The MPF Webinar Series
Our popular MPF Webinar Series - “The Law Firm of the Future” - is presented on the third Wednesday of the month to help firm leaders look achieve long-term, proactive, forward-thinking, and strategic approaches to their firms and the business of law. These 60-minute Webinars are complimentary for our readers. The on-demand recordings and handout materials are listed below.
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Strategies to Improve Your Firm's Profitability in 2027 ** NEW **
By MPF with Steve Mabey and Folarin Okulaja
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on August 19, 2026
Our guest speakers were Steve Mabey, Managing Director of Applied Strategies, and Flo Okulaja, Partnerships Manager of Laurel. 125 managing partners and law firm leaders participated. Here are some of the highlights:
Raising Rates – The Billable Hour Remains King
When asked about their #1 strategy to improve profitability in 2027, 50% of firm leaders said “raising rates.” Better timekeeping practices came in a close second. Looking ahead to 2027 rate increases, 41% of firm leaders are planning increases of 4–6%, while 27% are planning increases of 7% or more. Despite all the discussion surrounding AI and its potential impact on the billable hour, surprisingly few firms are having meaningful conversations with clients about the use of AI on their matters or moving toward value-based pricing models.
Better Timekeeping = More Profit
Timekeeping remains a significant opportunity for many firms. Yet, only 10% of firms require timekeepers to enter their time contemporaneously. Another 28% require daily entry, while 38% allow time to be entered by the end of the week and 24% by the end of the month. The longer lawyers wait to record their time, the more time – and revenue – tends to disappear. For firms that continue to price their services by the billable hour, better timekeeping discipline represents a significant opportunity to improve profitability.
Growing Expenses
On the expense side of the equation, associate salaries are the biggest pain point, cited by 40% of firm leaders. Technology investments followed at 30%, with benefits and health insurance at 17%.
What About AI?
For smaller and midsize law firms, the jury is still out on AI's impact on profitability. Only one firm leader participating in the webinar reported that AI had “significantly improved” profitability. Meanwhile, 56% reported no impact at all, and another 26% said they weren't sure. The message? While AI adoption continues to accelerate, its impact on the bottom line has yet to materialize for most firms.
Law Firm Economics 101
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the session was also one of the simplest: Everyone in the firm needs to understand how the firm makes money. Partners, associates and support staff should understand the basic economics of the business – and, importantly, how their individual behaviors affect the firm's financial performance. Raising rates is one thing. Capturing time, managing expenses, using technology wisely and holding people accountable are another. Profitability isn't just a management issue. It's everyone's business.
Click here for the On-Demand Recording.
Click here for the Handout Materials.
Click here for Highlights and Recap by 9Sail.
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Revelations from Tabush Group’s Legal Tech Survey
By MPF with Darragh Fitzpatrick, Rebecca Goodman-Stephens and Morris Tabush
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on June 17, 2026
Our topic was "Revelations from The 2026 Legal Tech Survey" featuring highlights of a recently conducted survey by Tabush Group in partnership with The Managing Partner Forum. More than 230 managing partners, firm administrators, and IT directors participated. Our guest speakers were Rebecca Goodman-Stephens, Chief Executive Officer from Moses Singer LLP; Darragh Fitzpatrick, Partner and Executive Vice President from Tabush Group; and Morris Tabush, Principal of Tabush Group.
Here are some survey/polling results:
- 70% of firms have created AI Task Forces, and an equal number claim to have usage policies in place
- 45% of firm leaders say their firms provide training on AI use on legal matters
- More and more clients are starting to ask outside counsel about their use of AI on matters
Click here for the On-Demand Recording.
Click here for the Handout Materials.
Click here for Highlights and Recap by 9Sail.
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Highlights of The MPF 2026 Leadership Conference
By Managing Partner Forum with Uri Gutfreund and John Remsen, Jr.
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on May 20, 2026
We presented our 68th Webinar of the series, and we invited Roger Barton, Managing Partner of Barton LLP in New York; and Crissy Wolfe, Co-Managing Partner of Krevolin & Horst in Atlanta, to join us to discuss highlights of The MPF 2026 Conference, including live polling results and lessons learned.
Here are few survey results we shared during the session:
- Talent recruiting and AI integration are the top two issues for smaller and mid-size law firms.
- Although 90% of firms claim to have AI policies in place, most have little or no oversight.
