Mary K Young writes about the process of law firm mergers, the growing urge for firms to combine, the sensitivity around post-merger firm names, and retaining brand equity.

Greentarget and Zeughauser Group’s latest State of Digital & Content Marketing Survey — our first in three years — revealed that clients of professional services firms see diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as a key business priority.

Zeughauser Group's 2021 Pocket Guide to the American Lawyer Rankings of the Am Law 200 by Profits Per Equity Partner and by Value Per Lawyer; The A-List; The Global 100; The Global 200; The China 50; The Asia 50; and The Corporate Scorecard.

If you would like a hard copy of the 2021 ZGuide, please send an email to zgadmin@consultzg.com with "2021 ZGuide Request" in the subject line and provide your mailing address.

By bringing in-person client interactions to a virtual halt, the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a digital content explosion as law firms compete for the attention of clients and prospects. A new study of in-house counsel shows that providing substantive, actionable guidance remains the best way to rise above the noise, preserve existing client relationships, and win new ones.

These findings are detailed in the report, “How to Win and Protect Client Relationships in the Age of Remote Engagement,” released by strategic communications firm Greentarget, legal consultancy Zeughauser Group, and B2B branding agency Right Hat. The August 2020 survey of 75 in-house lawyers, including 37 general counsel, offers important guidance for law firms anticipating an extended period of remote outreach

Zeughauser Group's 2020 Pocket Guide to the American Lawyer Rankings of the Am Law 200 by Profits Per Equity Partner and by Value Per Lawyer; The A-List; The Global 100; The Global 200; The China 45; The Asia 50; and The Corporate Scorecard.

You can download the ZGuide here.

If you would like a hard copy of the 2020 ZGuide, please send an email to zgadmin@consultzg.com with "2020 ZGuide Request" in the subject line and provide your mailing address.

Zeughauser Group's 2019 Pocket Guide to the American Lawyer Rankings of the Am Law 200 by Profits Per Equity Partner and by Value Per Lawyer; The A-List; The Global 100; The Global 200; The China 45; and The Corporate Scorecard.

You can download the ZGuide here

If you would like a hard copy of the 2019 ZGuide, please send an email to zgadmin@consultzg.com with "2019 ZGuide Request" in the subject line and provide your mailing address.

Results of our survey conducted in partnership with Greentarget that focuses on the information consumption attitudes, behaviors and tendencies of in-house counsel. The report includes practical guidance to help law firms compete for greater share of voice among corporate legal departments.

Marketing can and should be a critical partner in the strategic planning process from inception to implementation. The goal of every law firm should be leadership status in the markets in which it has chosen to compete. Most law firms recognize that they need strategic plans to help them achieve their leadership aspirations. Mary K Young discusses strategic planning as a process through which the firm identifies its most important markets, agrees to a vision for achieving leadership in those markets, and develops and implements a plan for achieving the vision. i.e. how a firm decides where it wants to go and how it will get there.

Mary K Young discusses the importance of strategic planning as a driver of success in any organization and how strategic plans enhance the success of the marketing and business development team, and outlines the planning process and marketing's role in that process.

Zeughauser Group's 2018 Pocket Guide to the American Lawyer Rankings of the Am Law 200 by Profits Per Equity Partner and by Value Per Lawyer; The A-List; The Global 100; and The Corporate Scorecard.

You can download the ZGuide here

If you would like a hard copy of the 2018 ZGuide, please send an email to zgadmin@consultzg.com with "2018 ZGuide Request" in the subject line and provide your mailing address.

Results of our survey conducted in partnership with Greentarget that focuses on the information consumption attitudes, behaviors and tendencies of in-house counsel. The report includes practical guidance to help law firms compete for greater share of voice among corporate legal departments.

Law firms continue to increase their marketing headcount at a steady rate, from an average of one marketer per 25 lawyers in 2014 to 1:18 in 2017, according to a benchmarking survey recently released by Zeughauser Group. The most profitable firms invest even more in their marketing teams, with the top quartile among respondents averaging a 1:12 ratio.

This steady increase reflects the realization that strategic, targeted branding and business development initiatives aren’t just window dressing. When synced to the firm’s business plans and strategic goals, they can drive profitability and growth.

Greentarget and Zeughauser Group surveyed In-house counsel as part of our ongoing research into social media and content consumption.

Clients increasingly hire outside counsel on the basis of specialized expertise. Savvy law firms have stopped trying to position themselves as “full-service.” Instead, spotlight the real strengths that differentiate them from their competitors.

In this article, Peter Zeughauser reviews the growth of Big Law and outlines what may be expected in 2022, which looks to be another big year for those firms. Size matters. Large firms with high revenue, high margins, and high levels of profitability will likely continue to widen the chasm between themselves and the next tier.