LAW FIRM MANAGEMENT CONSULTING
For 27 of the 37 years at Peabody & Brown, I participated in the management of the firm: 15 years as Assistant Managing Partner, then seven years as Managing Partner and five years as Chair of the Executive Committee. During that period the firm grew from 25 lawyers to 120 lawyers, and we opened three additional offices in Washington, DC, Providence, RI and Manchester, NH by acquisitions. Prior to retiring from the firm, I also assisted with the merger of the firm with Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle LLP to form the present Nixon, Peabody LLP.
Over those years I dealt with virtually every issue facing a mid-sized to large law firm, including the drafting of the first written partnership agreement, acquisition of various hardware and software systems, establishment of a two-tier partnership, acquisitions of smaller firms and lateral partners, partner retreats, retrenchments, retirement matters, partner compensation and capital matters, and a host of personnel policy matters.
As a result, while still at Peabody & Brown I began to consult to various smaller law and accounting firms on structure and compensation issues and began a collaboration with Joel Rose of Joel Rose & Associates when Joel needed legal drafting help to implement his practice suggestions. I continued that collaboration after moving to California, and I participated several times as a faculty member at Joel’s annual law firm management seminar. I am an Adjunct Professor at Golden Gate University School of Law teaching a course on The Business of the Practice of Law.
I am available to consult to small and mid-size firms in the West on issues of firm structure, partnership or shareholder agreements, compensation systems, budgeting, billing systems, mergers and acquisitions, partner retreats and personnel policies.