What’s inside Briefing March?

UPFRONT

• Jack Shepherd, director of knowledge solutions at White & Case, shares his views about the latest vibe-coding trends, and weighs in on whether this new ‘DIY revolution’ could turbo-charge innovation, or blow a hole straight through firms’ governance and data discipline.
• The latest Briefing data shows what are law firm leaders’ top markers of a successful AI implementation.
• Sarah Walker-Smith, chief executive officer at Ampa Group, outlines why a strong culture is not a static achievement, but rather a living system.
• Alison Broadberry, managing partner at Edwin Coe, highlights why consistency and commitment are essential to building a long-lasting brand.

FEATURES

• Marketing and business development experts from DAC Beachcroft, Mishcon de Reya, Simmons & Simmons and Stevens & Bolton speak to Briefing editor Andreea Dulgheru about where the biggest frictions in the client journey lie, and what steps they are taking to deliver greater value in a seamless way.
• We outline the top takeaways from Briefing’s latest in-person roundtable, shared by finance and operations leaders to help firms surf the wave of change.
• EXCLUSIVE: Elizabeth Wyatt and Paul Harker, the masterminds behind Anthony Collins’ new 24/7 online chatbot Aida, share the ins and outs of turning this idea into reality.

BRAIN TRAINING

• Mark Penlington, director of risk, resilience and internal audit at Irwin Mitchell, shares a guide for law firms to transition from simply reactive to adaptive business continuity plans.

INDUSTRY VIEWS

• Ben Nicholson, general manager at Clio for Enterprise UK and founder at ShareDo (now Clio Operate), explains why focusing on operational systems and internal processes, rather than bringing in external solutions, is the key to better client journeys.
• Abby Ewen, chief operating officer at Browne Jacobson, shares how strategic groundwork and an exploratory approach enabled the seamless implementation of the legal AI tool Legora.
• Michelle Langton, CEO at Novaplex, shines a spotlight on the multi-million-pound cost of fixing documents, and outlines why addressing this issue requires disciplined workflows supported by the right productivity technology.
• Charlie Ward, VP of strategy and architecture at Elite, answers the industry’s burning questions about how law firm operations are changing in the face of rapid technological evolution.
• Paul Foster, head of product at sa.global, explores how loyalty is challenged, why technology is now central, and what law firms must do to deepen relationships beyond the transactional.
• Mark McGowan, senior account director at Nexl, explores why outdated approaches to business development are holding firms back, and what it takes to transform the CRM from a contact book into a true engine for client relationships and sustainable success.
• Rachel Merrick-Maggs, VP of strategic growth at Litera, outlines how proactive relationship management — powered by AI and data — is the key to building long-lasting client relationships and driving sustainable business growth.

LAST WORD

• Leaders from Burges Salmon, Harneys, Irwin Mitchell, Mills & Reeve and TLT share what initiatives have had the greatest success in driving gender equality in their firms.