Michael Napier

Business Section 59at another firm and is seeking a firm that does thingsdifferently. As he goes through his orientation we learnthat BFC has turned the law firm model upside down ina way that increases profits, stops lawyer attrition andmaximizes client retention - it has become a firm thatis greater than the sum of its parts with a corporatestructure and independent board of directors. Finally wemeet Sylvester Bowen the CEO of BFC an learn of hisphilosophy of stewardship and custodianship, his desireto relentlessly focus on ploughing profits back intothe firm to ensure that BFC is constantly improving it’sservice levels and seeking the next innovation to makeit’s services better, faster and cheaper.MLM: Your book has been published in the US beforereaching the UK. Have there been any key reactions anddifferences in reception across the world?MK: The book has been published just in the USA butdistributed everywhere on Amazon. The reaction has beenmuch more positive in the UK than in Canada and the US -which doesn’t surprise me as the UK is years ahead of therest of the world in terms of legal innovation. In Canadaand the US law firms and GCs have been polite but notparticularly interested in change.MLM: Well before the official publication date in the U.Kyour book has caused quite a stir here in the blog andtwitter-spheres. Were you surprised by this?MK: I was very pleasantly surprised and delighted! It wastotally unexpected.MLM: From your perspective, how is the liberalisationof legal services in England and Wales viewed in otherjurisdictions?MK: Unfortunately in the US and Canada, liberalisationof legal services is viewed with suspicion, particularly bylawyers. My view is that they see it as a threat to their longheldmonopoly rather than having any legitimate reason toturn their noses to it.MLM: What do you think have been the most significantearly developments of the liberalisation of legal services inEngland and Wales?MK: I think that the ABSs that have been created, especiallyRiverview Law, will radically shake up that middle band oflegal work that lies between high-end complex bespoke workand low end commodity type work for corporate clients. Thisis a market that I am watching with great interest!MLM: What general advice would you give to thosesolicitors in England and Wales now trying to survive andprosper the new regime?MK: The simple truth is that lawyers in the UK need to embracea new model and the new way of practicing law as set out inmy book sooner rather than later, because the playing fieldis shifting and if they are not part of this re-shaping they riskbeing out of a job. Tweaking things is no longer an option.Mitch Kowalski’s book, Avoiding Extinction: ReimaginingLegal Services for the 21st Century, is available via amazon.co.uk and other online retailers.Increase profit,minimise riskLooking to sell, retire or free up capital?With substantial funds available immediately to buy Personal Injury practicesand case loads of any size or type, we could have the right deal for you.Make money fast!Refer your Personal Injury or Medical Negligence leads to us on acommission basis and track the progress of your referred cases online.Sell or refer your files to us - the choice is yoursContact us todayfor a confidentialdiscussion orfree valuation,with no obligation.See detailsof our recent£1 millionbuy out on ourwebsiteContact Neil Hudgell in confidence neil@neil-hudgell.co.uk or visit www.webuyanyfiles.comWebuyanyfiles is a trading name of Neil Hudgell Limited, an established Personal Injury and MedicalNegligence practice seeking growth through acquisition.ML // November 2012