Hear in-depth analysis from our esteemed UK and USA Editors-in-Chief on what is happening in the two most influential legal markets in the world. Covering the dynamics at play; winners and losers and why; how the role of clients is changing and what you as law firm leaders need to know about the market. 

Key Takeaways:

• Close observations of the market: Hires, moves, reshuffles, trends, geopolitics, and disrupters
• What is the role of the independent law firm relative to the world and what practice or solutions are bearing fruit?
• Insights into the UK and USA domestic positioning, global expansion plans, and the latest analysis into the world markets
• How do the independent law firms across UK and USA compare and is the pecking order changing with rising competition and market changes? 

Changes in the workforce driven by the pandemic have created a series of ripple effects, challenges, and opportunities, including shifts to blended working models, talent retention concerns, and poignant exploration of humanising in the workplace.

Whilst the pandemic has taught us a significant amount about how we can apply hybrid working models to business practice, firms are now grappling with the big return-to-work agenda. With benefits for both employer and employee returning to the office, from boosting innovation, cross-departmental collaboration and greater opportunity for personal development this panel will explore the purpose of the workplace, what returning to the office will look like, and preparedness to deliver value and purpose to employees embedded at the heart of the future firm. 

Key Takeaways:

• A compelling case: What do your employees and incoming talent want from your office space? 
• How do we make the employment and work environment more human-centric with flexibility and autonomy to achieve business outcomes?
• Thriving as a hybrid law firm – the rethink, flexibility, coordination and trade-offs 
• Bricks and mortar: How much space is needed in 2022 and beyond, and how important is the design, location and usage of workspaces to attract and retain talent?

With private equity practice accounting for a large revenue earner for law firms this session delves into the detail of this lucrative sector and explores how to continue to build strength in this area and the potential roadblocks to be mindful of. 

Key Takaways:

• Private equity trends, activity, and economic forecasts
• Can private equity weather the impending economic downturn and where is its practice resilience strongest? 
• Where is the focus for investors and how can independent law firms support them?
• Value creation – pre-empting client needs as the sector evolves 

Join this session to hear a legal market overview with a specific focus on the strengths, opportunities, and risks arising from the region. Our speakers will also delve into practice areas of focus, the commercial viability roadmap, and other important topics such as Diversity, ESG, and the future way of work in Germany.
 

This anticipated keynote comes from the first woman to lead a UK magic circle firm and her journey in prioritising the people at her firm. Sharing insight into:

• Creating an inclusive environment at Freshfields: From mental health first aiders, and ethics committees through to diversity commitments – results to date and lessons learned.
• Insights into the global talent program for black and minority ethnic colleagues 
• How Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s relatively new workspace in London was designed with agility and collaboration in mind – is the space working, and why?
• The evolution in culture, business priorities, and continuing roadblocks at the firm 
   

• Pricing and profitability pressures – where are conversations headed and what are the high-risk factors to firm growth?
• Is a niche, a network, or an edge needed to stand out in the legal landscape?
• The long-term play to improve culture and diversity & inclusion – reflections, learnings, and areas in need of improvement
• Bricks and mortar or virtual workspaces – is a blended approach better for the bottom line? 
• Winning the talent acquisition, retention, and competency battle – wins, fails, and new approaches to recruit and retain more diverse lawyers to firms
• Do we transform the firm’s business in pursuit of net zero targets or social impact goals?
• Top shelf cyber security, data, and technology infrastructure – the growing need to keep clients safe and tapping into a wealth of insights in an increasingly online world – where is the greatest ROI?