- 40% of firm leaders say that their firms do not provide training on AI for lawyers and/or support staff.
- Clients, more and more, are asking questions about how law firms are using AI.
- "Implementing important changes" and "Developing future leaders" are the top personal priorities for managing partners.
These fast-paced, interactive Webinars are complimentary for our readers. The live programs are presented on the third Wednesday of the month, and we share a link to the on-demand recording and survey/polling results with our readers.
Click here for the On-Demand Recording.
Click here for the Handout Materials.
Click here for Highlights and Recap by 9Sail.
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What In-House Counsel Have to Say about Generative AI
By Managing Partner Forum with Nicole Bearce, Esq. and Daina Borteck, Esq.
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on March 18, 2026
Earlier this week, Uri Gutfreund and I presented the 67th edition of The MPF Webinar Series with guest speakers Nicole Bearce, Esq.,Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Conduent; and Daina Borteck, Esq., Deputy General Counsel – Kyowa Kirin, Inc. US. We discussed their expectations about future spend for outside counsel, the use of Generative AI on their matters, and implications for billing/pricing for legal services. 70 managing partners and firm leaders participated.
- 58% of firm leaders now report that their firms have AI policies (with oversight) in place.
- 64% of firm leaders say that their firms provide training for lawyers and support staff. 29% say it is mandatory.
- Clients are starting to ask about AI at least "occasionally" say 2/3 of firm leaders.
- Language about the use of AI is starting to show up in client engagement letters.
Click here for the On-Demand Recording.
Click here for the Handout Materials.
Click here for Highlights and Recap by 9Sail.
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Latest Trends in Law Firm Compensation Models
By Managing Partner Forum with Uri Gutfreund and John Remsen, Jr.
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on February 18, 2026
In 60-minutes, we posed 20 live polling questions to our live audience about trends and developments in their law firms' compensation models. 110 law firm leaders participated. Here are just an handful of highlights:
Changes to Compensation Models. 41% of participating firm leaders reported “significant changes" to their firms’ compensation models in the last five years.
Distinct Trends Toward More Objectivity and Transparency. 56% of firms report "more objectivity." 35% report "more transparency."
More Performance Based Systems. Most firms heavily weigh "collections" and "origination credit" when measuring and rewarding partner performance.
Origination Credit Ill-Defined. As to origination credit, its weight is increasing in many compensation models. Yet, fewer than 20% of firms have policy around shared origination credit. For most firms, it is a negotiation between the partners involved.
Compensation Committees. 40% smaller and midsize firms report that they have established compensation committees, separate from an Executive/Management Committee.
The "Spread" between High and Low. The average spread between highest and lowest paid Equity Partner ranges in the 3-4 time range.
Socialism Prevails in Many Models. In many firms (31% on our Webinar), "top performers" are undercompensated,, while “underperformers" (69% on our Webinar) are overcompensated.
Click here for the On-Demand Recording.
Click here for the Handout Materials.
Click here for Highlights and Recap by 9Sail.
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The State of the US Legal Market:
Implications for Smaller and Midsized Law Firms
By Managing Partner Forum with Bill Josten
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on January 21, 2026
For January, we invited Bill Josten to share his thoughts and perspectives on results of the 2026 Report on the State of the US Legal Market, published annually by Thomson Reuters Institute. Bill has been a primary author of this widely read annual report for many years and, during our session, we discussed its implications for smaller and midsized law firms. 120 firms participated in the live session. Here are some of the things we learned:
- Profitability for MidLaw Up in 2026. 53% of participating firm leaders projected "improved" financial performance for their firms in 2026. 42% said "about the same."
- Demand Growth for Legal Services is Strong. Bill Josten shared that overall demand growth for legal services is up on both transactional and litigation fronts...a rare event.
- Work Shift to Smaller and Midsize Firms? We also discussed a shift of outside legal work from BigLaw to smaller and midsized firms. Why? The value proposition, of course.
- "Expense Creep" on the Rise. Despite higher revenues, firm leaders report that expenses are also on the rise, especially associate salaries and investments in technology.
- Alternative Pricing Models. Only 35% of firm leaders said that their firms are experimenting with new pricing models for their services.
This was our 64th session in the series. As always, the session was fast-paced and chocked full of current benchmarking information. Registration is complimentary for our readers.
Click here for the On-Demand Recording.
Click here for the Handout Materials.
Click here for Highlights and Recap by 9Sail.