Structural Issues in Law Firm Management

This program will pull back the curtain on what it means to be a law firm partner and the role of partners in law firms.

The program is open to all, but is most highly recommended for senior associates, counsel, partners, and legal services professionals at law firms. Sessions will be conducted in English.

Online via Zoom Fridays, January 17 - May 2, 2025
(LFM Live Event May 13, details TBD)
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Early bird rates of $500 available only through December 2!
Regular rates: $1,000 per person / $750 discounted registrations available

  • CLE credit is approved for the 2025 program in accordance with the requirements of the New York State and New Jersey State CLE Boards for a maximum of 14 credits.

    New York credits are nontransitional (experienced) in the following areas (subject to change): 9.0 Professional Practice credits; 2.0 Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection General credits; 1.0 Law Practice Management credit; 1.0 Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias credit; and 1.0 Ethics credit.

    New Jersey credits are in the following areas (subject to change): 12.0 Professional Practice credits; 1.0 Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias credits; and 1.0 Ethics credits.

    Attendees seeking credit in another state must apply to their states' CLE Board for credit.

Program Schedule

Please see below for the 2025 schedule. We will continue to update as speakers are confirmed.

  • Jaime Carey, Senior Partner, Carey 

    Incoming President of the International Bar Association (IBA)

  • This panel will cover how to define a firm's purpose, and what it stands for in a greater context. In addition, speakers will discuss how to compare global firms vs. national firms with a global reach.

    Featuring: 

    Gabriel Yomi Dabiri, Private Credit, Direct Lending and Cross-Border Finance Leader; Managing Partner, New York Office, Polsinelli Law Firm

    Wim Dejonghe, Former Senior Partner, Allen & Overy

    Andrew C. Kassner, Partner and Chair Emeritus, Faegre Drinker

    Jon D. Van Gorp, Partner & Chair, Mayer Brown

    • CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

  • This panel will cover centralized vs. decentralized governance in law firms, key officers, key committees, and elections and voting rights among firms.

    Featuring:

    Iván Delgado, International Executive Partner, Pérez-Llorca

    David S. Schaefer, Managing Director, Calibrate Consulting

    Chahira Solh​​​​, Partner, Crowell & Moring

    • CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

  • This panel will discuss how billing/pricing policies and strategies work, including non-billable hour methods. Metrics such as profit per partner will also be covered.

    Featuring:

    Nick Dawnay, Director - Value Creation Services, Deloitte UK

    Stuart Dodds, Principal, Positive Pricing

    Verity Jackson-Grant, Head of Pricing, Simmons & Simmons

    • CLE: 1.0 law practice management credits for NY; 1.0 professional practice credits for NJ

  • This two-part series will cover the lockstep model and its variations, models that reward individual performance, and the pros and cons of different models.

    Featuring: 

    James W. Jones, Principal, Legal Management Resources

    • CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

  • This two-part series will cover the lockstep model and its variations, models that reward individual performance, and the pros and cons of different models.

    Featuring: 

    James W. Jones, Principal, Legal Management Resources

    • CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

  • This panel will cover the role of leadership at law firms, and the role a partner plays within the greater context and goals of a firm.

    Featuring:

    Rafique Bachour, Global Managing Partner, Freshfields

    Cara D. Edwards, New York Office Managing Partner and Co-Chair, Leadership Alliance for Women, DLA Piper

    Colin H. Murray, Partner & CEO of North America, Baker McKenzie

    Stacey J. Rappaport, Partner & former member of Global Executive Committee, Millbank

    • CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

  • Description forthcoming.

    Featuring:

    Kate Broer, Global Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Officer, Dentons

    Manuel Galicia, Partner, Galicia Mexico

    Molly Huie, 

    • CLE: 1.0 diversity, inclusion and elimination of bias credits for both NY and NJ

  • This panel will cover the importance of a firm's history and purpose for branding, the role that social media plays in today's world, strategies for effective communication with clients, and tips on developing new business.

    Featuring:

    Kimberly Bindra, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer, Ropes & Gray

    Lavinia Calvert, Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer, Infinite Global

    Deborah Farone, Founder, Farone Advisors

    • CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

  • This panel will cover client groups and other strategies law firms implement, as well as client service and their experience.

