denotes premium content | Dec 5 2008 
Current issue
Volume 3 Issue 4
Editor's letter
Money, money, money...
In the latter half of 2008, it seems not a day has gone by without some gloomy fiscal forecast dominating the world’s media. Indeed, as international financial organisations and multinationals flounder in the wake of the sub-prime mortgage crisis and the ensuing credit crunch, stark predictions of global recession, widespread unemployment and general economic doom have now become commonplace.
And with the United Nations agency, the International Labor Organization, now predicting that the number of unemployed worldwide will increase by 20 million by the end of next year, it would seem that there is no shaking off this growing sense of impending doom. But must it really all be so gloomy?
The boom-time party that we had been enjoying may be over, but is it not possible to garner something positive from the credit crunch clear-up that follows? I, for one, have noticed a certain solidarity creeping into the city in recent months. A stoicism and resilience in the face of struggle, that had lain dormant in more profitable times, is now back in fashion as a city full of strangers unites over their determination to rise above the recession.
The legal community is by no means exempt from the trend, as this issue will show through a series of articles focusing on the varying ways in which the law firm marketers and business developers plan, adapt to, and benefit from the recession. And with Serena Simmons, director of business development at Lovells, revealing what changes she plans to implement during the downturn (page 10), Carey Olsen’s human resources director Simon Nash offering his advice on how law firms can utilise effective employment branding to their advantage (page 25), and Begbies Traynor’s business development partner Andrew Dunn on what to do when the going gets tough (page 5), it would seem that our recent economic troubles has reawakened a new vigour in the legal sector.
But do you agree? How is your firm coping in this current climate of economic uncertainty, and what do you think is the best way to boost business as the economy falters? Contact me with any feedback at lmcnulty@ark-group.com. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this issue.
Lucy McNulty, Editor
Features
Credit Crunch – How to grow the firm during troubled times
Review: Venturi's Table
Ark Group's editorial team recently sampled a session at corporate cookery centre Venturi's Table. Lucy McNulty reviews the experience, and finds that it is the perfect team-building, morale-boosting activity.
Feature: Employment branding
The promise and the reality of employment branding. Simon Nash reports.
Feature: Thought leadership
Maureen Migliazzo, global executive director for information, communications and entertainment at KPMG International, reveals how a portfolio approach can make the most of your firms intellectual capital
Regulars
The pitch doctor: Set your own gold standard
The pitch doctor, Peter Rush, reveals what we can all learn from the Beijing Olympics.
Opinion: Change to gain
Mark Tosetti explains why commercial law firms should be looking to marketers in other industries to gain a competitive advantage in the changing legal sector.
Opinion: Is Asia the answer?
Marie Armstrong, discusses how best to respond to the challenge when entering the Asian marketplace.
Opinion: To plan or not to plan?
Kim Tasso explains how smaller firms can avoid spending too much on superficial aspects of marketing.
Opinion: Going global
James Tuke examines how to deal with the ‘global/local’ issue through website content personalisation.
Cover story: Profiting through the pinch
Graham Jarvis offers his advice on how best to respond to a recession.
Profile: Serena Simmons
Serena Simmons, head of business development at Lovells, reveals her secrets to success and the changes she plans to implement during the downturn.
Sponsored comment: How well do you know your clients?
David Gilroy describes why getting to know your clients is key to successful business development.
Thought leader: When the going gets tough…
Times are tough. The credit crunch seems, here to stay and law firms are just as vulnerable, if not more so, as every other business to the downturn.
