Month: May 2014

Lincolnshire, IL (Law Firm Newswire) May 23, 2014 Lincolnshire, IL (Law Firm Newswire) May 23, 2014 – At its Conference & Expo in Toronto this week, the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) inducted its board of directors for 2014-15. Leading the association and serving as President for 2014-15 is Paula Barnes of Burr & Forman in Nashville, Tennessee and Paul Farnsworth of Woods Oviatt Gilman, LLP in Rochester, New York continuing his service as Past President of the Board.

The Board includes the following individuals:

President:
Paula K. Barnes
Burr & Forman, LLP
Nashville, TN

President-Elect:
Teresa Walker
Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP
Nashville, TN

Past President:
Paul Farnsworth
Woods Oviatt Gilman, LLP
Rochester, NY

Region 1 Director:
Karen Glowacki
Sherin and Lodgen LLP
Boston, MA

Region 2 Director:
Gary Swisher, CLM
Clark Partington Hart Larry Bond & Stackhouse
Pensacola, FL

Region 3 Director:
Cheryl A. Nelson, CLM, PHR
Robins Kaplan Miller & Ciresi, LLP
Minneapolis, MN

Region 4 Director:
Greg Madden
Rhodes Hieronymus Jones Tucker & Gable
Tulsa, OK

Region 5 Director:
April Campbell, JD
Perkins Coie LLP
Seattle, WA

Region 6 Director:
Linda E. Quindt, CLM
Marks Finch Thornton & Baird, LLP
San Diego, CA

At-Large Director:
Mark Bridgeman, CLM
U.S. Attorney's Office Northern District of Illinois
Chicago, IL

At-Large Director:
Katie Bryant, CLM
Udall Shumway, PLC
Mesa, AZ

At-Large Director:
Laura J. Broomell, CLM
Greene Espel P.L.L.P.
Minneapolis, MN

About the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA)
ALA is focused on the delivery of cutting-edge management and leadership products and services to the global legal community. It identifies and provides solutions to the most critical strategic and operational challenges its members and customers face today, and prepares them for the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow. For more information on ALA, visit http://alanet.org

Contact
Sander Rosen
Marketing Manager
Association of Legal Administrators
Phone: 847-267-1252

For more information on ALA, visit http://www.alanet.org

Association of Legal Administrators
75 Tri-State International, Suite 222
Lincolnshire, IL 60069-4435

Lincolnshire, IL (Law Firm Newswire) May 23, 2014 Lincolnshire, IL (Law Firm Newswire) May 23, 2014 – The Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) presented The “Outstanding Association Volunteer Award” to five ALA members for his/her exceptional and continued service at ALA’s 2014 Annual Conference & Exposition in Toronto.

2014 Outstanding Association Award recipients include:

1. Roslyn Hazzard, Human Resources Director of Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP, Indianapolis, Indiana. (Indiana Chapter) Hazzard has served in both regional and national leadership roles since 1993, including Regional Officer and Region 3 Director. She also participated on the 2010 Conference Committee and most recently on the IDEA AWARDS Committee.

2. Charly Doe, CLM, Executive Director of TraskBritt, PC in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Greater-Phoenix-Valley of the Sun & Utah Chapters) Doe first served in multiple volunteer roles in ALA’s Greater-Phoenix-Valley of the Sun Chapter but relocated to Utah in 2005. Since then, she has assumed chair positions on both ALA’s Certification Committee and Intellectual Property Retreat Planning Committee.

3. Steven M. Morris, CLM, Office Administrator of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in San Francisco, California. (Orange County & Golden Gate Chapters) Since 1995, Morris has served in leadership roles for two California Chapters including Regional Officer, Region 5 Director and a recent appointment to ALA’s new Professional Development Advisory Committee.

4. Carol Anne Nitsche, CLM, former Principal Administrator of Karr Tuttle Campbell in Seattle, Washington. (Puget Sound Chapter) Nitsche has been a member of ALA since 1996, having recently retired in 2014. During her career, she wrote and spoke on several legal topics and served as Regional Officer, Region 5 Director and as a trustee for the Foundation of ALA.

5. Clara Onderdonk, Office Manager of Ernstrom & Dreste, LLP in Rochester, New York. (Rochester Chapter) Onderdonk has been active in the Rochester Chapter since 2000. Noteworthy accomplishments include chairing ALA’s Regional Nominating Committee, serving on the Annual Conference Committee and being named to the Region 1 Leadership Team.

