2007 Speakers/Topics

Thursday, November 8, 2007:

From ‘No Comment’ to ‘No Problem’: Developing a Media Strategy For Handling a Crisis and Growing Your Business
As the legal and business media continues its rapid evolution, including the addition of more resources to cover law firm business at traditional media outlets and an increasing number of bloggers, law firms can no longer rely on ‘no comment’ as a means of interacting with the media. Nor should a law firm want to limit itself in this way. If managed properly, law firms can develop and execute media strategies that capitalize on good news (theirs and other firms’) and allow them to navigate bad news. This all-attorney panel will include PR professionals, top legal reporters, attorneys and in-house counsel who will share their experiences and tips for mastering the art of interacting with journalists.

James Diaferia, Infinite Public Relations, Moderator
Chris Lehane, Partner, Fabiani & Lehane
Mike France, BusinessWeek
Douglas McCollam, The American Lawyer
Paul Geller, Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins

10x10 Extreme Marketing: Best Practice Case Studies
10 topics. 10 speakers. 10 minutes each. This LPM original is the ultimate in marketing speed-learning. Listen to 10 law firm partners discuss business development initiatives that have succeeded in their respective practices.

Robert L. Clayton, Littler Mendelson, P.C.
Constance B. Foster, Partner, Saul Ewing LLP
John B. Frisch, Principal, Miles & Stockbridge P.C.
Scott Gilbert, Chairman, Gilbert Randolph LLP
Andrea S. Hartley, Shareholder, Akerman Senterfitt
Linda B. Hollinshead, Partner, WolfBlock
John Macleod, Senior Partner, Crowell & Moring
Steven Miles, Partner, Baker Botts L.L.P.
John J. O'Malley, Shareholder, Volpe and Koenig, P.C.

Return to Bates v. Arizona – The Ongoing Ethics Debate
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Bates v. Arizona—signaling what today makes up the law marketing industry. Yet, the continuing debate over First Amendment rights, the ability to market a law practice, protecting the client and the dignity of the profession continues. This program will discuss the cases, ethics opinions, model rules and debates over whether Bates has advanced the business of practicing law and how many state bars have continued to struggle with its impact. This all-star panel comprises attorneys that have been involved in how this debate impacts the profession each and every day.

Micah Buchdahl, HTMLawyers, Moderator
Van O’Steen, Managing Partner, O’Steen & Harrison
Elizabeth Tarbert, Ethics Counsel, The Florida Bar
Gregory Beck, Equal Justice Works Fellow, Public Citizen Litigation Group
Barbara Ann Williams, Deputy General Counsel/Ethics Counsel, McGuireWoods

The Diversity Dilemma: Meeting the Expectations of the Law Firm, the Diverse Workforce and the Client
Diversity is more than a buzz word; it’s a best practice initiative. Law firms that ignore or pay lip service to diversity run the risk of losing competitive ground. Firms engaging a diverse workforce are better able to demonstrate nimble competencies in order to manage a plethora of issues that arise from a client market that itself is becoming more diverse. Adopting diversity as a business initiative means more than just recruiting diverse talent. Retention of such talent is just as critical for a firm to receive a return on its investment in the diversity initiative. Attention must be given to developing and implementing programs that encourage the inclusion of diverse talent in every area and level of the work environment. In this session, learn about the benefits and challenges of diversity in the workplace from the perspective of those in the legal community who have adopted diversity as a business initiative and a best practice necessity.

Joan Bullock, Professor of Law, Florida A&M University College of Law, Moderator
Paulette Brown, Partner, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge
Rachel Silverman, Bracewell & Giuliani
Jane K.P. Tam, Partner, Holland + Knight
Thomas P. Dale, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Rolls-Royce North America, Inc.
Cynthia R. White, Assistant General Counsel, GlaxoSmithKline

Friday, November 9, 2007:

Wasted Time, Wasted Spending
Law Firms continue to be ineffective in their business development spending. How should you budget, hire and spend? Learn from a panel with different law firm perspectives—the small plaintiffs’ firm; the midsize multi-practice firm; and the large law firm concerns, problems and successes.

Walter Karnstein, Partner, Kolisch Hartwell, Moderator
Van O’Steen, Managing Partner, O’Steen & Harrison
Michael Nestor, Partner, Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor }
Micah Buchdahl, HTMLawyers

Technology Marketing – Maximizing Cyberworld
Web Sites, Blogs, Extranets, Proposal Centers, Specialty Sites, AdWords, Search Engine Optimization, Sponsored Links, Contact Management Systems...Where does it end, and how do I begin? Law firms have successfully been using the Internet for more than a decade. Learn from attorneys that have been innovators in Cyberspace, and here on earth.

Steven Silverberg, Partner, Silverberg Zalantis, Moderator
Greg Siskind, Partner, Siskind Susser Bland
Timothy Stanley, CEO, Justia, Inc.
William Nelson, Partner, Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons