Welcome back to GMT! In this episode, Rob Bata and Murray Coffey sit down with their longtime friend and trusted advisor Gerard Tanja of Venturis Partners to unpack what's really going on in the global legal market. We take a deep dive into cross-border expansion, major mergers making headlines, and why litigation boutiques are gaining traction worldwide. It is a thoughtful, candid conversation aimed at law firm leaders navigating a rapidly shifting landscape. If your firm is eyeing growth beyond borders, you will not want to miss this one.

Featured Quotes:

• Gerard Tanja: "We will see in the future—a kind of global elite type of 10 to 15 firms consisting mainly of and dominated by U.S. firms."
• Rob Bata: "What we are seeing is that disputes generally—litigation, arbitration, mediation—are becoming global. This is why litigation boutiques are becoming more international."

Main Topics Discussed:

• The big mergers everyone is talking about: Allen & Overy teaming up with Shearman & Sterling, and the pending Herbert Smith Freehills-Kramer Levin combination.
• How U.S. and U.K. firms are positioning themselves for European expansion—and why they are choosing certain markets over others.
• The increasing presence of Chinese and Japanese firms in Europe and what that means for regulatory dynamics.
• The rise of specialized litigation boutiques and their shift toward a global footprint.
• Why the Nordic and Benelux regions are becoming hot spots for law firm growth.
• What law firm leaders should expect in the next few years—more transatlantic mergers, aggressive European expansions, and a reshaping of the mid-market landscape.

Call to Action:

Make sure to subscribe to GMT and catch Part 2 of this conversation, where Rob and Gerard dive even deeper into what is ahead for 2025 and beyond. You can find us on all major podcast platforms—Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts—wherever you get your podcasts. And if you like what you hear, share it with your colleagues and leave us a review!

Welcome to part two of GMT’s season opener. Murray and Rob are joined by media pro and founder of Byfield, Gus Sellitto.

In this insightful episode, we explore the intricate balance global firms must strike as they navigate the challenging role of maintaining a global voice within diverse local markets.

Key points discussed include:

• Collaboration with Internal Teams: Gus explores how external consultants complement in-house PR by offering specialized insights and a broad market perspective, particularly useful in crisis and reputation management.
• Harmonizing Global and Local Values: We discuss how a law firm’s global values, such as respecting diversity and upholding certain ethical standards, can coexist harmoniously with the local laws and customs of the places where they have offices.
• Challenges of Balancing Acts: Finally, we look at the gray areas in balancing global firm values with local laws. And we conclude that although challenging, it is possible to successfully navigate without compromising on either front.

Please stay tuned for the next edition of GMT: The Podcast for Globally Minded Law Firm Leaders.

For more information contact:
Gus Sellitto
Rob Bata
Murray Coffey

Welcome to Season Two of GMT! A heartfelt thank you to all of our listeners. We're excited to announce that we have a jam-packed lineup of episodes coming your way in 2024. Kicking off our new season, we're thrilled to have Gus Sellitto, Founder of Byfield Consultancy, join us. Gus and his firm specialize in proactive reputation counsel for law firm leaders worldwide. In today's episode, you'll discover why a firm's reputation needs to be guarded, promoted, and protected all at once. Given our current media landscape, managing a firm's reputation is more crucial and challenging than ever. Controlling the narrative is increasingly seen as a vital part of law firms' strategic planning. Gus will highlight the major challenges law firms face in managing their reputation globally. In Part Two, we'll delve deeper into geopolitics' role and how the global marketplace influences firms' perceptions both externally and internally.

For more information contact:
Gus Sellitto
Rob Bata
Murray Coffey