Futures Forum: Four Lessons From the Pandemic

Register now for the College of Law Practice Management's next one-hour session on March 2 at 11:00 a.m. CST. Our panel of industry leaders, moderated by Mark Tamminga, Partner, Gowling WLG, will discuss four lessons learned in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including:

• Space and Facilities Planning. Building out workspace is a significant expense for any business. How has the pandemic affected the way people work and use the physical space we call an office? Will any of these changes become permanent? Do we need as muchoffice space, or an office at all? These are practical questions to consider when leasing new space or altering current office space - now and in the future. (Panelist: Deanna Hayko, Partner, iN STUDIO)

• Professional Liability in a Pandemic World. The pandemic has had significant effects on malpractice claims. It has changed the types of errors that are being reported and the timing and costs for resolving claims. This session will give you insights on the new dangers and how you can avoid them. (Panelist: Dan Pinnington, President & CEO, LAWPRO)

• Cultural Impacts. Culture has historically arisen organically - the aggregation of a multitude of formal and informal interactions made possible and amplified by the office experience. In this new virtual and distributed workforce world, how does a law firm intentionally introduce new personnel to, and reinforce, the cultural experience? (Panelist: Cherie Beffa, Director of Attorney Recruiting, Wilson Sonsini)

• Strategy and Compensation. The pandemic presented a big scare to many law firm leaders. Many began to question whether their firms were properly insulated from economic crosswinds, whether they had the right practice focus, the right operational footprint, the right people on board. Many grasped that a decentralized governance model and indulging the partners' preference for autonomy left the firm in a potentially vulnerable position. Law firm leaders are beginning to think differently about how they go to market, what contributions matter, and how to protect against the uncertainties of a challenging market. (Panelist: Timothy B. Corcoran, Principal, Corcoran Consulting Group)

(Click on the panelists' names to view their bios and photos.)