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In this issue, we recognize the business development excellence demonstrated by two winners of our 2009 Rainmaker of the Year awards. See the February/March Special Issue for the other three. 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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Featured Articles

The winner in the category "Partner - Transactions" is Tim Damschroder, with the Ann Arbor office of Detroit-based Bodman LLP. Keying on his own strengths and those of the firm – as a hands-on, reliable, high-quality business advisor delivering fee-conscious service – has helped him thrive despite the tough local economy he faces. That focus is backed by a commitment to relationships in the area and an intense, resourceful attention to helping clients succeed.

The winner in the category "Partner - Litigation" is Holly J. Fujie, a shareholder in the Los Angeles office of Buchalter Nemer PLC. For her, rainmaking is not only about bringing in business, which she accomplishes with hard work, attention to relationship building, and knowing how to serve all the interests of her clients. It is also about making a difference and bringing along others like her through mentoring and leadership in the profession.

Marketing and business development initiatives can be especially daunting when launching a new law firm. However, Wendy Horn notes, it’s vital to get going with consistency and frequency of effort.  Here are ten tips for making that startup work for you – or for restarting the business development thrust of your existing firm.

It’s time, argues Thom Singer, to have an open discussion among your attorneys about your expenditures on associations, events and other networking. With so much money wasted due to inactivity or inattention. doing and discussing a networking audit can bring worthwhile improvement.

New technology tools often take on the charm of the latest electronic gadget, and we do like to brag about our gadgets. Darryl Cross reviews a few technologies that are worth your attention and some bragging. But you should adopt them and talk about them to clients only because they are tools with a purpose: to help your client in some way.

What makes a good web site for a law firm and the lawyers in it? In a critical look at Morrison Foerster’s new and much discussed site, Andy Havens shows why the striking black and white design has him seeing orange instead, and how lawyers can do better with their design and their meaningful content.