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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009
Park Hyatt, Toronto ON
| 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. |
Conference Breakfast and Registration
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| 8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m. |
Welcome & Introduction
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| 8:40 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. |
Keynote address: “Law Firms After the Great Economic Reset” Bruce MacEwen, President of Adam Smith, Esq., LLC, New York (NY)
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The Great Economic Reset of 2007—2009 has forced firms in industries ranging from investment and commercial banking to automobiles and consumer retailing to seriously rethink their business models. The landscape of financial services, in particular, is virtually unrecognizable compared to 18 months ago. As for our own industry, fundamental assumptions dating back decades or more are under challenge: What justifies the billable hour? Why promote associates in annual lockstep? Do clients need firms with global or national reach? Was the growth imperative of the first part of this century a mistake? "Does the entire organizational model of the law firm have to be rethought in light of this new reality". And most importantly, how can we continue to provide impeccable client service and satisfying career paths for our professionals? Will those two goals ever be compatible?
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| 10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
Change: Internally Drive to Externally Thrive
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The pace of change in today's business and legal environment is creating additional pressures and challenges for those who are responsible for managing law firms. In this session, we will hear from people who are faced with numerous management challenges on a full-time basis. These challenges will range from pressures to control costs (without affecting service) to conflicts of interest (both identifying them and managing them), claims management (insurance, notification), use of engagement letters, preparation of RFPs, client communications etc.
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Moderator:
David N. Corbett, Managing Partner, Fasken Martineau (Toronto)
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Speakers:
Jean McLeod, Chief Administrative Officer & General Manager, Stikeman Elliott LLP (Toronto)
J. Scott Morgan, Chief Administrative Officer, Ogilvy Renault (Montreal)
Malcolm M. Mercer, Partner, General Counsel, McCarthy Tétrault (Toronto)
Heather M. Picken, Managing Partner, Lawrence, Lawrence, Stevenson LLP (Brampton)
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| 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
Lunch
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| 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
Mousetrap 2.0? ----- Guiding Principles for the modern, win-win law firm/ client relationship.
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Hear from clients, law firm leaders and advisors and help to clarify the principles that will be the cornerstone of a successful future law firm. The basic structure and functioning of the law firm and the law firm/ client relationship has not really changed for over 40 years. Although there has been globalization, enormous growth in the in-house legal department and technological innovation, what lawyers do and the lawyer client model has not really changed. There is growing concern that the model no longer serves the needs of our clients. Although legal work is increasing, the funds available to clients to pay for such work has decreased. You will be challenged to rethink the way firms operate in the context of the new client reality. The discussion will include an evaluation of the following with suggestions as to why things have to change and how you can do so profitably:
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• The client engagement model
• the partnership structure
• the billable hour
• financing and capital
• outsourcing and deconstruction
• commoditized products versus tailored services
• Web 2.0
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Moderator:
Dale R. Ponder, Managing Partner, Osler (Toronto)
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Speakers:
Brian G. Armstrong, Q.C., Executive Vice President and General
Counsel, Bruce Power Inc. - Law Division (Tiverton)
Richard Hall, Partner, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP (New York)
Gordon A. Currie, Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, George Weston Ltd. (Toronto)
Paul Lippe, CEO, Legal OnRamp (California)
Lorne N. MacLean, Managing Partner, MacLean Family Law Group (Vancouver)
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| 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
Evening entertainment – On Fire in the Big Smoke: Our gala continues in its spectacular tradition! Producer Mike Cowie returns and has put together an extravaganza of exciting entertainment. Join us for an intimate, inspiring and extraordinary show, drawing on the rich multicultural fabric and excellent entertainment resources that the great city of Toronto has to offer. Come to be entertained but be prepared to be wowed.
Additional Guest tickets available for purchase. |
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2009
| 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. |
Breakfast and Registration
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| 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. |
Transformation, Change, or Business As Usual – The Future of Law Firms
Richard Susskind, Special Adviser to the CBA and author of The End of Lawyers? (London, UK)
In these challenging economic times, there is some dispute amongst lawyers and commentators over the shape of tomorrow’s legal services. When the dust settles, some believe that normal service will be resumed and the old business models of law firms will reassert themselves; others insist that change is inevitable and that lawyers must streamline their businesses and become more competitive on price if they are to thrive; while still others contend that more fundamental transformation is afoot – that the downturn will precipitate radically new ways of working in the legal profession. Richard will consider each of these schools of thought in turn. In the end, and illustrating his claims through a variety of case studies, he will side with those who anticipate fundamental transformation. He will sketch a future in which the outsourcing, off-shoring, sub-contracting, and relocation of legal services will become commonplace; while the computerisation of routine and repetitive legal tasks will also be pervasive.
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| 9:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
In Conversation with Richard Susskind: The Challenge to Change
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This session will be an opportunity for a distinguished panel of experts to debate the sometimes controversial claims made by Richard Susskind in his address. Richard will be in the chair and encouraging the panellists to discuss and challenge the extent to which the future that he has outlined is borne out in practice. A strong client presence on the Panel will ensure that the conversation is lively. Participation from the audience will be encouraged
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Moderator:
Richard Susskind, Special Adviser to the CBA and author of The End of
Lawyers? (2008) (London, UK)
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Speakers:
David Allgood, Executive Vice-President and General Counsel for Royal Bank of Canada (Toronto)
Jerri L. Cairns, Managing Partner, Parlee McLaws LLP (Edmonton)
Patrick J. Lamb, Founding Member, Valorem Law Group LLC (Chicago)
Les M. Viner, Managing Partner, Torys LLP (Toronto)
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| 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. |
Lunch for attendees of Meeting the Leadership Challenge II (Post-conference workshop)
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