Hall of fame: Paul Friedland
Partner Paul Friedland discusses how White & Case LLP is adapting to changing client needs.
What has been your greatest achievement, in a professional and personal capability? Earning and keeping the respect of colleagues, whether junior or senior, and of peers inside or outside my firm. What do you do differently from your peers in the industry? I don’t presume to be different or better than peers. I hold myself …
Interview with: Fernando Vives
Garrigues’ managing partner and executive chairman talks
organic growth, managing through recession, and why it is
impossible to predict the future of law.
How would you define your firm’s culture? In our kind of business, a strong firm culture easily recognizable by clients is essential. Garrigues has developed a global culture, based on strong ethical values and a commitment with excellence, shared by our 2,000 people team in 13 countries. The client benefits from the fact that they …
Interview with: Gavin MacLaren
Law firms must be fast followers of new tech to offer clients the best systems on the market, says Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s senior partner and CEO.
How would you define your firm’s culture? Culture is intrinsically linked to, and the foundation for, success. It is what drives behaviour and decision making at every level, and ultimately determines our ability to deliver outstanding results for our clients. At Corrs, our culture is focused on excellence, collaboration – both internally and with our …
Continue reading “If you are standing still, you’re going backwards”
Interview with: Peter McCormick OBE
McCormicks Solicitors’ senior partner on the pressures of acting for high-profile clients, why young lawyers can’t be nervous groupies, and why all lawyers need to be
better at collecting their fees.
How would you describe your practice? A wide-ranging and extensive sports practice covering football, rugby union, rugby league, cricket, horseracing, cycling, boxing, and athletics. Football is the best known and most extensive. We cover the full range of football entities from the Premier League, Leeds United, Harrogate Town in the National League to the Bostik …
Interview with: Terence Tung
Mayer Brown’s senior partner in Asia talks about avoiding silos, a commitment to pro bono, and working as a collective.
How would you describe your firm’s culture and how important is it to you? Is it different in Asia from the home base in Chicago? Mayer Brown has a strong one-firm culture that enables us to be seamless in serving our clients. This is possible because we operate as a global partnership, rather than in …
Continue reading “Talent retention is critical and unity is strength”
Interview with: Vanessa King
O’Neal Webster’s managing partner talks talent retention, EU blacklisting, launching a New York office, and the difficulties of having an open door policy
How do you define your firm’s culture and how important is that culture to you? We have a very collaborative, supportive, family-based culture in the firm. I am not saying this because I am the managing partner, but it has been described as such by outsiders who have observed us and it is a culture …
Hall of fame: William Perkins
The Legal 500 Hall of Fame highlights individuals who have received constant praise by their clients for continued excellence
What has been your greatest achievement, in a professional and personal capability? Receiving a Cornerstone award for pro bono legal representation of a not for profit organization that provides employment, education, health, legal, social, business development and youth services in Flatbush, Brooklyn. What do you do differently from your peers in the industry? Because I …
Hall of fame: Yasmine Tarasewicz
Yasmine Tarasewicz predicts the biggest challenge for clients in the face of new potential legislation.
What has been your greatest achievement, in a professional and personal capability? Having trained a new generation of lawyers who have impressive legal skills but are also business-minded, client-oriented and conscious of their social responsibilities. What do you do differently from your peers in the industry? Thanks to our international mindset, my team focuses first …
Interview with: Esteban Raventós
The newest member of Baker McKenzie’s global executive committee talks about entrenching diversity, innovation, and adapting to the thinking of new lawyers.
Tell us about yourself and your practice? I have always been practicing in tax in two main areas: tax transactions and wealth management. Over the last 20 years, I have had management roles in the firm, both locally as managing partner of the Barcelona office, and regionally and globally within my specialty, taxation. In addition, …
Continue reading “Why I became a lawyer? Curiosity and youthful rebellion”
Interview with: Juan Camilo Rodríguez
CMS Rodríguez-Azuero’s managing partner talks about the challenges facing lawyers in Colombia and the positive impact of his firm’s recent integration into the CMS fold.
How would you define your firm’s culture? How important is that culture to you? Our firm’s culture is based on team work. We work together towards the same goals and objectives. The foundation of our work is based on strong values and principles that guide us to always be client centric and work towards protecting …