Chicago, IL: The Midwestern Law Firm Management Conference

I will be speaking at the Midwestern Law Firm Management Conference which is being held at the The Chicago Bar Association, 321 South Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL on September 21, 2010.  The program runs from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  Larry Bodine will be moderating a panel of speakers on business development in a West Legal Ed program titled “The New Norm: Understanding How to Thrive in the New Economy.”  Other key speakers include Fredric D. Tannenbaum, Managing Partner, Gould & Ratner, Chicago, IL; and Kevin Thompson, Partner, Davis McGrath, Chicago, IL.  If you know you’re going to be in the area and would like to attend, please register here.

Here are a few of the key topics for discussion at the conference:

• Learn the best practices of successful law firms and how to increase revenues in a tough economy
• Take steps to position your firm for future growth and success
• Integrate the top talent leaving major law firms into your practice
• Create a viable succession plan
• Protect your equity interest in the firm 
• Make sure your firm succeeds after a rainmaker departs 
• Learn how to protect client interests 
• Meet and network with colleagues and potential clients 
• Ensure that you comply with state bar

Conference Information:

About the Conference

    This year's focus:

• Understanding the "new norm" for law firms in the wake of the recession and the changes in the market for legal services and their delivery
• What the short, medium and long term implications of these changes are for firms
• What steps smart firms are taking now to position themselves for future growth and success.

Agenda

   Highlights:

    8:30am – 8:45 am: Welcome and Introductory Remarks
    8:45am – 9:05 am: Outlook for Mid-Sized Firms
    9:10 am – 9:55 am: Trends and Practices in the Future of the Legal Profession
    9:55 am – 10:15 am: BREAK
    10:15 am – 11:15 am: Alternative Fees
    11:20 am – 12:20 pm: Lateral Moves and Their Impact
    12:20pm – 1:40 pm: Lunch and Panel Discussion on Business Development Tools & Techniques
    1:45pm – 2:45 pm: Succession Planning and Business Survival
    2:45 pm – 3:05 pm: BREAK Business Development in the New Normal – Effective Ways to Build Your Law Practice
    4:05 pm – 4:15 pm: Closing Remarks
    4:15 pm – 5:15 pm: Networking Reception

Conference Faculty

CHAIR – Edward Poll, JD, MBA, CMC
LawBiz Management Company

Larry Bodine
Business Development Advisor

David T. Brown
Much Shelist, LLC

Jeffrey Carr
FMC Technologies

Michael Downey
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Patrick J. Lamb
Founding Partner, Valorem Law Group

Russell E. Levine
Kirkland & Ellis, LLP

Paul Lippe
CEO, Legal OnRamp

Eden Mandrel
Major, Lindsey & Africa, LLC

Brian Meltzer
Meltzer, Purtill & Stelle, LLC

Enrico Schaefer
Traverse Legal, PC

Stephanie A. Scharf
Shoeman, Updike & Kaufman, LLC

Bryan I. Schwarts
Levenfield Pearlstein, LLC

Fred Tannenbaum
Gould & Ratner, LLC

Kevin Thompson
Davis McGrath, LLC

Richard Lasater, II
Managing Partner, Los Angeles, Foley & Lardner LLP

Conference Sponsors

• West LegalEdcenter,
• the College of Law Firm Management,
• the Association of Legal Administrators and
• the Chicago Bar Association

Conference Brochure