Navigating Communications Through Law Firm Mergers

By Jamie Diaferia, Kenny Gary, Ashley Horne, Lisa Smith
December 17, 2024 | 38-minute episode

Communications Reputation Management Content Type Podcast Content Level: Essential

Business of Law

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LMA Podcast: Navigating Communications Through Law Firm Mergers

Episode: 121

Episode Description:

In the latest LMA Podcast episode, we explore the strategic nuances of managing communications during law firm mergers. The conversation covers pre-merger planning — offering insights into building a communications playbook, balancing confidentiality with transparency and ensuring cultural compatibility. Also covered is deal work activity, emphasizing the importance of clear internal messaging, effective external stakeholder communications and proactive media relations. Finally, guests address mid- and post-merger challenges, including leak management, rebranding strategies and maintaining client trust, while reflecting on lessons from past mergers and future industry trends.

Speakers:

Jamie Diaferia, CEO, Infinite Global
Kenny Gary, Founding Partner, LIMELIGHT
Ashley Horne, CMO, Womble Bond Dickinson
Lisa Smith, Principal, Fairfax Associates

Series Description:
The LMA Podcast focuses on hot topics in legal marketing and business development with conversations driven by industry professionals.

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Learn More About Communications with the Third Edition of the LMA Body of Knowledge

The content in this feature correlates with the Communications domain in the LMA Body of Knowledge (BoK). Dive deeper and access the latest edition of the BoK online.

The Third Edition of the LMA BoK showcases enhanced expertise across every domain, introduces new competencies in Client Services, Communications and Technology Management, features more advanced skills across all domains and broadens coverage of competitive and business intelligence skills. Plus, it emphasizes a stronger commitment to nurturing diversity, equity, and inclusion across the entirety of the BoK. Learn more.

Jamie Diaferia
Infinite Global

Jamie Diaferia. founder of Infinite Global, counsels leading professional services firms on their media, litigation and crisis communications strategies. His clients include Am Law 200 law firms and accounting, financial services and consulting firms, as well as individuals and corporations involved in high-stakes crises and legal battles. For more than two decades, he has worked behind the scenes on many of the biggest stories in the news.

Kenny Gary
LIMELIGHT

Trained as both a lawyer and journalist, Kenny Gary is nationally recognized as a top revenue and results-driven strategic marketing, growth communications, business development and sales advisor in the legal and financial services industries. He brings decades of experience providing professional, legal and financial service providers sage marketing, communications and business development counsel.

Ashley Horne
Womble Bond Dickinson

Ashely Horne oversees the Womble Bond Dickinson’s marketing, creative, communications and digital teams and reports directly to firm chair and CEO Betty Temple.

Lisa Smith
Fairfax Associates

Lisa Smith consults leading professional firms worldwide. She advises law firms domestically and internationally on strategy development, mergers, management and governance, partner compensation and structure issues and financial and operational performance and management. She has been advising firms for more than 30 years.