Recapping Super Conference 2020
November 11-12 & 16-20, 2020
200+ members from around the world participated in sessions on firm management, collaborative marketing and business development, diversity and inclusion, technology, mental fitness and new or emerging practice areas.
Check out session videos and other materials by clicking on the links below.
Keynote & business update
Forbes columnist and bestselling author Curt Steinhorst’s keynote address combined insight and humor in a session to help us all be more effective in virtual teams, whether inside our firms, with clients or with our fellow members. Next, Ally Law’s officers presented a business update.
Speed networking!
23 members prepared short presentations on their areas of specialized expertise.
Mental fitness for lawyers: Manage stress and conflict while staying sane and focused
In a profession defined by long hours, financial targets and stressful situations, staying mentally fit can be a challenge. In this session, our speaker Christian Heim, an award-winning clinical psychiatrist, combined science and Australian humor to help law firm leaders address mental health issues in their firms, including anxiety, depression, suicide, trauma, personality disorders and addiction
Innovation forum: Strategies for the future
In two sessions, panelists shared how they’ve addressed changing client requirements and increased competition by finding new ways to strategically position their firms. Speakers included Alon Pomerance – Lipa Meir, Tel Aviv; Christophe Gerschel – Alerion, Paris, Marty O’Hara – Much, Chicago; Sarah Badten – Birch Horton, Anchorage
Marketing for introverts
In two sessions, Ally Law marketing professionals addressed how introverts can make the best of our current reality to strengthen relationships with existing clients and develop new business. Speakers included Tanya Byrne – Edwin Coe, London; Joe Caffrey – Varnum, Grand Rapids, Bronwyn Eynon-Lewis – Thynne Macartney, Brisbane, Pablo Correal Zambrano – CCG, Bogota and Catriona McGregor – Russell Kennedy, Melbourne.
Managing partners & COVID 19: What I learned in the pandemic
In two panel discussions, managing partners from small, medium and large firms discussed the challenges and opportunities of law firm management in the COVID-19 era. Speakers include Eszter Kamocsay-Berta – KCG, Budapest; Mathieu Shapiro – Obermayer, Philadelphia; Juan Pablo Cardinal – Richards Cardinal, Buenos Aires; Colin Cohen – Boase Cohen Collins, Hong Kong, Rod Younker, Summit Law Group, Seattle and Ramesh Vaidyanathan – Advaya Law, Mumbai.
Skills and strategies for tomorrow's leaders
In two panel discussions, participants from our Young Leaders Program shared their perspectives about relationships building, “the unelevator speech”, finding your niche, business networking, handling difficult conversations, time management, creating a business plan and other skills essential for future law firm leaders. Speakers included Marco Bertucci – Gitti + Partners, Milan, Maria del Pilar Olaso – Richards, Cardinal, Buenos Aires, Ada Danelo – Summit Law Group, Seattle, Adrienn Megyesi – KCG Partners, Budapest, Michael Thom – Obermayer, Philadelphia, Laura Davis – Summit Law Group, Seattle, Ursha Magajne – Much, Chicago.
Innovation forum: Technology case studies
In this panel, members shared how they’ve integrated new technology solutions to sustain or enhance their competitive edge. Katerina Politopoulou – Your Legal Partners, Athens; Ansis Spridzans – Spridzans, Snipe & Hramcenko, Riga, Chad Mitchell – Summit Law Group, Seattle and Tony O’Malley, Mahfuz Hashmy and Daniel Ornelas – Vorys, Ohio discussed their experience with Luminance, Smartlaws, ActionSteps and Clocktimizer.
Women and the Law: Strategies for professional and personal success
In two panel discussions, member provided insight and tips on a variety of common challenges, from managing pregnancy, children, divorce and travel to sustaining self-confidence, self-worth and enthusiasm for life in private practice. This is the first in a new monthly discussion group series for women associates and partners across the network. Speakers included Paola Sangiovanni – Gitti + Partners, Milan; Danielle Justo – Rich May, Boston; Carol Kerfoot – Kornfelds, Vancouver, Sarah Manly – Russell Kennedy, Melbourne and Lisa Wong – Boase Cohen Collins, Hong Kong.
The “B” word, intellectual property and data privacy
Nick Phillips – Edwin Coe, London reviewed the main changes that businesses with operations in the UK are likely to experience when the UK leaves the EU. He also set out some practical steps that should be taken to ensure intellectual property remains protected in the UK and that data can still be moved in and out of the UK.