About the Association of Legal Administrators
ALA is the largest international association providing support, high-quality education and services to professionals involved in the management of law firms, corporate legal departments and government legal agencies. With nearly 10,000 members in 30 countries, ALA represents legal administrators who are leaders and industry experts on legal management issues such as finance, human resources, systems and technology, facilities, marketing and practice management. For more information on the Association, visit About ALA.

Contact
Gwen Biasi, CAE
Director of Marketing and Communications
Phone: 847.267.1377

For more information on ALA, visit http://www.alanet.org

Association of Legal Administrators
75 Tri-State International, Suite 222
Lincolnshire, IL 60069-4435

Lincolnshire, IL (Law Firm Newswire) May 23, 2014 – The Association of Legal Administrators’ (ALA) IDEA Awards program recognizes new practices that deliver great value and transformational impact to the legal community through innovative achievement. Awards are presented to ALA chapters, committees, regions, individuals, firms, or organizations (including business partners) that create unique and innovative programs, services, and events. Recipients of the inaugural IDEA Awards include:

ALA Regions 1 & 3 Conference Planning Team: “Transgender Insights & Perspectives”
The team convened a panel of transgendered legal professionals to address conference attendees in October 2013. Through a candid and honest dialogue, this project helped raise awareness of the unique challenges faced by members of the transgender community.

ALA Indiana Chapter: “L.I.F.E. Beyond Shortridge”
Life is all about looking ahead to new opportunities. But members of the Indiana Chapter did more than look – they took action. The L.I.F.E. (Leaders in Firms Emerging) project partnered with an inner-city school (Shortridge) to help its students discover new careers in law.

ALA Greater Los Angeles Chapter: “Professional Legal Management Global Summit – Brazil and Beyond”
ALA members spoke before a Brazilian national conference on the United States’ legal management best practices. This single event is shaping the future of Brazil’s judicial process while broadening ALA’s global reach.

ALA New York City Chapter: “Foot in the Door”
The Business Partner Advisory Council of the New York City Chapter had a problem: How could it get a foot in the door with members? The creative solution involved chocolate and incentives that hit the sweet spot with everyone!

Farella Braun + Martel LLP: “Growing the Community – Growing Diversity in the Legal Profession”
By developing two groundbreaking programs, The Diversity Pipeline Internship Program and The Law and Justice Credit Recovery Program, this law firm is helping more students graduate, go to college and explore new career options.

Complete details regarding ALA’s IDEA Awards program can be found at www.alanet.org/awards.

About the Association of Legal Administrators
ALA is the largest international association providing support, high-quality education and services to professionals involved in the management of law firms, corporate legal departments and government legal agencies. With nearly 10,000 members in 30 countries, ALA represents legal administrators who are leaders and industry experts on legal management issues such as finance, human resources, systems and technology, facilities, marketing and practice management. For more information on the Association, visit About ALA.

Contact
Gwen Biasi, CAE
Director of Marketing and Communications
Phone: 847.267.1377

For more information on ALA, visit http://www.alanet.org

Association of Legal Administrators
75 Tri-State International, Suite 222
Lincolnshire, IL 60069-4435

Lincolnshire, IL (Law Firm Newswire) May 23, 2014 – The Association of Legal Administrators’ (ALA) IDEA Awards program recognizes new practices that deliver great value and transformational impact to the legal community through innovative achievement. Awards are presented to ALA chapters, committees, regions, individuals, firms, or organizations (including business partners) that create unique and innovative programs, services, and events. Recipients of the inaugural IDEA Awards include:

ALA Regions 1 & 3 Conference Planning Team: “Transgender Insights & Perspectives”
The team convened a panel of transgendered legal professionals to address conference attendees in October 2013. Through a candid and honest dialogue, this project helped raise awareness of the unique challenges faced by members of the transgender community.

ALA Indiana Chapter: “L.I.F.E. Beyond Shortridge”
Life is all about looking ahead to new opportunities. But members of the Indiana Chapter did more than look – they took action. The L.I.F.E. (Leaders in Firms Emerging) project partnered with an inner-city school (Shortridge) to help its students discover new careers in law.

ALA Greater Los Angeles Chapter: “Professional Legal Management Global Summit – Brazil and Beyond”
ALA members spoke before a Brazilian national conference on the United States’ legal management best practices. This single event is shaping the future of Brazil’s judicial process while broadening ALA’s global reach.

