Page 73 - The Handbook - Law Firm Networks
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Law Firm Networks – The Future of the Legal Profession
and the ACC chapter get exposure.316 Another example is the SCG Legal, which has an agreement with
Thomson Reuters to produce a book on lobbying.317 World Services Group members have contributed to the
World Bank’s Desktop Reference.318
When a firm places the network’s logo on its letterhead, brochure, or business cards, it is externally
marketing the network. Each is a marketing piece for the membership and demonstrates its international
connections.
Clients can market a network. For example, DuPont promotes the members of its network to other
corporations.319 General counsel compare notes and ask one another who they would recommend in a
particular country or state. There are various groups, like Chambers and Partners, which rank firms. If firms
do not market their networks, they lose the opportunity to demonstrate their access to other top quality firms.
The advisory council of outside counsel is a great way for the network to increase its credibility in the
market.320 If the advisory council members are from well-recognized companies, it sends the message to
other general counsel that the network members are universally the top firms.
Networks can conduct surveys of clients and potential clients for the member firms.321 The first objective is
to collect information useful in defining the strategy for the network. The survey results could point to the
design of the website, the development of CLE materials, publications, collaboration structure, fee structure,
and more. The second purpose of the survey is to let the client know that the network exists. The feedback
from the results enhances this awareness. Future follow-up strengthens the relationship. The survey results
can also be distributed to the media, which may publish them.
Law and accounting firms have formed alumni groups322 of former employees. These groups serve the
purpose of maintaining a relationship with former employees who, if they left on good terms, can refer
business to the firm.323 The same is true for alumni of network members. If they had a good experience, they
will speak positively about it.
316 This idea has been extended in 2013 to regional briefings such as developments in Africa. Press Release, PR Web, Lex Mundi and the Association
of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Present Series on Investing in Africa, PR Web (Oct. 17, 2013)(
www.prweb.com/releases/2013/10/prweb11243656.htm).
317 SCG LEGAL, LOBBYING, PACS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE: 50 STATE HANDBOOK (2016).
318 Network Wire Newsletter (World Services Group), 3rd Quarter Issue, 2008, www.worldservicesgroup.com/networkwire_2008_3.asp.
319 J. D. Stomper, DuPont Network Orchestra Plays a Winning Tune, THE METROPOLITAN CORPORATE COUNSEL (June 1999), at 27: “Yes, at
DuPont, we see our relationship with those in our network as a two-way street. We encourage our primary law firms to market themselves to other
companies by leveraging the significant experience they have gained in working within the DuPont system. They know that they are part of a group of
some of the best and most innovative law firms in the country. As a result, they have developed such confidence in one another that a lot of work gets
referred from one primary law firm to another that doesn’t have anything to do with DuPont.
We advertise the merits of the primary law firms and encourage them to advertise their relationship with us. We prepared some basic templates for
advertisements for use by our firms and have picked up a big share of the costs of placing those ads. We welcome visits by companies to our offices in
Wilmington to discuss our primary law firms and service providers. Over the last three years about 125 companies (most of them in the Fortune 500)
have dropped by or called us to discuss in depth our Partnering Program and the DuPont network. Next month we will be sitting down with three
companies. We plan to review our program with them from top to bottom. The only thing we ask of these companies is that they come with an open
mind and at least consider using our primary law firms.
Every time we speak at a public function, we always make an effort to put in a positive plug for our law firms because we are very proud of them
and of what they have done for us. There is a significant volume of referrals within our primary law firms. In fact, some firms have gotten more work
from these referrals and external marketing than they have from DuPont cases.”
320 Client Advisory Council, LEX MUNDI, www.lexmundi.com/lexmundi/Client_Advisory_Council.asp?SnID=2133323408 (last
visited Feb. 5, 2016).
321 Press Release, Market Watch, TerraLex-Sponsored Survey Pulls Back Curtain on Role of Modern GC (Sept. 18, 2013),
www.marketwatch.com/story/new-study-reveals-todays-general-counsel-is-business-executive-first-2013-09-18.
322 LINKEDIN, www.linkedin.com (last visited Feb. 5, 2016).
323 Lex Mundi maintains a relationship with attorneys who no longer are at member firms. Lex Mundi Member Contact Information Form, LEX
MUNDI, www.lexmundi.com/Forms.asp?MODE=NEW&Forms_FormTypeID=-48 (last visited Feb. 5, 2016).
