Managing Partners Forum

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Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP - Indianapolis, Indiana

Conference

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CONFERENCE AGENDA

THE MPF 2026 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
May 6-7, 2026
Capital City Club - Atlanta, Georgia

Conference Agenda

The agenda for The MPF 2026 Leadership Conference is presented below. Participants value the high-level, interactive format and, each year, we introduce new faculty to keep our content fresh. We apply for maximum CLE credit in numerous jurisdictions.

 

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

11:30am
REGISTRATION - CAPITAL CITY CLUB
12:00pm
OPENING LUNCHEON - GRAND BALLROOM
12:30pm
WELCOMING REMARKS - GRAND BALLROOM

John Remsen, Jr.
President, TheRemsenGroup
President & CEO, Managing Partner Forum
12:45pm
OPENING SESSION - GRAND BALLROOM

An Introduction to The MPF 2026 Leadership Conference
We will open this year’s Conference with a few live polling questions and panel discussion with selected faculty members.
1:30pm
MPF WORKSHOPS

Explore today’s hottest topics in an informal, collaborative setting. Each session is capped at 35 participants and offered twice.  


WORKSHOP #1
Technology, including AI Integration and Cyber Security

Anthony DeSimone, CPA
President, You're The Expert Now, LLC

Darragh Fitzpatrick
Partner & Executive VP, Tabush Group

Morris Tabush
Founder & President, Tabush Group


WORKSHOP #2
Reshaping Your Law Firm

Joe Giovannoli
Founder & CEO, 9Sail


WORKSHOP #3
C-Suite/Talent Retention/Strategy

Jennifer Johnson
CEO & Founder, Calibrate

David Schaefer
Managing Director, Calibrate   
3:15pm
REFRESHMENT BREAK
3:45pm
MPF WORKSHOPS - Repeated
5:30pm
ADJOURNMENT
5:30pm
WELCOME RECEPTION - PEACHTREE PORCH
Enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres with peers and faculty.
 
7:00pm
Dine-Around Dinners

Join your peers for dinner at one of Atlanta's finest restaurants.


Thursday, May 7, 2026

8:00am
REGISTRATION - CAPITAL CITY CLUB
8:30am
NETWORKING BREAKFAST - REGISTRATION AREA
Coffee and Continental Breakfast
 
9:00am
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION - GRAND BALLROOM
9:30am
PANEL DISCUSSION

Live Audience Polling 
10:30am
NETWORKING BREAK
11:00am
MANAGING PARTNER IDEA EXCHANGES (MPIEs)
Consistently rated the most valuable part of the Conference, MPIEs are small-group discussions for like-sized firms, led by trained facilitators and subject matter experts.
 
NOTE: SEE BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS BELOW ABOUT MANAGING PARTNER IDEA EXCHANGES (MPIEs)
 

Group 1    Stephen Mabey
                 Managing Director, Applied Strategies

Group 2    Uri Gutfreund
                 Senior VP & Managing Principal, Ames & Gough   

Group 3    Elise Holtzman, JD, PCC
                 Founder & CEO, The Lawyer's Edge

Group 4    Joe Giovannoli
                 Founder & CEO, 9Sail

Group 5    Jennifer Johnson
                 CEO & Founder, Calibrate


MPIE Topics

Investing in Your Firm
Topics include firm culture, core values, policies, procedures, profitability, accountability, infrastructure, budgets, office space, technology (including generative AI and cyber-security), partnership agreements, governance models, compensation models, strategic planning.


Investing in Your People
Topics include succession planning, growth strategies, mergers and acquisitions, lateral hires, recruiting and retention, generational issues, diversity, support staff, COOs, mentoring, training and development, criteria for partnership.


Investing in Your Clients
Topics include quality work product, client service, staffing and delegation, knowing business and industry, client teams, alternative fee arrangements, industry practice groups, social media, website, marketing and business development.
12:30pm
LUNCHEON
1:45pm
MANAGING PARTNER IDEA EXCHANGES (MPIEs)
Session Two
3:00pm
REFRESHMENT BREAK
3:15pm
MANAGING PARTNER IDEA EXCHANGES (MPIEs)
Session Three
4:30pm
RECEPTION - FIRST FLOOR MAIN BAR
5:30pm
ADJOURNMENT

 

ABOUT MANAGING PARTNER IDEA EXCHANGES (MPIEs)

The “heart and soul” of the Conference, participants enjoy the free-wheeling, candid conversations with other managing partners from like-sized firms. While topics vary, law firm leaders tell us how much they value the time to share ideas, solicit feedback, and come away with innovative strategies and practical solutions to the challenges of leading a successful law firm. 

Each MPIE consists of 15-20 managing partners. The sessions are facilitated by professionally trained discussion leaders with participation by some of the country’s leading law firm management consultants.

We ensure a cross section of timely topics are covered ranging from investing in your clients, firm, and people, but the “magic” of the MPIEs is that our participants determine which specific issues to tackle and how deep to go. The conversations are always energetic, engaging, and informative. Past topics have included:

  • Strategic Planning, including Succession Planning
  • Leading Change and The Role of the Managing Partner
  • Compensation Systems
  • Dealing with Problematic Personalities
  • Staffing and Administration
  • Talent Recruiting and Retention, including Generational, DEI Issues
  • Firm Governance and Partnership Structures
  • Growth Strategies i.e., Mergers, Acquisitions, Laterals, Branch Offices
  • Strategies to Improve Profitability
  • Marketing and Business Development
  • Technology, including Generative AI and Cyber-Security
  • Return to Office/Remote Work Policy

Law firm leaders learn best practices, acquire critical benchmarking information, and establish relationships with other firm leaders from around the country. 

After the Conference, participants will receive notes highlighting the best practices and take-aways from each session.