The corporate law survey
Article Abstract:
A survey of Scotland's corporate law sector revealed the low awareness among Scottish companies of the particular expertise and services offered by the country's existing corporate law firms. It was also discovered that about two-thirds of the Scottish businesses surveyed do not evaluate the services of their legal advisers on a regular basis. The four law firms most often associated by respondents with specific services appeared to owe their popularity more to the variety of their services than to any real recognition of their expertise in particular services. If this lack of awareness of legal services persists, Scottish law firms that had invested heavily in developing specialisms cannot realistically expect their investment to pay off in a significant way. They can lose clients to England-based law firms, which these clients may perceive as having the expertise that can meet their specialized needs.
Publication Name: The Accountant's Magazine
Subject: Business
ISSN: 0001-4761
Year: 1992
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Why no reviews isn't good news
Article Abstract:
A large number of Scottish companies do not regularly review the services provided by their legal advisers according to BDO Binder Hamlyn's survey of the Scottish corporate law sector. The survey also found that about two-thirds of the companies surveyed had never changed their law firms. Not being reviewed by their corporate clients may seem favorable for law firms, but it may be doing more harm than good. Scottish legal advisers tend to focus more on relationships than on increasing their competitiveness, unlike accountants and other service providers. Scotland's corporate law sector has also not been effective in making the business sector aware of the specialized services they offer. A consequence of this is that, although Scottish-based companies retain their local legal advisers, many seek out specialists outside of Scotland.
Publication Name: The Accountant's Magazine
Subject: Business
ISSN: 0001-4761
Year: 1992
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Ian Bankier: the holistic approach to law
Article Abstract:
McGrigor Donald attorney Ian Bankier, who was selected by The Accountant's Magazine as the most effective corporate lawyer in Scotland, takes a holistic approach to the practice of law. Bankier considers all aspects of his clients' businesses, not just the legal aspects, which leads to customer loyalty. Lawyers should concentrate on the areas in which they excel, rather than trying to do everything for their clients. Putting a priority on clients' interests may mean that lawyers will occasionally have to turn down business. There is a trend toward multi-disciplinary law practices, but Bankier opposes this practice because he feels that clients are against the practice. Bankier hopes to establish a larger presence in Edinburgh, London, and Europe, maybe even to the point where McGrigor Donald becomes one of the top 30 UK law firms.
Publication Name: The Accountant's Magazine
Subject: Business
ISSN: 0001-4761
Year: 1991
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