Maintaining culture has become even more relevant in today’s world of working from home and meshing of lateral partners.
One firm is known for its hard-charging partnership and Fortune 50 clients, while another is regarded as family friendly with a commitment to pro bono. Are these descriptions public relations smoke and mirrors? Are they realistic? Once we look at a firm’s culture, can we tell how much that ethos and atmosphere drives revenue, recruitment and retention?
Join our experienced panel as we discuss which factors contribute to firm culture and the role nationality and local custom. Listen to the lessons learned about how to improve your own firm’s culture.
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Deborah Farone Marketing Strategist and author of Best Practices in Law Firm Business Development and Marketing, New York
Sally King is Patterson Belknap’s Chief Operating Officer. In this role, she works closely with the Firm’s Co-Chairs and Managing Partner. She is a member of the management committee and is responsible for leading and directing all operational functions of the Firm.
Ms. King is a senior international executive with experience in global operations, strategic planning, merger planning and integration, as well as finance and general management. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with senior leaders in law firms and major corporations to significantly increase profitability and productivity by building, leading and motivating highly effective teams of professionals.
Ms. King frequently writes and speaks on legal management topics and is active in numerous legal and business organizations, including the College of Law Practice Management, the British American Business Counsel, and the Large Law Firm Executive Director's Roundtable.
Gbenga Oyebode
Gbenga Oyebode is the Chairman of Aluko & Oyebode (Barristers & Solicitors), one of the largest integrated law firms in Nigeria.
He was Chairman, Access Bank Plc (2005-2015), Director MTN Nigeria Plc (2001-2019). He is Chairman of Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, CFAO Nigeria Plc, and serves on the Boards of Nestle Nigeria Plc, Lafarge Africa Plc and Socfinaf S.A.
Gbenga sits on the Africa Advisory Committee of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), is the Chairman of Teach for Nigeria, Director Teach for All, New York, Member of the Global Advisory Council of the Africa Leadership Academy, Johannesburg, Director Jazz at the Lincoln Centre, New York and Director African Philanthropy Forum. Member Board of Trustees Carnegie Hall, New York. Member, Board of Trustees Ford Foundation, New York.
Deborah Farone
Deborah Farone has had the unique opportunity to play a role in developing the best practices in professional services marketing by working with the most respected and demanding professionals in the world.
Deborah is the former long-time chief marketing officer of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, where she created and managed the firm’s marketing strategy and business development operations. Prior to joining Cravath, Deborah was the chief marketing officer for 14 years at Debevoise & Plimpton, where she also built the department from the ground up. In 2017, she launched Farone Advisors LLC where she advises law and other types of firms on business and marketing strategy and targeted marketing. Deborah is also a regular speaker at professional forums and partner retreats.
Deborah is also the author of the acclaimed Best Practices in Law Firm Business Development and Marketing (PLI 2019), a best-selling book based on more than 60 interviews she conducted in 2018 with leading law firm leaders and marketers, general counsel, and innovators in the profession. Heidi K. Gardner, PhD, Distinguished Fellow, Harvard Law School’s Center on the Legal Profession has called Deborah “the leading expert in law firm marketing. Not only has she studied this complex topic from the peak of the legal profession, her research into what works and what doesn’t is priceless for anyone interested in growing their business.”
Prior to entering law firm marketing, Deborah worked at Towers Watson and Ketchum Communications and taught several courses at NYU in the area of marketing professional services. She is a Fellow in the College of Law Practice Management and an Officer of the Law Management Committee of the International Bar Association.
David Wittmann
David has been Slaughter and May's Practice Partner since 2015. As such, as well as being on the firm’s board, he has responsibility, together with the firm’s Senior Partner, for developing and promoting the firm’s practice and its business development and international strategy. He is leading the firm's Brexit preparations. He joined the firm in 1988 becoming a partner in 1997. He is a corporate, M&A and private equity lawyer.
David Robert
David Robert has 20 years of experience in organizational development and workplace culture. His specific area of expertise is trust and its implication on organizational performance and health. As the former CEO of Great Place to Work Middle East, David has partnered with dozens of global and regional organizations to engineer workplace cultures that attract and retain top talent, foster inclusion and collaboration, encourage innovation, and distinguish the organization as a great workplace. He wrote a monthly column on trust and workplace best practices that was published in the Kipp report and has appeared on radio and television news outlets including CNBC to share insights and trends regarding workplace culture.