to tell me his daughter Raquel was in town. "Would I mind if she joined us." "Of course not. Gerry and I got to the restaurant first and were having… Continue Reading