27 March 2019

6:00 PM - 8:30 PM | Welcome drinks reception


28 March 2019

8:15 AM - 9:00 AM | Registration and networking breakfast


9:05 AM - 9:20 AM | Co-chair opening remarks

Adam O.Emmerich, Partner, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, USA
Charles Martin, Senior Partner, Macfarlanes, UK

9:20 AM - 10:20 AM | Keynote- Honing the Mindset, Skillset, and Behaviors of Innovators: The Secret-Sauce for Service Differentiation

Based, in part, on over 100 interviews of general counsels and law firm lawyers around the world, this interactive keynote begins by exploring the changing legal marketplace and clients’ new expectations of law firm lawyers. Attendees will then participate in a reflection exercise around the ideal mindset, skillset, and behaviours of lawyers. The session then turns to identifying the disconnects that exist between what clients are wanting and what law firm lawyers are delivering. The session concludes with group discussion around alternative collaborative approaches independent law firms can take to transform client relationships to create a client-leadership edge.
Professor Michele DeStefano, University of Miami Law School, USA

10:20 AM - 10:45 AM | Refreshment and networking break


10:45 AM - 11:35 AM | People issues in times of turbulence and change

Shifting client expectations and increased competitive pressures from the global players are amongst the challenges that independent law firms are faced with. But, how do you keep the firm together during disparate performance?  This panel will look at the challenges and the strategic choices firms are making today that will shape them for years to come. 
  • Culture, morale and pay: the interrelationship
  • Diversity and inclusion: the challenges
  • Feedback, mentoring and assessment

Moderator: Shawn McReynolds, Managing Partner, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg, Canada
Robert Legh, Chairman and Senior Partner, Bowmans, South Africa  
Geert Potjewijd, Managing Partner, De Brauw, Holland
Alex Saleh, Partner & Head of Private Equity, Al Tamimi & Co, Kuwait ​​​​​​​
Melinda Wallman, Founder and Managing Director, XX Advantage, UK 


11:35 AM - 12:20 PM | Thrive in today’s world: How to implement technology transformations & drive value

Join our expert panel as they explore how technology will change the future landscape of independent law firms in both the short, medium and long term: 
  • What strategy and framework should you use to implement change? 
  • What technology is worth the investment and how innovative are clients expecting their law firm to be? 
 Moderator: Rob Sumroy, Partner, Slaughter and May, UK
David Griffin, Head of Legal & Governance Systems and Change, BT Group, UK
Luca Bertoli-Mitchell, Head of EMEA Legal Growth, Tessian, UK 
Isabel Parker, Director of Legal Services Innovation, Freshfields, UK

Petra Zijp, Managing Partner, Nauta Dutilh, Amsterdam 

12:20 PM - 1:20 PM | Lunch and networking break


12:45 PM - 1:15 PM | Legal Talent Roundtable

Legal Week recently ran a Legal Talent competition for Associates and Trainees. Applicants were required to answer the following question...'How can the legal profession change to better manage diversity, inclusivity & talent for future business success?'. The finalists then pitched their innovative idea to Jeremy Barton General Counsel of KPMG, Siobhan Moriarty General Counsel of Diageo and Andrew Garard the Group Legal Director of ITV. The winners of the competition are here today to pitch their winning idea and welcome your feedback and discussion. 

1:20 PM - 2:10 PM | Law firms marketing surgery: Ensuring your brand thrives

Strong marketing and brand positioning are crucial if you want to stay ahead of the game. How can independent law firms compete in a globalised world? What fresh approaches should you be adopting to make sure that your overall communications strategy is strong and coherent whilst bringing your competitive positioning to life?
Moderator:  Adam O.Emmerich, Partner, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, USA
John Kiely, Managing Director, Edelman, UK
​​​​​​​Elliot Moss, Partner & Head of Business Development, Mishcon de Reya, UK 

2:10 PM - 3:10 PM | Interactive boardroom discussion

Our expertly facilitated boardroom discussions, run under the Chatham House Rule, allow you to choose topics that are of the most importance and relevance to you. Come prepared for in-depth discussions and detailed peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing. 

