With speakers including Baker & McKenzie’s Chris Freeland, Freehills’ Mark Rigotti and NSW Legal Services Commissioner Steve Mark, the LexisNexis Practice Management NSW 2012 conference will address issues such as: The effects of globalisation on the Australian legal profession; how to attract develop and reward top legal talent; the opportunities for mid-tier firms to capitalise on gaps in the market; the ethical and practical implications of using social media in legal practice and how to optimise firms’ internal resources.

Chairing the event will be Holding Redlich managing partner Ian Robertson, with Beaton Research & Consulting’s Mel Chee and Tristan Forrester kicking off the one-day event on 24 May with their insights into the state of the legal profession in 2012.

Challenges
Freeland will discuss the challenges of managing uncertainty in the coming year, including the impact of globalisation, as well as key trends in the profession and how to respond. He will also provide insights into what is on managing partners’ agendas this year.

Rigotti will address the financial challenges faced by firms in 2012, including the push away from time billing towards alternative fee arrangements; scoping, budgeting and managing work in progress, as well the cultural implications of these trends.

Other speakers include Dr Margaret Byrne, a principal consultant of UGM Consulting; Steve Sampson, the general manager of Hunt & Hunt Lawyers and Lawrence Atkinson, principal of Lawrence Atkinson Practice Management Services.