| Fowler White Boggs Banker: Looking Ahead |
| Professional Services | |
| Written by Liz Jones | |
| Monday, 31 December 2007 | |
 Rhea Law describes the strategic plan that has this Florida-based law firm on the road to continued success.  Rhea Law, President and CEO The firm reduced the size of its board from 18 to five and appointed Law to serve as president, CEO, and chairman (that role is currently being split into two functions), who is responsible for the financial and professional success of the firm. Fowler White also consolidated its 35 practices in four locations across the state into three departments (business, government/ environmental/land, and litigation) and 15 practice groups. These changes yielded some surprising results: the firm nearly doubled in size. It now operates in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Fort Myers, Tallahassee, Orlando, Naples, Jacksonville, and Fort Lauderdale. “Being in all of the metropolitan areas was part of our strategic plan to make ourselves more accessible to clients,” said Law. Although the firm has grown geographically, Law noted that technology, such as video conferencing and a centralized knowledge management system, has erased all boundaries. “All of our services are now offered at each location, meaning we can provide the best person for any client need.” In an effort to create a unified culture, the firm pulled together various ad hoc training programs that had been developed at individual locations and created Fowler White University. Individuals from all practice areas are encouraged to participate. “You may be in a transactional practice, yet you want to learn how to take a deposition, for example. We like lawyers to be aware of the practices around them because they are better able to serve their clients.” Through 2012 The strategic plan Fowler White is currently implementing focuses on strengthening several areas, the first being the firm’s culture and core values. Of course, creating the right culture means hiring the right people. “Having the right team on board is vital to our success because our focus is on providing top-notch service. We only hire people who will contribute to the integrity and respect that our firm enjoys in the communities we serve,” said Law. Law added that Fowler White recruits from just about everywhere, including several Florida universities. Once on board, new hires participate in Leadership Fowler White, a one-year integration program. Law noted that at some large, geographically dispersed firms, it is entirely possible for a lawyer to never meet his or her counterparts. “We don’t think that is beneficial for the lawyer or the clients,” she said. Leadership Fowler White rotates new hires through each office to gain an understanding of the firm’s resources, culture, and objectives, and offers courses covering a number of topics, including different areas of representation. More than 100 of the firm’s more than 200 lawyers have participated in the program so far. Fowler White has also developed a summer program for soon-to-be third-year law students. Students are paid for their work and travel from practice area to practice area, gaining a full understanding of the firm. “The program helps us identify good individuals right out of law school.” The second focus of the strategic plan is communication and teamwork. Law explained that communication becomes difficult as a firm grows, so Fowler White has appointed office managing shareholders for each location whose job is to monitor and promote teamwork and communication. It is also planning to upgrade its knowledge management system, which accumulates legal information and best practices from all over the firm and serves as a resource directory. “That has greatly expanded the firm’s capabilities. For example, if a client asked me about an area of the law I am not familiar with, I can query the system and refer that client to the right person,” said Law. The upgrade will not only give lawyers faster access to more information, it will also allow the knowledge management system to interface with the firm’s e-mail system. “So much of our information now is in the form of e-mail that we needed a way to capture it.” According to Law, growth is the key focus of the strategic plan. “Back in the early 1990s, we were talking about being a statewide firm with a global reach,” she said. Since then, Fowler White has created affiliations with a number of firms across the US and the globe. For example, Law explained, if a client approached Fowler White with an issue in San Diego, it would refer that client to its affiliate in that area, and vice versa. “The same can be done on an international basis,” she said. Being part of an affiliate program means that Fowler White is dedicated not only to growing its business geographically, but also in terms of the services it offers. Law noted that the firm is looking to bolster its corporate, international, healthcare, government/environment/land, securities, and class action practices. “Those are the areas we see an immediate need for on a national and global basis,” she said. As the firm celebrates its 65th anniversary this year, Law and her management team are embarking on a yearlong road trip to visit all eight offices. The trip will be celebratory in nature, with the aim of increasing connectivity between all locations. As the team hits the open road, it won’t hesitate to look in the rear view mirror from time to time to see just how far it has come. |
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American Executive is a RedCoat Publishing publication.
American Executive is a RedCoat Publishing publication.
