Training and education
San Francisco-based litigation partner Jim Basile gives fivehundred the lowdown on the Kirkland Institute for Trial Advocacy, a firm-wide trial advocacy and litigation attorney training programme that prepares associates for all a courtroom can throw at them
Please give us brief history and overview of the programme. Kirkland & Ellis started the Kirkland Institute for Trial Advocacy, or KITA, programme 41 years ago. It is the largest, most comprehensive litigation training programme at any firm. It emphasises core trial skills and becomes more complex as associates advance. In more detail, what does …
Continue reading “Creating trial-ready lawyers”
The Bar
After five years away, Steven Gee QC explains why he has returned to the independent Bar and what he learnt from operating in the law firm environment
In March 2019 I joined Monckton Chambers having spent five years in independent practice as a QC and a partner at litigation boutique Joseph Have Aaronson from December 2014. I have been in practice at the Bar since 1976 and was head of chambers at Stone Chambers in Gray’s Inn for 15 years before joining …
Continue reading “Back at the Bar”
Editors' views
Continuing her European tour, EMEA editor Ella Marshall reflects on Ronaldo, cherrypicking, and changing networking practices in Portugal
Last month, I spent some time in Lisbon to attend the GC Powerlist Iberia (Portugal) and meet with several law firms ahead of The Legal 500’s next EMEA guide. For the converted, I don’t need to proselytise on what a fantastic city Portugal’s capital is, something that has been recognised by the many multinational companies …
Continue reading “Iberian nights (and days)”
Marketing
In an increasingly competitive international marketplace, David H. Freeman considers what it takes for law firms to truly differentiate themselves
While differentiation is a process, a solid culture is the defining characteristic of any organisation. And make no mistake, your firm has a culture; whether authored by you or not. Anthropologist Philip Folsom will tell you that any ‘tribe’ or group collective develops its own working style. Successful tribes/organisations craft a culture based on two …
Continue reading “How to stand out within a sea of sameness”
Interview with...
Zang, Bergel & Viñes Abogados’s managing partner discusses the need to think big, why diversity is the new cultural norm, and why managing people can be the biggest challenge
How would you define your firm’s culture? How important is firm culture to you? Firm culture is extremely important. In fact, it is absolutely critical to business performance, hiring, retention, and innovation. After many years of promoting the best work policies and putting together an amazing team, we have established a very strong culture in …
Continue reading “Carolina Zang: Innovation is an attitude, it’s the new lifestyle”
Editors' views
Amid efforts to recognise more of the best female lawyers, the reaction from some old-school partners highlights the challenge of shaking up the status quo, writes Georgina Stanley
Right now The Legal 500’s UK research team are putting the final touches to their rankings. I’m hopeful that when we launch the 2020 UK Solicitors guide later this autumn it will show that we have achieved one of the aims I set out when I joined – to boost diversity, and, in particular, increase …
Continue reading “Resistance to change”
Career Corner
Mijke Sinninghe Damsté explains how she combined family life with partnership, and how Loyens & Loeff aims to do the same for its next generation of partners
Ever since my first year in university, I knew that I wanted to become a lawyer. It seemed to be the perfect combination of finding creative solutions for challenging problems and applying social skills to reach common goals, either through litigation or negotiations. I even remember the exact moment: after winning a moot court challenge …
Continue reading “Striking a balance”
Interview with...
K&L Gates’ global managing partner on the influence of legal tech, alternatives to the billable hour, and what business drivers are critical to clients
How is technology changing the way you meet client needs? Which areas will be most affected by new tech? We have sought to be very proactive in utilising technology to meet client needs because it is a key vehicle for delivery of value to clients. Much of the focus in the business of law is …
Continue reading “James Segerdahl: Price is a poor proxy for quality or value”
The Bar
As Andrew Spink QC finishes his two-year term as COMBAR chair, the co-head of Outer Temple Chambers looks back on the association’s recent key achievements and talks about the challenges ahead for the commercial Bar
It’s been an exciting time to chair the Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR), a specialist bar association (SBA) representing the cream of English and Welsh barristers advising the international business community. With 1,600 individual barristers and 38 leading chambers, COMBAR is a hallmark of excellence, with members advising and appearing as advocates and arbitrators in high-value, …
Continue reading “Reflections of a commercial silk”
Interview with...
Payne Hicks Beach’s new chair explains the importance of being empathic when acting for ultra-high-net-worth clients, and why lawyers should put themselves in their clients’ shoes
What made you want to become the new chair of Payne Hicks Beach and what do you hope to achieve? It is a great honour to be responsible for a firm that has been around for almost 300 years. The private client landscape has altered dramatically in the last 25 years with an explosion of …
Continue reading “Robert Brodrick: Innovation from a different perspective”
