Barry Wilkinson
Barry is a trainer, coach, mentor speaker, and published author who has been helping lawyers and their firms improve their results for over 20 years. He has helped firms grow and become more successful both short and long term, defining success to include client and staff satisfaction as well as financial performance.
There was a time when law firms could become successful solely through being good lawyers, but whilst that is still necessary, it is no longer sufficient. Firms also have to be good at management and at Rainmaking (business development, marketing and selling). Many lawyers are uncomfortable taking these responsibilities.
Lawyers in human-sized firms do not like being managed by specialists (aka non-lawyers) but the roles need to be addressed – so the lawyers need to absorb the relevant skills and attributes
Barry’s approach is to help lawyers at all levels to become all-rounders- helping them develop skills and mindsets of good managers and rainmakers (business developers). This breeds confidence and motivation among the team members. This way the firms can go forward with confidence that they can expect to create a virtuous cycle of growth and sustainability, without being unduly dependent on a few key players.
Barry’s programmes recognise that results are the end product of getting a series of issues right. This starts with identifying profitable clients and worktypes, positioning the firm / department / key individuals and then having the financial disciplines to deliver the potential.
A key part of the programme is to help lawyers develop as a recognised authority or “visible expert”, who have a suitably premium profile and reputation which generate a steady flow of interesting challenging and profitable work.
Key to this is finding a niche with three key attributes
- Work and clients that the lawyer (s) actively like doing
- Work and clients that the lawyer (s) can become recognised as the best in their market (which could be local or sectoral)
- Work and clients which can produce premium margins
This combination produces happy, productive and profitable lawyers and teams, feeding through to clients who are happy with their advisors and prepared to pay for the privilege of using the best.
If this vision of a happier, more productive and successful firm appeals to you, please contact Barry on [email protected] or 07711 665858