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Learn More About Subscribing to ORIGINATE! |
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What does it take to get new clients and generate more work? Put the best ideas and advice to work for you with ORIGINATE! – the online business development newsletter for lawyers. Click "Learn More"!
§ Try Our FREE Sept. 2008 Anniversary Issue and September 2007 Issue
under "Archives" above.
Search over 200 archived articles using the "Search" box at the upper right OR browse a complete listing of all 116 Articles from our first year! by clicking HERE.
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About this Issue: Winners of the 2009 Rainmaker of the Year Awards |
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 In this issue, we feature the business development excellence demonstrated by three of the winners of our 2009 Rainmaker of the Year awards. The featured articles recognize what our winners have accomplished, and offer case studies of how you can turn 2010 into your best rainmaking year. [Click About this Issue for more details.]
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Mary Ann Dunham – Seizing Opportunities with Strength and Wisdom |
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The winner in the category "Woman Lawyer" is Mary Ann Dunham, who works in the Pittsburgh office of the 450-lawyer firm, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC. Highly active in the city’s business organizations, whether they gather women or are predominantly male, she efficiently seeks out and capitalizes on opportunities to connect with business executives - not just for her own benefit, but also for the good of others around her. |
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Christopher Marston - Putting His Firm Where the Market Will Be |
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 The winner in the category "Small Firm Lawyer" is Christopher Marston of Exemplar, a law firm based in Boston, Massachusetts. By offering soup-to-nuts service to entrepreneurs and startup businesses – and staying on the leading edge of client service in ways highly desirable to clients plus applying business development that truly works – his firm raised revenues 48% last year while others stagnated.
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Elizabeth L. Gunn - A Woman with Drive |
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 The winner in the category "Associate" is Elizabeth L. Gunn of DurretteBradshaw PLC, an 18 lawyer boutique firm based in Richmond, Virginia. Though she started off with two big disadvantages, she has demonstrated that commitment and laser-like attention in three areas - client service, key associations and peer networking - can overcome obstacles and power a business development machine.
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Umbrellas Needed: Elements of a Heavy Rain Maker |
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No lawyer would suggest a client worry about business development only when they have free time, yet many lawyers treat their client development as an after-thought. That won’t make sprinkles, affirms Thom Singer. Instead, whatever the size of your firm, every attorney must take the actions necessary to be a rainmaker, and here are some elemental ones that can make the clouds burst for you. |
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Taking the Measure: Gain from Knowing Your Market Share |
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You’re a business, not just a law firm, contends Andy Havens, so it’s important to measure how well you’re doing objectively. One powerful way is market share, the portion of business your firm controls out of the total business for which you compete. Here’s the why, the how – and what to do about it. |
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Here’s the challenge, according to Darryl Cross. How do you manage profitability in times of turmoil, while maintaining the promise of quality and better outcomes for your clients? The only choice for firms is to manage their bottom line from ALL directions, including the middle and top lines too. 