Business Development is more than networking

Lawyers often think BD is just about networking. This event focuses on how to implement different BD activities to grow your firm. Business Development is more than networking Many firms struggle to get their lawyers engaged in business development. The reality is many are relying on the minority to bring in work. This is risky and means a lot of opportunity is missed. Time is a big factor, but many lawyers think networking awkwardly at events is business development. Networking can be valuable, but there are many other options. This dynamic and engaging event hosted by Philip Lewis and Joanna Gaudoin will look at how firms can grow with a structured and skilled approach to business development. Joanna Gaudoin will look briefly at why having the majority of your client-facing people engaged in business development is key and how to approach this. There will then be a discussion panel with lawyers who have carved out their successful way to bring in more work in different ways, to demonstrate that business development is more than networking. This event is for senior lawyers - Managing Partners, Partners & Senior Associates who not only want to grow their own practice but grow their firm. Firms who do this are more likely to survive the fast-moving changes in the sector. Whether to grow and be a strong stand-alone firm or to grow to be attractive for acquisition or merging/acquiring others, implementing proactive business development is an essential focus. This event is hosted by Philip Lewis and Joanna Gaudoin, with thanks to Barclays Moorgate for loaning us their event space and Impact It for sponsoring the drinks and canapés. About the hosts: Philip Lewis is a seasoned professional services specialist and business matchmaker with a passion for helping solicitor practices thrive. With extensive experience in the legal sector, he specialises in facilitating mergers and acquisitions, connecting firms to strategic opportunities for growth. In today's ever-evolving professional landscape, he also assists solicitors in transitioning to consultancy roles, enabling them to embrace increased flexibility, job satisfaction, and earning potential. Leveraging his wide network and unique insights, he matches talented legal professionals with consultancy positions. Joanna Gaudoin runs ClientWise, which helps professional services firms and their people develop a more structured and skilled approach to business development, so it becomes part of everyday work, and avoids the risk of a few individuals focusing on business development. She supports firms to build clear strategies and upskill individuals, so they have the confidence to grow client relationships and drive sustainable growth. Panellists: Yousafa Hazara is a Partner in the High Net Worth and International private client team at Irwin Mitchell in London. I specialise in multi-jurisdictional wealth planning, international tax and trusts, and succession planning for high net worth (HNW) and ultra high net worth clients and their families. She is recognised for my expertise in complex cross-border tax and estate planning, including drafting bespoke Wills for UK and international HNW individuals and administering cross-border estates. https://www.linkedin.com/in/yousafa-hazara-655a0695/ Victoria McKeegan, Partner, Town Legal Hannah Beko is a 20 year qualified commercial property partner at international law firm gunnercooke. Hannah and her team have built a strong client base through consistent, relationship-led business development. Her approach to BD combines visibility, thought leadership and genuine relationship building. Hannah and her team produce topical blogs and articles for the firm’s website and LinkedIn, interview clients and referral partners, host webinars and deliver in-person training and events. She has also used online communities, including Facebook groups, to build relationships and generate opportunities. At the heart of Hannah’s approach is a belief that effective business development is less about “selling” and more about being visible, useful and consistently nurturing relationships over time. https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahbeko/ Alex Tribick specialises in acting for UHNW's, HNW’s, people in the public eye, Companies/directors, regulated professionals, and mass affluents. Most people don't regularly "drop the ball" in life, but if they do, they don't necessarily appreciate the knock-on effect that a particular Criminal/Civil/Employment/Regulatory problem can have on all other aspects of their existence. Reputation Management issues can impact home life, work/professional existence, a company or individual's reputation and their relationship with the public at large. He has built up much of his client base by presenting to others - TV and radio appearances, conference addresses, private dining speaking engagements for Business Leaders, and clubs, presenting to Boards and businesses such as accountants and law firms, running committee meetings with political organisations, town business groups, sports/social clubs, and BD groups. https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-tribick-9b1b4517/ Mel Kang is the founder and chief executive of LawSync, a legal services group that acquires and develops founder-led law firms across the UK. The foundation of that business is sixteen years spent doing exactly what this session is about: winning clients with no one else to win them. The lesson Mel takes from sixteen years on the model is that business development is a discipline, not an event. Relationships come before pitches. Specialism beats breadth. Responsiveness is the cheapest marketing a lawyer has. And the people most likely to send you your next client are the clients you already have, provided you ask. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mel-kang/ About our sponsor Rik Patel from Impact It is the ex-lawyer who finds where a law firm's technology is leaking money, and turns it into billable capacity and partner profit. Ask him what your firm's number is! https://impact-it.tech/ By booking a ticket, the organisers will receive your details and send you communications which you can unsubscribe from at any time.