Welcome to part two of GMT’s season opener. Murray and Rob are joined by media pro and founder of Byfield, Gus Sellitto.

In this insightful episode, we explore the intricate balance global firms must strike as they navigate the challenging role of maintaining a global voice within diverse local markets.

Key points discussed include:

• Collaboration with Internal Teams: Gus explores how external consultants complement in-house PR by offering specialized insights and a broad market perspective, particularly useful in crisis and reputation management.
• Harmonizing Global and Local Values: We discuss how a law firm’s global values, such as respecting diversity and upholding certain ethical standards, can coexist harmoniously with the local laws and customs of the places where they have offices.
• Challenges of Balancing Acts: Finally, we look at the gray areas in balancing global firm values with local laws. And we conclude that although challenging, it is possible to successfully navigate without compromising on either front.

Please stay tuned for the next edition of GMT: The Podcast for Globally Minded Law Firm Leaders.

For more information contact:
Gus Sellitto
Rob Bata
Murray Coffey

Welcome to Season Two of GMT! A heartfelt thank you to all of our listeners. We're excited to announce that we have a jam-packed lineup of episodes coming your way in 2024. Kicking off our new season, we're thrilled to have Gus Sellitto, Founder of Byfield Consultancy, join us. Gus and his firm specialize in proactive reputation counsel for law firm leaders worldwide. In today's episode, you'll discover why a firm's reputation needs to be guarded, promoted, and protected all at once. Given our current media landscape, managing a firm's reputation is more crucial and challenging than ever. Controlling the narrative is increasingly seen as a vital part of law firms' strategic planning. Gus will highlight the major challenges law firms face in managing their reputation globally. In Part Two, we'll delve deeper into geopolitics' role and how the global marketplace influences firms' perceptions both externally and internally.

For more information contact:
Gus Sellitto
Rob Bata
Murray Coffey

Rob and Murray are joined by Gerard Tanja, founder of Venturis Consulting Group. Gerard is the EU's leading expert in global law firm mergers. Join us for a brisk and content rich discussion covering Gerard's unique approach to consulting with clients seeking cross border mergers. Hear about Gerard's thoughts on the next hot spots in Europe for global expansion and Rob shares his insights on why Hong Kong continues to be a location of choice for the largest firms in the world. We also discuss the impact of the A&O Sherman merger and its implications for competition across Europe's legal sector. (Hint: Buckle up.) And of course you do not want to miss the last chapter in "Bata's Best Bets" for 2024. Please contact Murray (murray@mcoffey.net) or Rob (rbata@warwickplace.com) with any thoughts, questions or ideas on who we can improve GMT.

This is part II of GMT's in depth discussion with ⁠Bill Schroeder⁠ principal and founder of Clarity Group Consulting, the premier professional services brand advisory. In this episode we talk through how firms, especially those with global components, can approach the brand elements of the merged firm. Best in class firms think though the implications of the soon to be merged new entity far earlier in the process than we have seen historically. Listen to Bill discuss the ways firms can approach this effort while both maximizing the efforts of management while also allowing for strong input from both partners and clients.

In this episode of GMT (and the next) Rob and Murray are joined by Bill Schroeder principal and founder of Clarity Group Consulting, the premier professional services brand advisory. Bill and the Clarity team have worked with some of the most notable names in global law. In his trademark down to earth style Bill shares Clarity’s simple yet profoundly actionable definition of brand. We cover a multitude of brand and culture issues relevant to the modern law firm, especially those merging or considering a merger. Please make sure to listen to part two in which we take a deep dive into brand and cross-border mergers.

In this episode Rob and Murray are joined by Zulon Begum, oneof the world’s leading law firm merger and governance experts, and partner at UK powerhouse CM Murray for a conversation that spans the globe in about 30 minutes. Zulon, Rob and Murray provide their take on the pitch perfect communications around the putative Allen and Overy and Shearman and Sterling merger. Hear Zulon and Rob dissect the somewhat halting march towards liberalization in the Indian legal services market. And Rob tells us about a novel way for some firms to improve their Chambers rankings (hint, be bought out by the same PE fund that owns Chambers.) A big thanks to Zulon Begum for joiningus and sharing her prescient insights. We will definitely invite Zulon backsoon.

GMT proudly presents Part II of our conversation with the irrepressible and always thoughtful David Kaufman, Director of Global Strategies at Nixon Peabody LLP. In this episode David and Rob dig into global growth strategy or, to put a finer point on it, strategies. Both David and Rob know of what they speak as both are globally recognized leaders in growth across just about every border imaginable. Murray peppers in a bit but he really went to school listening to these two incredibly down-to-earth professionals share their knowledge. This is a treat. Please subscribe and, as always, let us know how we can make this podcast better for you and, if there is a subject, we should consider covering in the GMT podcast.

GMT welcomes our very special guest David Kaufman, Director of Global Strategies at Nixon Peabody LLP, for a wide-ranging discussion of all things business development, marketing, and global reach. We very quickly steered clear of higher math and had what can only be described as an epic chat with one of the sector's leading thinkers and doers. The conversation was so engaging we made it a two-part series. Episode one drops now, and we will drop episode two in the next few weeks. Make sure to subscribe so you do not miss a minute of David, Rob and Murray mixing it up. We are hitting our stride!