Editor's Letter: Changing times

The economic downturn has affected law firms in many ways. Some have committed to legal process outsourcing and flexible working arrangements, while others have increased their international expertise through mergers, aquisitions or lateral hires. Whichever option you are currently considering, it is covered in this issue of Managing Partner.

Of wider significance is the intangible issue of law firm culture, which really shouldn’t be ignored when implementing dramatic change. No doubt it had some influence on former Hogan & Hartson and Lovells partners when they decided to defect to competitors before the famed merger.

But, how far should you go to keep your staff happy? And, supposing you decide you want to be the Google employer of the legal profession, offering lawyers high-end recreation rooms and uniquely flexible working options to encourage innovative client development, will your partners play along?

Entrenched in the partner mindset are the hard lessons they learnt as junior associates, which of course should not be spared for the next generation. While you may emphasise that you have a no-tolerance policy for bullying, and believe that your senior partners do not routinely shout at junior associates for interrupting them, much goes on after you close your door.

Opportunity for change comes in many forms and as Managing Partner’s new editor, I look forward to bringing you more magazines on the real issues facing you, our valued readers. I would also like to thank the previous editor, Richard Brent, for his kind assistance over the past month and wish him well in his future endeavours.

Manju Manglani, Editor

mmanglani@waterlow.com