IBA Annual Conference Toronto 2025
2 Nov - 8 Nov 2025
Room 701 B, Level 700, MTCC
Session information
Competing and thriving: can small and medium size law firms punch above their weight against international legal heavyweights?
Wednesday 5 November (1430 - 1545)
Room 701 B, Level 700, MTCC
Committee(s)
Law Firm Management Committee
(Lead)
Description
In this session we will discuss the areas where smaller law firms have potential strength and can concentrate their efforts in succeeding and competing against much larger and international competitors:
1. Collaboration (Do fee sharing and multidisciplinary models allow strength and depth to be brought to smaller firm clients? Can we be more competitive and profitable with collaboration and what forms?)
2. Costs, capital and fees (How to balance costs and fees?)
3. Culture (How can a positive and dynamic culture make the smaller firm an attractive destination for junior lawyers? How we boost diversity? How we treat generational exchange issues? How do we manage growth?)
4. Connections (How can informal and formal networks assist?)
5. Computers (how has artificial intelligence and technology levelled the playing field?)
Session / Workshop Chair(s)
| Judit Budai | Szecskay Attorneys at Law, Budapest, Hungary; Vice Chair, Small and Medium Firms Subcommittee |
Speakers
| Eric Baijal | BBM Solicitors, Wick, Scotland; Chair, Small and Medium Firms Subcommittee |
| Fabiola Cavalcanti | Araujo e Policastro Advogados, São Paulo, Brazil; Scholarship Officer, Latin American Regional Forum |
| Monique Jilesen | Lenczner Slaght, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Phillip Roberts | PCR Law & Associates, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |