Professional Practices Alliance Podcasts

In this webinar, you can hear Chair, Corinne Staves (Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP), Partner Zulon Begum (CM Murray LLP), Simon Slater (Guest Speaker, Cripps Pemberton Greenish and Byfield Consultancy), Giles Murphy (Guest Speaker, Smith & Williamson) and Rob Millard (Cambridge Strategy Group) discussing issues such as:

• Mergers are usually the riskiest growth strategy –– are there other (less disruptive) routes (e.g., organic growth, lateral hiring) to realising the firm’s strategic goals? 

• Identifying the right merger partner can take time and diligence and requires compromise as there is never a “perfect” merger partner. 

• How to win “hearts and minds” to align partners with any merger strategy early in the process and ensure that the requisite partner approvals for any merger can be achieved. 

• Advance preparation for a merger can make or break a deal; identify any “red lines” in advance and keep these to a minimum and undertake “reverse due diligence” to identify any potential issues in your own firm and attempt to resolve these before they become a stumbling block to a merger (e.g., onerous annuities, adverse claims history/high PII costs, underperforming partners, expensive borrowing/leases).

• Consider what protections may need to be built into the merger agreement and/or the merged firm’s partnership agreement to ensure stability for the initial period after the merger when firms are often at their most vulnerable - for example, a partner “lock-in” period, enforceable restrictive covenants and good/bad leaver provisions.

"Should we merge? A discussion on whether, when and how to merge with another firm  - Part 1

We are delighted to share with you the recording of our recent webinar, ‘Cash, Remuneration and Economic Uncertainty’, in which partnership and regulatory law specialists discuss navigating economic uncertainty and how this can be successfully achieved within professional firms.

Robert Millard of Cambridge Strategy Group, David Shufflebotham of Pep Up Consulting and Corinne Staves and Andrew Pavlovic, Partners at CM Murray LLP, explore the important and practical considerations professional practice firms ought to consider in these times of economic uncertainty. Their discussion addresses key questions and topics including:
•	What key commercial changes are affecting firm strategy and their decision making?
•	What sources of capital firms should be looking to in the new high interest rate landscape; are the traditional methods still viable? 
•	How can firms better structure their own governance to appear more attractive to private equity and bank funding?
•	Strategic options available to mid-market firms to maintain financial resilience; 
•	Key considerations of financial health from an SRA perspective; at what point do the SRA get involved with a firm in financial distress? How do the SRA view different forms of funding?
•	What does the financially resilient law firm of the future look like?

Cash Remuneration & Economic Uncertainty

We are delighted to share with you the recording of our recent webinar, ‘Managing Partner Performance in Professional Services Firms, Evaluating Contribution and Using Partner Processes to Drive Your Firm’s Strategy’, in which partnership and regulatory law specialists discuss how to manage successfully partner promotion and remuneration processes within professional services firms.

Jeremy Callman, Barrister at Ten Old Square, David Shufflebotham of Pep Up Consulting and Sarah Chilton and Andrew Pavlovic, Partners at CM Murray LLP, explore the important and practical considerations professional service firms ought to consider when making decisions about partner promotions and remuneration. Their discussion addresses key questions and topics including:

What do the regulators, such as the SRA, expect regarding workplace culture and partner performance? How does this impact firm strategy and decision-making?
 
What factors should an organisation consider when developing its partner promotion and remuneration strategy and processes?
 
What does an effective partner performance evaluation process look like? 
 
What governance powers and documentation are required to implement these evaluation and remuneration processes?

If you would like to discuss any of the above issues in further detail, please contact Partners Sarah Chilton and Andrew Pavlovic, who specialise in partnership, professional discipline and regulatory law issues for firms and partners.

Managing Partner Performance in Professional Services Firms & Evaluating Contribution

We are delighted to share with you the recording of our recent webinar, ‘How Do You Attract and Retain ‘High Flyer’ Partners?’, in which partnership specialists discuss navigating the recruitment process for high flyers and important issues facing such decision making within professional practice firms.

n this recording, Chair Corinne Staves (Partner, CM Murray LLP), Dr Robert Millard (Cambridge Strategy Group), David Shufflebotham (PepUp Consulting), and Zulon Begum (Partner, CM Murray LLP), are joined by guest speaker Siobhán Lewington, Partner at transatlantic legal recruiting firm, Macrae. The panel explore the key challenges involved in attracting and retaining ‘high flyer’ partners, who are often at the very heart of the engine room of many firms. Their discussion addresses key questions and topics, including:

- What do we mean by high flyers; what might firms be looking for?
 