ALA New York City Chapter: “Foot in the Door”
The Business Partner Advisory Council of the New York City Chapter had a problem: How could it get a foot in the door with members? The creative solution involved chocolate and incentives that hit the sweet spot with everyone!

Farella Braun + Martel LLP: “Growing the Community – Growing Diversity in the Legal Profession”
By developing two groundbreaking programs, The Diversity Pipeline Internship Program and The Law and Justice Credit Recovery Program, this law firm is helping more students graduate, go to college and explore new career options.

Complete details regarding ALA’s IDEA Awards program can be found at www.alanet.org/awards.

About the Association of Legal Administrators
ALA is the largest international association providing support, high-quality education and services to professionals involved in the management of law firms, corporate legal departments and government legal agencies. With nearly 10,000 members in 30 countries, ALA represents legal administrators who are leaders and industry experts on legal management issues such as finance, human resources, systems and technology, facilities, marketing and practice management. For more information on the Association, visit About ALA.

Contact
Gwen Biasi, CAE
Director of Marketing and Communications
Phone: 847.267.1377

For more information on ALA, visit http://www.alanet.org

Association of Legal Administrators
75 Tri-State International, Suite 222
Lincolnshire, IL 60069-4435

New York, NY (Law Firm Newswire) May 20, 2014 – Today, Cushman & Wakefield launched its second annual National Legal Sector Benchmark Survey in partnership with ALM Legal Intelligence, a leading provider of detailed business information and competitive intelligence about the legal industry to top U.S. and international law firms and their clients, including The Am Law 100 and 200.

The survey focuses on the key drivers influencing real estate decisions at law firms across the United States and explores topics which ultimately affect the business, financial and operational success of every competitive firm in the profession.

Administered by Cushman & Wakefield’s Legal Sector Advisory Group (LSAG), and drawing on input received from a broad range of experts and executives in the legal sector, the survey targets law firms across the United States with 75 questions aimed at delving into the challenges and opportunities they face.

"Understanding the changing needs of our legal sector clients and those of the competitive landscape are critical to the design of our strategic plans. This survey provides unmatched data,” said Jim Underhill, CEO of the Americas for Cushman & Wakefield. “Collecting and leveraging this knowledge helps us transform our clients’ real estate into a competitive asset supporting their growth and success"

Sherry Cushman, Executive Managing Director and Head of LSAG, added, “The results we collected in 2013 have been shared with over 500 legal professionals, representing over 250 law firms in 26 cities, informing them of the trends and developments in real estate within the legal sector. Both large and small firms have benefitted from and used this assembled knowledge to improve their standing in a very competitive marketplace.”

In response to the success of the inaugural survey, Cushman & Wakefield partnered with ALM Legal Intelligence this year to prepare and distribute the survey. ALM Legal Intelligence is a leading provider of detailed business information and competitive intelligence about the legal industry to top U.S. and international law firms and their clients, including The Am Law 100 and 200.

During the next 90 days, LSAG professionals will work to confidentially gather completed surveys from the legal community, including Global Real Estate Directors, Chairmen, Executive Directors, Managing and Real Estate Partners, and Senior Administrators throughout the United States. Cushman & Wakefield will analyze the data and produce a detailed, statistics-based report—one that includes future industry projections on how law firms can capitalize on real estate to leverage their position in the marketplace.

Information submitted by individual firms will be collected in a blind fashion and is therefore completely anonymous. The collective data, however, is extremely valuable to participating firms as it offers a comprehensive perspective of how a firm stacks up against its peers in relation to real estate expenses, location and efficiencies. This is important from a competitive standpoint because it provides insight into how similar-sized firms use real estate as a vehicle to decrease overhead, improve overall operations and increase profits.

Cushman & Wakefield will compile the confidential survey results after the survey closes on August 31, analyze the data, and produce a detailed, statistics-based report for survey participants that will include future industry projections. In 2013, 286 law firms responded to the LSAG survey, including, 26 percent designated as Am Law 200 firms (signifying the largest 200 U.S. law firms based on revenue). Firms from every region of the United States responded.

Law firms interested in participating in the 2014 National Legal Sector Benchmark Survey should contact Sherry Cushman (sherry.cushman@cushwake.com; 202-471-3595) to request a hard-copy survey or an online link.