Reimagining Law Firms (Part 2)

The Modern Lawyer

Today’s episode is the second in a three part series on the law firm business model and how COVID-19, the recession, and rising competition will cause law firms to rapidly change. Our guest today is Toby Brown, the Chief Practice Management Officer of AmLaw 50 law firm Perkins Coie. As a veteran of pricing, efficiency, and value in the law firm context, Toby provides a crucial perspective on where law firms are headed. In our discussion, Toby talks about building close relationships with clients even while having very direct conversations about pricing, the role of the pricing function in biglaw, his new organization Legal Value Network, and how Perkins Coie won an increasing share of a major client’s business by demonstrating an 18% savings per transactional matter. Toby also talks about his firm’s Client Advantage program that works with clients to create operational and knowledge management efficiencies within their legal organization and to avoid what he refers to as “steaming piles of KM.