Conference programme

RSGI has an enormous amount of data from interactions with law firms all over the world. Yasmin will share this data with us and give an encouraging perspective on how law firms can develop and prosper in a world that will be increasingly impacted by generative artificial intelligence.

Continuing our theme of helping law firms look into the future, Jonathan will provide six predictions of what is going to happen to law firms in the not too distant future and, more importantly, what they should be doing to best prepare for that future.

We can all agree, we hope, that developing strong relationships with clients is good for any law firm. However, many law firms struggle with the right approach to developing those relationships and more importantly getting their partners to actually get out there and develop those relationships. This session will look at the practicalities of developing good client relationships.

There is rightly a focus on India at the moment. It is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and, after many years of discussion, there appears to be some progress on ‘liberalisation’ – allowing foreign lawyers to carry on some form of legal work in India. There is also understandable scepticism about whether this will really happen. Given the business connections between the UK and India, the UK is already an important hub for Indian legal issues. How will this be impacted by liberalisation and what are the opportunities for law firms in India?

This session will be an ‘off the record’ discussion with some recognised India experts on what is happening in India.

The AI & Technology Subcommittee of the IBA Law Firm Management Committee has been doing a lot of work on how law firms should prepare for the impact of artificial intelligence (AI). This session will examine how law firms need to prepare for and embrace AI rather than allowing it to disrupt.

Greg Jackson works with many law firms. He is very focused on their financial performance. He will share some key approaches to financial management that might help your law firm avoid the margin squeeze that is impacting all law firms.

We will review these questions in the following areas:

• a distinctive market offering (culture and offering to clients and staff);)
• a well-run business (financial structure/utilising non lawyers); and
• preparing for the future (separating fact from fiction on artificial intelligence/working with Gen Z, etc)

This session will look at the interplay of the regulatory rules and the commercial approach law firms should take regarding choosing clients and matters to ensure that law firms fulfil the mantra of doing ‘the right work for the right clients’ and that they avoid clients that are ‘more trouble than they are worth’.

We are extremely fortunate to have a group of leading general counsels (GCs) to share their perspectives on law firms. They will speak openly about their current views on what law firms are doing well and what they need to do better.