    Featuring:

    Palmina M. Fava, Partner, Vinson & Elkins

    Fernando Peláez-Pier, CEO & Founder, LexLatin

    Angela Quinn, Chief Client Officer, Husch Blackwell

    • CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

  • This panel will discuss what is most important when it comes to client service, how to excel at it, and pitfalls to avoid.

    Featuring:

    Luis Alberto Pérez González, LATAM Legal Director, Ethics & Compliance Correspondent, Christian Dior Couture (LVMH)

    Mari Tomunen, General Counsel, Double Zero & Principal, Tomunen Fintech Counsel

    Daniel Zohny, Country Manager, Switzerland & Global Head of Online Brand Protection, Abion; Former Head of Intellectual Property for FIFA

    • CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

  • Description forthcoming.

    Kathryn Bonacorsi, Partner, Quinn Emanuel

    Casey D. Laffey, Partner and Co-Chair, Global Commercial Disputes Group, Reed Smith

    Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, CEO, Disaster Avoidance Experts

    • CLE: 1.0 professional practice credits for both NY & NJ

  • This panel will cover best practices for managing law firm's risks, evaluating a firm's risk tolerance, aligning risk around a mission, and communicating policies around risk assessment. 

    Featuring:

    Joseph C. Davis, Partner & Deputy General Counsel, DLA Piper

    Jennifer Paradise, General Counsel, White & Case

    Trisha M. Rich, Partner, Holland & Knight

    • CLE: 1.0 ethics credits for both NY & NJ

  • This panel will try to answer the question of how AI will more broadly impact how lawyers work, and how firms can avoid some of the pitfalls presented by generative AI.

    Featuring:

    Chris Escobedo Hart, Partner & Co-Chair, Privacy & Data Security, Foley Hoag

    Pablo Jiménez, Partner, Von Wobeser y Sierra

    Ana Sáenz Gammans, Senior Manager, Corporate M&A, EY Law

    • CLE: 1.0 cybersecurity, privacy & data protection general credits for NY, 1.0 professional practice credits for NJ

  • This panel will try to answer the question of how AI will more broadly impact how lawyers work, and how firms can avoid some of the pitfalls presented by generative AI.

    Featuring:

    Nicole Black, Principal & Legal Insight Strategist, MyCase, LawPay, CASEpeer, & Docketwise; AffiniPay companies

    David Cunningham, Chief Innovation Officer, Reed Smith

    Joe Green, Of Counsel & Chief Innovation Officer, Gunderson 

    • CLE: 1.0 cybersecurity, privacy & data protection general credits for NY, 1.0 professional practice credits for NJ

  • The Power of Client Synergy: Colin H. Murray, CEO North American Region, Baker McKenzie, in Conversation with Client TBA

     

     

Register for the program.

Program Fee

Early bird rates available only until December 2!

Beginning after the early bird period ends, the 2025 fee structure is below:

  • Individual registration: $1,000
  • Registration for Fordham Law alumni: $750 (indicate your year of graduation and program in the notes column when paying)
  • Registration for 3 or more registrants from same firm: $750 per participant (indicate your affiliation in the notes column when paying)

Pay for the program using a credit card.

Testimonials

photo of Begoña Cancino

I really enjoyed the program. It was a great approach to the 360° view required for all law firms managers, and it was specific enough to obtain useful insight regardless of the size, location or specialization of any law firm.

Begoña Cancino
Partner
Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enriquez, S.C. (Mexico)

photo of Tomás Allende

The program had a perfect balance between theory and practical experience. The speakers were excellent and very generous in sharing their knowledge and experience. This course is a must for those who are in a managerial position at law firms or those who would like to improve their organizations.

Tomás Allende
Partner and Member of Executive Committee
Estudio Beccar Varela (Argentina)

photo of Alessandro Bovio
The program offered broad scenarios of the main challenges in law firm management, focusing also on the professional personae, differences in opportunities and growing processes for professionals, and structural organization.  Furthermore, the example of bigger firms’ structures reflects the legal market trends and represents a model for boutiques.

Alessandro Bovio
Partner
Alture Legal (Italy)

photo of Leila Zubi
The list of speakers is the who’s who of the legal world, and the topics are highly instructive and current.  The participants are just as impressive as the speakers and elevate the discussions throughout the program.  The co-directors moderate each session with grace, intellect, and camaraderie.  I highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in learning more about the inner workings of law firm management.

Leila Zubi
Managing Partner
Zubi Rosner LLP (USA)