According to the publisher, ‘we do not hear enough about running law firms from those who do the job. Here they talk frankly, free from jargon and management-speak, about their careers and what their role is really like’.
CooperBurnett shares the stage with law firms across the world, including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Herbert Smith Freehills and Sorainen.
“I have learnt so much over the past 25 years – both from the people who mentored me at the beginning of my career to the team we have around us now,” says Victoria Sampson, Partner at CooperBurnett. “We were incredibly proud to be asked to share our views in this book and very happy to talk about what we’ve discovered over the years.”
In the book, Victoria remembers Jonathan Smithers, former president of The Law Society, showing her that ‘when people looked at our business – you know, a firm in Tunbridge Wells – it doesn’t matter which firm you’re in, it’s what you’re doing for your clients’.
Adds Joseph Oates, Partner: “This process came at a useful time for us, as we are currently in the process of rolling out a new strategy for CooperBurnett, so to talk about our philosophy around running a law firm was really beneficial.”
In the book, Joseph says that when he is talking to young lawyers, he tries to pass on what he has benefited from: “We love them to work hard, and we love them not to feel as if every single day, every week, they’re having to account for every ounce of time. I think that we deliver that message by, for example, not being overly focused on chargeable hours. We do find when people join us that they consider it to be a freer atmosphere in terms of their economic performance.”
Bill Knight worked for the law firm Simmons & Simmons for 35 years, including in the role of senior partner. Since leaving the firm he has been president of the City of London Law Society, deputy chairman of Lloyd’s of London, chair of the Financial Reporting Review Panel, a gambling commissioner and is now a professional photographer (he took the photograph her of Victoria and Joseph).
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Photo credit: Bill Knight