A)The impact of geopolitical issues on independent law firms 
In this interactive boardroom discussion our speakers will discuss the impact of geopolitical issues in their jurisdiction and the impact that it has had on their law firm, clients and how they have prepared: 
  • Strengths and weaknesses of domestic firms in times of international stress 
  • How work types change 
  • The opportunities 
  • Lessons learned 
Amir Achcar Bocayuva Cunha, Managing Partner, Barbosa Mussnich Aragao, Brazil
Sadiq Jafar, Managing Partner, Hadef & Partners, Dubai 
Dimitris E. Paraskevas, Managing Partner, Elias Paraskevas Attorneys, Greece 

 
B) How to build an innovation hub 
Join our speakers as they take an in-depth look at the journey of creating a collaborative innovation department that develops the latest solutions for clients and law firms: 
  • What is the strategy behind creating your own innovation hub: is it worth the investment? 
  • What resources do you need in place to successfully execute your strategy? 
  • What are the common pitfalls that firms have come across when trying to create a technology hub? Can they be resolved by combining forces with other law firms? 
Lisa Burton, Director of Advisory EU, Lighthouse, UK
Robert Millard, Partner, Cambridge Strategy Group, UK
Nicola Woodfall, E-Disclosure Manager, Travers Smith, UK 

 
C) Millennials: A group discussion on the challenges and opportunities 
Differentiation is essential for independent firms to thrive in the competitive legal market and one way to stand out from the crowd is to create an outstanding team and an appealing culture. A selected panel of associates and trainees will candidly discuss the challenges of the future for their firms, including their concerns about organisation business flexibility, technology, and work/life balance. 
Moderator: Rishabh Shroff, Partner, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, India 
Kylie Dollard, Associate, Arthur Cox, Ireland 
Ceri-Ann McGraa, Senior Solicitor, Macfarlanes, UK 

3:10 PM - 3:30 PM | Refreshment and networking break


3:30 PM - 4:15 PM | Collaboration: Practical solutions for common challenges

This session seeks to get to the bottom of how law firms can collaborate from within in order to better service their clients. Once this is achieved, how can independent law firms work with one another (particularly those in a different jurisdiction) to achieve true cost savings, efficiencies and quality for their clients?  
  • How do you create a collaborative culture?
  • Consideration of cultural differences between firms and the impact this can have on collaboration 
  • What is the impact of increasing use of technology in relation to collaboration and how will this develop in the future? 
  • Project management: a vital tool for efficiency and collaboration- how to raise your game? 
Moderator: Professor Heidi Gardner, Harvard Law School, USA 
Dimitry Afanasiev, Chairman, Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners, Russia 
Jan Dernestam, Managing Partner, Mannheimer Swartling, Sweden 
Pedro Perez-Llorca, Senior Partner, Perez Llorca, Spain 

4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Evolution of business services within law firms

The importance of business services within law firms increases every year. Risk, finance, HR, Marketing, IT are all areas that have vital client facing elements. Some law firms have non-lawyer CEO's and frequently non-lawyer COO's. The heads of these functions have partner level status and influence. 
  • What are the trends? 
  • How to identify the talent that you need? 
  • War stories and ideas for successful engagement 
Richard Punt, CEO - Peerpoint, Allen & Overy, UK
Tony Williams, Consultant, Jomati Consultants & Former Managing Partner, Clifford Chance, UK 
Nick Woolf, Partner, Sainty, Hird & Partners, UK 
 

5:00 PM - 5:35 PM | Closing keynote

Rosemary Martin, the Group General Counsel of the Vodafone Group, will speak candidly about the advantages and disadvantages of independent firms: 
  • Current thoughts on panel composition?
  • Tricks and tips that law firm managing partners can incorporate into their strategy you improve relationships with clients? 
Interviewer: Charles Martin, Senior Partner, Macfarlanes, UK 
Interviewee: Rosemary Martin, Group General Counsel, Vodafone Group, UK 

5:35 PM - 5:45 PM | Chairmans closing remarks

Charles Martin, Senior Partner, Macfarlanes, UK
Adam O.Emmerich, Partner, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, USA