62
and the ACC chapter get exposure.316 Another example is the SCG Legal, which has an agreement with
Thomson Reuters to produce a book on lobbying.317 World Services Group members have contributed to the
World Bank’s Desktop Reference.318
When a firm places the network’s logo on its letterhead, brochure, or business cards, it is externally
marketing the network. Each is a marketing piece for the membership and demonstrates its international
connections.
Clients can market a network. For example, DuPont promotes the members of its network to other
corporations.319 General counsel compare notes and ask one another who they would recommend in a
particular country or state. There are various groups, like Chambers and Partners, which rank firms. If firms
do not market their networks, they lose the opportunity to demonstrate their access to other top quality firms.
The advisory council of outside counsel is a great way for the network to increase its credibility in the
market.320 If the advisory council members are from well-recognized companies, it sends the message to
other general counsel that the network members are universally the top firms.
Networks can conduct surveys of clients and potential clients for the member firms.321 The first objective is
to collect information useful in defining the strategy for the network. The survey results could point to the
design of the website, the development of CLE materials, publications, collaboration structure, fee structure,
and more. The second purpose of the survey is to let the client know that the network exists. The feedback
from the results enhances this awareness. Future follow-up strengthens the relationship. The survey results
can also be distributed to the media, which may publish them.
Law and accounting firms have formed alumni groups322 of former employees. These groups serve the
purpose of maintaining a relationship with former employees who, if they left on good terms, can refer
business to the firm.323 The same is true for alumni of network members. If they had a good experience, they
will speak positively about it.
316 This idea has been extended in 2013 to regional briefings such as developments in Africa. Press Release, PR Web, Lex Mundi and the Association
of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Present Series on Investing in Africa, PR Web (Oct. 17, 2013)(
www.prweb.com/releases/2013/10/prweb11243656.htm).
317 SCG LEGAL, LOBBYING, PACS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE: 50 STATE HANDBOOK (2016).
318 Network Wire Newsletter (World Services Group), 3rd Quarter Issue, 2008, www.worldservicesgroup.com/networkwire_2008_3.asp.
319 J. D. Stomper, DuPont Network Orchestra Plays a Winning Tune, THE METROPOLITAN CORPORATE COUNSEL (June 1999), at 27: “Yes, at
DuPont, we see our relationship with those in our network as a two-way street. We encourage our primary law firms to market themselves to other
companies by leveraging the significant experience they have gained in working within the DuPont system. They know that they are part of a group of
some of the best and most innovative law firms in the country. As a result, they have developed such confidence in one another that a lot of work gets
referred from one primary law firm to another that doesn’t have anything to do with DuPont.
We advertise the merits of the primary law firms and encourage them to advertise their relationship with us. We prepared some basic templates for
advertisements for use by our firms and have picked up a big share of the costs of placing those ads. We welcome visits by companies to our offices in
Wilmington to discuss our primary law firms and service providers. Over the last three years about 125 companies (most of them in the Fortune 500)
have dropped by or called us to discuss in depth our Partnering Program and the DuPont network. Next month we will be sitting down with three
companies. We plan to review our program with them from top to bottom. The only thing we ask of these companies is that they come with an open
mind and at least consider using our primary law firms.
Every time we speak at a public function, we always make an effort to put in a positive plug for our law firms because we are very proud of them
and of what they have done for us. There is a significant volume of referrals within our primary law firms. In fact, some firms have gotten more work
from these referrals and external marketing than they have from DuPont cases.”
320 Client Advisory Council, LEX MUNDI, www.lexmundi.com/lexmundi/Client_Advisory_Council.asp?SnID=2133323408 (last
visited Feb. 5, 2016).
321 Press Release, Market Watch, TerraLex-Sponsored Survey Pulls Back Curtain on Role of Modern GC (Sept. 18, 2013),
www.marketwatch.com/story/new-study-reveals-todays-general-counsel-is-business-executive-first-2013-09-18.
322 LINKEDIN, www.linkedin.com (last visited Feb. 5, 2016).
323 Lex Mundi maintains a relationship with attorneys who no longer are at member firms. Lex Mundi Member Contact Information Form, LEX
MUNDI, www.lexmundi.com/Forms.asp?MODE=NEW&Forms_FormTypeID=-48 (last visited Feb. 5, 2016).
62
