Ready to expand into new markets, but not sure where to start? In this dynamic session, we will introduce you to the key principles and action steps you need to successfully pivot from a local provider to a truly national or global firm. Learn the techniques enabling you to attack new geographic or industry markets and secure clients in other cities, states or across the globe. Regardless of your ambition, the concepts are similar, and we are ready to share them with you!

Whether you are a managing partner, partner or aspiring partner, you’ll benefit from hearing the perspectives of a panel of Managing Partners representing small, medium and large Alliance firms. We will discuss the results of an April 2023 survey related to MAP topics and hear from our panelists. This year’s Pulse session will continue to be interactive, and we will look for audience participation related to a variety of topics, including growth, capacity, succession planning, M&A, and partner compensation.

Capacity constraints in the profession mean outsourcing isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s increasingly a must-have. This session will include a variety of firms, who are all-in on outsourcing and have built systems and processes, discussing tips, techniques and important considerations for success in outsourcing.

Successful growth through mergers and acquisitions is heavily dependent on effective integration of the combining firms. Poor integration can kill a deal and consume countless hours that divert attention from growing a firm. We will discuss lessons learned from firms on both sides of the integration equation, as well as culture and DEI considerations of firm expansions.

The profession’s future leaders are expecting firms to reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. Growth and the talent supporting the growth are increasingly depending on today’s firm leadership to adopt strategies that effect a more diverse, equitable and inclusive culture and environment. Hear from a panel of current and future leaders on best practices for building DEI into your DNA.

Pricing for profitability involves many factors: client expectations, internal definitions of value and worth of services, market demand, and the cost of services provided. Increased use of technology and outsourcing are putting a strain on the traditional hours model. This panel discussion will discuss ways firms are evolving their pricing models and the change management challenges involved in doing so.

There are few guarantees in business today. Unfortunately, one of them is the inevitability of a crisis having a potentially major impact on your business. During a crisis, you will be under pressure from all sides, and you may find yourself unprepared to protect the people, products and profits that are critical to the health of your organization. The ability to manage both the reality and perception of a crisis is an essential skill that leaders can learn. In this session, we will define what constitutes a crisis for a business and explore the different types of crises businesses commonly face and how to navigate them successfully.

Managing growth and capacity should generate a natural evolution of the firm and the clients it serves. This session will cover proactive steps to take for evaluating practice mix, defining your ideal client, and taking action to maintain a client base in alignment with such strategic definitions.

Employment law issues can and do derail transactions. Whether the issue is changing status of partners, existing employment liabilities, unclear existing employment documents, application and enforceability of non-solicits, transfer of benefits plans, handling the transition of incentive pay programs and paid time off, synchronizing employment terms, or the mechanics of the transition itself, the key is understanding the issues and getting in front of them early in the process. In this session, we will discuss the common employment law issues that can come into play during mergers and acquisitions and offer tips on how to reach resolution and get the deal done.

How do you take advantage of this transitory market? Buyers are becoming more selective, and the labor shortage is worsening across the profession. Firms are getting more creative in how they source and conduct their M&A activities. Private equity is crowding the space to complicate the marketplace even further, and succession problems are widespread. In this session, we will share how firms are approaching these challenges and how to prepare your firm to be competitive and successful.