Comments on: Mitch Kowalski, Man to Watch in Tough Legal Times http://www.slaw.ca/2008/12/23/mitch-kowalski-man-to-watch-in-tough-legal-times/ A Canadian cooperative weblog on all things legal. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:02:47 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Not buying it http://www.slaw.ca/2008/12/23/mitch-kowalski-man-to-watch-in-tough-legal-times/comment-page-1/#comment-701879 Not buying it Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:45:32 +0000 http://www.slaw.ca/?p=5399#comment-701879 MK hung his remarks on the collapse of Thatcher Proffitt & Wood. However, we don't know why TPW died so suddenly, and we do know that, despite the Chair of Sonnenschein saying it is a terrible legal market, Sonnenschein snapped up 100+ TPW lawyers in a heartbeat. Is the management of Sonnenschein idiotic? Possible, but doubtful. The amazing thing in previous recessions (and there have been a few nasty ones in my life) is how few law firms died or consolidated compared to most other kinds of enterprises. That may be because (cue heresy music, s.v.p.) a lawyers job description is very simple. Unlike other businesses, there was little opportunity to get confused about what the job was, or how the business model operated. Most other businesses have that opportunity to misunderstand the market or the business or what the managers are supposed to do. My prediction is that the firms that have died and will die are the ones who saw or see themselves as modern and dynamic in their management style. Who consider ideas like going public. I defy anyone to explain in 100 well-chosen words or less why taking a law firm public would lead to better provision of legal services. All thinking like this does is cater to vanity of professional managers who want to be associated with "innovation". Law is a craft. If you want to survive, hone your craft. MK hung his remarks on the collapse of Thatcher Proffitt & Wood. However, we don’t know why TPW died so suddenly, and we do know that, despite the Chair of Sonnenschein saying it is a terrible legal market, Sonnenschein snapped up 100+ TPW lawyers in a heartbeat. Is the management of Sonnenschein idiotic? Possible, but doubtful.

The amazing thing in previous recessions (and there have been a few nasty ones in my life) is how few law firms died or consolidated compared to most other kinds of enterprises. That may be because (cue heresy music, s.v.p.) a lawyers job description is very simple. Unlike other businesses, there was little opportunity to get confused about what the job was, or how the business model operated. Most other businesses have that opportunity to misunderstand the market or the business or what the managers are supposed to do.

My prediction is that the firms that have died and will die are the ones who saw or see themselves as modern and dynamic in their management style. Who consider ideas like going public. I defy anyone to explain in 100 well-chosen words or less why taking a law firm public would lead to better provision of legal services. All thinking like this does is cater to vanity of professional managers who want to be associated with “innovation”.

Law is a craft. If you want to survive, hone your craft.

]]> By: Omar Ha-Redeye http://www.slaw.ca/2008/12/23/mitch-kowalski-man-to-watch-in-tough-legal-times/comment-page-1/#comment-701837 Omar Ha-Redeye Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:44:38 +0000 http://www.slaw.ca/?p=5399#comment-701837 Connie, most of my insight has come from those far more experienced than me, including Mitch and Slaw contributors. This is really the education outside of a legal education that too many young lawyers neglect. It doesn't even have to be entrepeneurial, because better management of law firms will provide a competitive edge and a better product to a client. But because firms are so hierarchal, change occurs very, very slowly. Connie, most of my insight has come from those far more experienced than me, including Mitch and Slaw contributors.
This is really the education outside of a legal education that too many young lawyers neglect.
It doesn’t even have to be entrepeneurial, because better management of law firms will provide a competitive edge and a better product to a client. But because firms are so hierarchal, change occurs very, very slowly.

]]> By: Connie Crosby http://www.slaw.ca/2008/12/23/mitch-kowalski-man-to-watch-in-tough-legal-times/comment-page-1/#comment-701832 Connie Crosby Wed, 24 Dec 2008 02:49:35 +0000 http://www.slaw.ca/?p=5399#comment-701832 Thank you for pointing him out, Omar. Sounds to me like you have lots of insight yourself. For those who have never tapped into their entrepreneurial side, now is definitely the time! Thank you for pointing him out, Omar. Sounds to me like you have lots of insight yourself.

For those who have never tapped into their entrepreneurial side, now is definitely the time!

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