- The extent to which firm culture, partner performance and succession planning are key strategic considerations
 
- How can firms elevate the high flyers already identified within their ranks?
 
- Should firms guarantee offer compensation packages or are they too flawed with difficulties?
 
- How can firms manage any tensions between high flyers and other partners?
 
- The ways in which integration plays into promoting the long-term success of high flyers within a firm

How Do You Attract and Retain ‘High Flyer’ Partners?

In this panel discussion, subject specialists share their expert insights into the interesting and challenging features of LLPs that they have seen over the last 25 years and what they see approaching on the horizon for LLPs. 

Jeremy Callman (Ten Old Square), Dr Robert Millard (Cambridge Strategy Group) and Corinne Staves (CM Murray LLP) join chair Sarah Chilton (CM Murray LLP) to explore the key benefits of using LLPs in professional services, the trends they have seen – including in LLP disputes – key tax changes and issues, strategic considerations as well as what the coming years may hold for LLPs. Their discussion addresses key questions and topics including:

- How has the structure of LLPs developed since birth; what are some of the key elements of different LLP structures and their implications?

- Financial services LLPs vs professional services LLPs: the difference in attitudes on mutual trust between partners and duties of good faith at law and in LLP agreements;

- The use of English LLPs across the world, their evolution in different jurisdictions and how the increase in larger LLPs has affected strategic decisions;

- Risk considerations: tax, regulation, liability and litigation;

- Which partner remuneration trends have LLPs imported from other sectors and have they led to more or fewer disputes?

- What are the differences, if any, in downward incentivisation between LLPs and more corporate structures?

- What does the next 25 years hold for the future of LLPs?

If you would like to discuss any aspect of LLPs or if you have any questions arising from this recording, please contact Partners  Corinne Staves or Sarah Chilton, both of whom specialise in partnership law.

The LLP: 25 Years On - Professional Practices Alliance Webinar

We are delighted to share with you the recording of our recent webinar, Professional Services in the Age of AI: Regulation, Strategy, and Real-World Impact. 

In this discussion, Anthony Davis (FisherBroyles), Devika Kewalramani, (FisherBroyles), Dr Robert Millard (Cambridge Strategy Group), David Shufflebotham (PepUp Consulting) and Nick Leale (CM Murray LLP) join chair Corinne Staves (CM Murray LLP) to explore the impact of technology on professional services firms, with a particular focus on regulation. 

Topics covered include:
- How is technology reshaping professional services firms? From AI-powered research and disclosure tools to virtual client engagement, technology is now embedded in every aspect of firm strategy and operations.
 
- What are the implications for structure, pricing, and regulation? AI is driving a shift away from traditional leverage models, elevating the role of technologists and challenging the billable hour. Value-based pricing is gaining ground and firms must rethink how they assess and compensate their partners.
 
- What regulatory and ethical risks must firms manage? Competence, confidentiality, and supervision remain central. Firms must develop clear AI policies, invest in training and maintain strong oversight - particularly as regulatory scrutiny increases.
 
- What practical steps should firms take now? Define your AI business case, benchmark tools, train your teams, and document compliance. The next generation of lawyers is already embracing AI - leaders must act now to stay ahead.

This summary was drafted using Microsoft Copilot, as part of our ongoing exploration of how AI can support and enhance professional services.
 
If you would like to discuss any aspect of AI in relation to your firm, or if you have any specific questions arising from this discussion, please contact Partner and non-contentious partnership specialist Corinne Staves, or Partner and leading regulatory law specialist Nick Leale.

For example, CM Murray LLP can assist firms with reviewing their HR, risk management and other policies and/or their terms of business, on changes to governance and compensation systems for partners as a result of the increased adoption of technology and the regulatory implications of the use AI and technology in client service.

Professional Services in the Age of AI: Regulation, Strategy, and Real-World Impact Professional Practices Alliance (PPA) Webinar Recording

Welcome to the CM Murray LLP podcast channel where we discuss a wide range of topical issues in relation to partnership and employment law.

CM Murray LLP is a leading partnership, employment and regulatory law firm based in London. 

We advise US and UK law firms and partners, hedge fund and investment management partners, US and other multi-national employers, senior executives and founders on a range of UK partnership and employment law issues.