Quarles & Brady

Background and Objectives: 

Quarles & Brady is an approximately 600-lawyer Midwest-based firm.  The firm was at a tipping point in terms of its vision and strategy.  As it neared the end of its Chair’s term, it needed to reset, agree on strategy, and find execution paths to transition leadership successfully and continue to grow well. 

The task was to (1) reset strategy in line with market demands; (2) manage governance to facilitate the reset while staging for leadership change; (3) decide on growth strategies; and (4) execute. 

Approach and implementation: 

EvolveLaw first analyzed the firm’s status and needs using data and interviews with key stakeholders.  Internal communications status was critical because of the need to stage for a change in leadership. 

EvolveLaw helped the firm reach consensus around strategy and set an execution plan with measures for success and structure for feedback loops. We worked with the Chair, Executive Director, and other key leadership to extend the Chair’s term in order to enhance stability as the firm launched its execution plan.  EvolveLaw helped create a vision and structure communications around the proposed extension.  

In tandem, EvolveLaw worked with the Chair, ED, and EC to refine growth-specific strategy and execute.  We worked to set criteria for growth targets, including intensive analysis of markets of interest, key metrics, and talent needs.  Again, communication was key, and EvolveLaw helped with EC and partner presentations and surveys to facilitate consensus.  One key analytic was data supporting specific firm client needs for expansion to new markets, comparing those needs with internal firm strengths and goals.  We also helped develop collateral for growth efforts, assisted with practice group and industry profitability analyses, and worked on the firm’s lateral vetting criteria and efforts. 

As the firm began vetting other firms and groups for acquisition, EvolveLaw created a scorecard for initial analysis, and then assessed individual firm practice and market details and presented market opportunity memos for the EC.  We looked in detail at target firm conflicts and our client’s specific practice needs, as well as the targets’ client mix and profitability.

Several years later, EvolveLaw researched and presented to the EC a market update on Quarles & Brady’s comparative performance in the Amlaw 200.

Deliverables included Strategic and Execution Plans, Meeting Plans, Presentation and Speech Outlines, significant input on Presentations on a variety of issues, Growth Target Criteria and Matrices, Market Opportunity Memos, Business Plan Outline for M&A, and a Market Performance Update Presentation.

Impact: 

Quarles & Brady’s overall strategy developed during its work with EvolveLaw persists, the Chair’s term was extended and allowed for successful ramp-up of strategic execution efforts, and the approaches and strategies adopted during the project have been a solid foundation for the firm’s continued successful growth into new markets.  The current MP and COO continue to reach out to revisit and use the frameworks we created.