The PR power of “I’m sorry”
Last week I flew to Miami to speak about the power of brands at an IE Law School conference. My flight with American Airlines was uneventful but given what I was due to speak about, it got me thinking about...
Kendall Jenner + Pepsi = Worst. Ad. Ever
Picture the scene: one of the most famous Millennial faces in the world, hot topics of protest and togetherness, a hippy moment and some seriously cool double denim. Doesn’t that sound like a recipe for advertising success to you? Well, while...
Law firm results season – to shine, or blend in?
Who's up and who's down? After the excitement (or frustrations) of the directories' publication, law firm results season is the next opportunity to ask the question. I don't need to tell you it's a tricky market, and firms are rightly...
Expert papers: how giving free advice could win you business
Clients want a lawyer's expertise – that's why they hire you. But while scouring your firm's website will give them some insight into the legal knowledge that you hold, there are more effective ways to highlight the fact that you...
Insurers everywhere, but where are the lawyers?
The Lord Chancellor's decision this week to cut the discount rate used to calculate lump-sum payouts in personal injury (PI) claims from 2.5 percent to minus 0.75 percent was bad news for insurers but good news for those injured through no fault...
My lunch date with a journalist and a cockroach
Throughout my career I have frequently had breakfast, lunch and dinner with journalists to build relationships. On one occasion my journo lunch date became an actual date and there was a short romance for a couple of months. Not that...
Feedback – sometimes it hurts but it’s essential
How do you feel about feedback? Honestly now. Does it fill you with horror? Do you instantly reject anything that seems remotely like a criticism? Don't worry, if you do then you're not alone. Of course, the thing about feedback is that it's not...
Phil Shiner’s fall from grace
Few lawyers would want to be in lawyer Phil Shiner's shoes right now. This paragraph from the Daily Telegraph is one of the more measured written about him since the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal struck him off the roll last week. 'Far...
Media training – can you afford to skip it?
In this social media age, we fire off a tweet – expressing sadness at the death of a pop star or concern about an incoming American president's views – hoping a few people will see it; knowing there's a chance it gets...
Why KWM’s collapse could threaten YOUR firm’s reputation
Today's headlines confirm the sad news that King & Wood Mallesons LLP is finally filing for administration. Remaining London staff at 10 Queen Street Place are currently being doorstopped by journalists whose colleagues back in the newsroom are phoning round banks,...