Succession Planning (eBook)

Executive summary vii

About the authors xi

Chapter 1: Creating and implementing a law firm succession plan 1
By Sandra J Boyer, president, Legus International
What is a succession plan? 1
The importance of a succession plan 1
Elements of firm management transition 2
Elements of transitioning firm clients 6
Impediments 7
Additional considerations 8
Conclusion 10

Chapter 2: Succession planning considerations for the senior lawyer . . 11
By Hermann Knott, partner, KUNZ Lawyers
Introduction 11
Types of succession 12
The importance of timing 12
Impact of the size of the firm 14
Preparing the next leaders 15
Conclusion and outlook 15

Chapter 3: Holding on to clients when senior partners retire 17
By Susan Saltonstall Duncan, president, RainMaking Oasis
Introduction 17
Establish a uniform policy for retirement and succession 18
Identify clients potentially at risk and assess relationship breadth and depth 18
Gain better knowledge of clients 19
Talk to each client to gauge client satisfaction, loyalty, and any concerns 20
Carefully select client relationship successors 20
Put a client development and transition plan and process in place 22
Monitor progress to make sure the transition plan is working effectively 24
Client transition checklist 24

Chapter 4: Succession of rainmakers 27
By Jaap Bosman, founder, TGO Consulting
Law firm royalty 27
Real rainmakers and fake rainmakers 28
Hostages and Stockholm Syndrome 29
Santa’s little helpers 31
Retirement reluctance 32
Mitigations 33
Rainmaker succession, hands-on 34

Chapter 5: How to compensate retiring and retired equity partners 37
By August J Aquila, CEO, AQUILA Global Advisors, LLC
Getting started 37
Key partnership agreement issues 38
Retiring partners 38
Creating options for retired partners 42
The successor partner 45
Make it happen 45

Chapter 6: Diversity considerations in succession planning: future-proofing law firms through diversity 47
By Pam Loch, managing director, Loch Associates Group
Introduction 47
Issues facing businesses around lack of diversity 48
How can businesses address these issues? 49
Benefits to business and future-proofing in an increasingly diversity-led culture 52
Conclusion 53

Chapter 7: Financial aspects of succession planning: protection and retirement considerations 55
By Veronica Mann, chartered financial planner, Talis Financial Advisers
Introduction 55
Communication and contracts 56
Financial planning for retirement 56
Death and incapacity of key players 59
Future liabilities 61
To summarize 61

Chapter 8: Succession planning for sole practitioners 63
By Shelley Dunstone, principal, Legal Circles
Thinking of retiring? 63
Will someone want to buy your practice? 63
Options for selling your practice 64
What assets can you sell? 64
What is goodwill, and what is it worth? 65
Options available to a seller 67
How to maximize your prospects of selling your practice 69
Conclusion 70

Chapter 9: Why lawyers and law firms find it difficult to deal with retirement and succession: overcoming the obstacles 71
By Ronnie Fox, partner, Fox & Partners
Five reasons 72
Five ideas 73
Five solutions 75

About Globe Law and Business 79