Conference programme

General counsel often comment on how many law firms “work the way they work” rather than seeking to adapt to the way the client works. This is a potential frustration for general counsel and others within legal departments at corporate clients. Similarly, lawyers in law firms – especially associates – sometimes get frustrated with demands for immediate responses with little or no explanation or prioritisation from corporate legal departments. Surely we all simply need to talk more!

This session will summarise some of the key opportunities and challenges firms all over the world are focused on, followed by a discussion with senior law firm partners regarding how they believe global trends will impact law firms and corporations in the Middle East.

Attracting and retaining the best talent is an ongoing challenge for law firms and legal departments. The rapidly moving situation naturally provides opportunities for the prime performers. The panel will address salaries, benefits, flexibility and career progression. This conversation should be of interest to all entities seeking to recruit or grow during the coming year.

Many older lawyers talk about the challenges of working with the “new generation”. However, this is a reality to which everyone must adapt rather than complain. This may mean we need more people to ensure we are developing our talent in the way they expect to be developed, both with substantive legal skills and (equally importantly) a wide range of soft skills. We must stop assuming young lawyers will at some point “wake up and get on with it”; it’s the law firms and legal departments that must change. Those that adapt will be much more successful in retaining talent and clients.

For many years, there has been discussion about the need to choose the right technology, and then the challenge of implementation and ‘buy in’. Some law firms and legal departments have struggled with selection and adoption. Then along came AI. This has made the lives of law firm leaders even more confusing. Now we have AI, do we still need “technology”? Is AI simply a fad or is it truly the dramatic change some suggest? This session provides practical advice about how law firm leaders can tackle decisions around technology and AI.

There is significant activity in the Middle East, especially given the apparent opening up of the legal market in Saudi Arabia. How do law firm leaders make the right decisions about growth in the Middle East? Where do they open or grow offices? Should they flock to Saudi Arabia? What are the other opportunities that may be “overshadowed” by the focus on Saudi Arabia?

Senior management of law firms need to raise their attention from the day to day routine and towards the future to ensure their law firms are sustainable. The future is both unclear and becoming increasingly complicated. We will discuss with various managing partners the things they focus on to be “future ready”.