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Published Insights

The articles below are just a few examples of our perspectives on

important issues impacting the legal profession. They reflect our consulting style of focusing on human behavior and real results, not just academic theories or superficial trends.

Reaching a Deal

10 Critical Challenges in Negotiating a Successful Law Firm Merger

The American Lawyer

It is estimated that 70% or more of corporate mergers fail to achieve their goals. It isn't surprising to learn that law firm mergers have a similarly low success rate. This article, published in the American Lawyer, discusses some of the common, but not commonly understood, challenges in negotiating a successful law firm merger, and how to address them.

Do Law Firms Test Partner Compensation for Biases?

MesaFive Client Briefing - October 2020

Law firms are increasingly concerned about unintended bias issues in their partner compensation decisions. For most firms this is a complex and intimidating topic, without a lot of guidance available about how to assess the issue. In this client briefing we draw on our experience and address some of the most common questions we receive from law firm leaders on bias testing of partner compensation.

Business Meeting

Does Your Firm's Strategic Plan Say Little and Accomplish Less?

The American Lawyer

While most law firms embrace the concept of planning their future, they quickly discover that developing consensus among partners about a strategy is harder than running a firm. Even among the most talented managing partners across the profession, strategic planning continues to be one of the more exasperating parts of the job.

Before You Plan Ahead Take a Hard Look Back

MesaFive Client Briefing - June 2020

There is a stark difference between organizations that take a hard look back at their actions, openly embrace their mistakes and learn from them, versus those that don't. While the process of looking back at your Lessons Learned may seem to have obvious benefits, too many leaders/organizations think about it but never do it. But the process may not be as intimidating as many think and can often offer benefits far greater than most anticipate.

Hikers

Working Together

The Challenges and Benefits of Using a Nominating Committee

MesaFive Client Briefing

Nominating Committees have become a common mechanism in law firms for finding and choosing leaders. Yet many firms still struggle with their operation and details. This primer explains how successful firms use Nominating Committees and some of the common pitfalls to avoid.

7 Reasons Law Firms Fail at Lateral Hiring

The American Lawyer

Lateral partner hiring is one of the most common means to achieving a firm's overall strategy and growth objectives, yet most firms report dismal success rates. This article describes some of the common problems and innovative solutions that allow firms to dramatically improve their success with lateral hires.

Informative Interview

Shinto Path

Six Observations in a Pandemic Year

MesaFive Client Briefing - December 2020

Recently we were asked by a client to share our observations at year end about some of the most important trends in the profession and the paths that law departments and law firms may follow in the new year.

Feedback Based on Science Not Grade School

Corporate Counsel

While report cards from in-house counsel have become popular and proven helpful, we still hear from many General Counsel that they are frustrated with the lack of response or change they generate from law firms. There is a better grading system, backed by science and experience, that promotes understandable feedback and real change.

Discussing the Numbers

Discussing the Numbers

Is Origination Credit Hurting Rather Than Helping Your Law Firm?

The American Lawyer

There is nothing wrong with rewarding those who develop and bond clients to a law firm. Indeed, without doing so most firms won’t survive. And there is nothing wrong with measuring those skills. The challenge for law firms is that in their attempt to measure it, client interests, firm profits and effective teamwork sometimes take a backseat to the pressures a partner feels in trying to prove his/her worth to the firm.

Law Firm Compensation: Transparency Doesn't Guarantee Happiness

The American Lawyer

Transparency is a common refrain in both business and society today, and with good reason. Clarity about what is happening and why instills a sense of confidence in leaders and creates a sense of honesty. And yet, transparency in partner compensation seems to repeatedly create unhappiness and dissension. The real secret is not transparency, but predictability.

Business Brainstorm

One different board game pawn. Individuality, independence, leadership and uniqueness conc

Nine Elements of a Successful Client Pitch

MesaFive Client Briefing

One of the most important trends over the last twenty years is that clients are increasing their use of formal, competitive selection processes to choose outside counsel. For most lawyers, a pitch meeting will likely always invoke a certain amount of nervous anxiety. But doing a great pitch meeting isn’t difficult if firms focus on the lessons repeatedly emphasized by clients and demonstrated by their most successful competitors.

Audiovisual Conference

Are Firms Fighting the Associate Salary War with the Wrong Weapon?

The American Lawyer

It may seem like recent associate salary increases are all about competing to get the best and brightest people in the door, but given the economic impact for some firms, real victory over the long term will depend on whether firms can keep the associates they recruit long enough to turn a profit. To compete in the associate salary wars, firms outside the Am Law 20 will have to do more than continually raise starting salaries. They will have to focus on minimizing the unintentional turnover of associates.

Upward Curve

Managing Compensation Expectations in a Record Year

The American Lawyer

As many experienced leaders know, setting partner compensation in a great year is often tougher and can cause more internal dissension than in a bad year. The key is in managing expectations.

Credit Assessment

Six Surprising Truths About Partner Compensation

Bloomberg Law/Big Law Business

Partner compensation isn’t typically taught in law schools, so it isn’t surprising that firms struggle with the issue. Law firm leaders constantly invent new analytics, adopt compensation models from other firms, or even occasionally just throw up their hands under the rationalization that “there is no perfect system." But before you redesign your system, consider these facts about partner compensation that are not widely understood, but which are well proven by research and experience.

In a Meeting

Do Millennials Mean Law Firms Need New Leadership?

Bloomberg Law/Big Law Business

Law firms increasingly ask whether new management structures are needed to satisfy Millennial demands for better communication and more involvement. But is this an issue about management structure, or the qualities of their leaders?

Why do some firms that use traditional structures enjoy extraordinary morale and engagement, low turnover, and financial success?

Graphs

ABA: Top Five Trends Impacting the Profession Now, or

Most Firms Don't Change Until They Have To

American Bar Association

October 2019

Despite constant news of radical changes occurring in the legal profession, law firms still look much like they did ten years ago. In this article by the American Bar Association, the ABA highlights some of the most important trends in the profession as presented by MesaFive, and why they will likely come to fruition only with the next Recession.

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