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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What In-House Counsel Have to Say about Generative AI ** NEW **
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.
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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.