White & Case implements McKinsey strategy
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White & Case is set to overhaul its management team as part of a worldwide strategic review following recommendations from management consultants McKinsey & Company.
The US firm is in the process of selecting heads for ;newly ;established regional divisions and practice groups. The aim is to promote greater global unity within practice areas rather than seeing offices operate as independent fiefdoms.
The new management will operate as a matrix with, for example, three regional chiefs in Europe (Central and Eastern Europe, Germany and Western Europe) working in tandem with global practice area bosses.
“The ;firm ;wants ;to become more profitable and driving growth on a practice group basis rather than by office may well help it to do that,” said a source.
McKinsey also recommended scaling back the partnership in unprofitable practices, but it is understood that the firm does not currently have the stomach for such radical change.
Last week White & Case axed its Milan office and pulled out of Italy, but this was not part of the McKinsey recommendations.
Earlier this year (28 July) The Lawyer revealed that McKinsey had been drafted in to perform a review of White & Case’s market opportunities and investment priorities. This came after firm chairman Hugh Verrier came under fire for not giving the London office representation on the new global executive committee.
Readers' comments (5)
Anonymous | 30-Oct-2008 3:33 am
they should have advised to close it down
i am surprised they did not advise White & Case to dissolve itself - their "eat what you kill" structure has resulted in them going after each other - like piranhas turned on themselves - hopefully this change in structure will fail, and the firm will be disbanded . . .
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Anonymous | 30-Oct-2008 3:56 pm
harsh but I agree
I completely agree with the comment above. No one can stand the other.
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Anonymous | 15-Nov-2008 8:37 pm
Hugh Verrier
I met with Hugh Verrier couple of times and he is a very gifted man. Years that he spend supervising the firm's Moscow office resulted in it becoming the most successful international law firm in Russia.
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Anonymous | 18-Nov-2008 10:14 am
Verrier does not inspire confidence
I have also met Hugh Verrier a number of times - he is not a strong leader at all - he is indecisive and his talk and actions do not inspire confidence - White & Case needs a strong hand (like James Hurlock - the chairman before Duane Wall) to keep the partners and far flung offices in line - Hugh Verrier is not it.
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Anonymous | 18-Nov-2008 6:58 pm
White & Case McKinsey Strategy
Being the most successful international law firm in Russia is like being the best hockey player in Egypt.
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