Succession Planning for Your Law Practice

Taught by an attorney with over 30 years of risk management experience and the chair of the Dissolution Committee for LeClairRyan

With baby boomer lawyers beginning to wind down their legal careers, the industry faces unprecedented change in leadership for which it is arguably ill-prepared. Taking the time to develop an over-arching transition vision and strategy often takes a backseat to day-to-day operational issues. However, law firms need to plan for turnover years in advance, and start by gauging the immediacy of their individual firms’ needs. There are many activities your firm can implement to facilitate the eventual changes in leadership.

This seminar will outline some of the effective long-term strategies for succession planning including partner roles and responsibilities, leadership development, compensation, retirement, and insurance. It will educate the practitioner on ways to ensure appropriate investments are made for the future of the firm infrastructure, leadership, technical skills as well as the transition of client relationships. It will explore ways to maintain continuity during transitional times and how to retain key clients. This program provides a unique opportunity to hear a comprehensive discussion on succession planning.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation/transfer requests will be honored until 5:00 p.m. the day preceding the seminar. You will, however, be charged $40 if you cancel or transfer your registration to a different seminar after the link to the materials has been e-mailed by Virginia CLE.

Full refunds or transfers are available up to two days after a webcast in the unlikely event that you experience technical difficulties.

Inclement Weather Policy and Updates.

COURSE SCHEDULE (March 26) (Eastern Time)

• Sign-in for live seminar attendees in Charlottesville begins at 10:30 a.m.
• Q&A will be handled via chat room for Webcast attendees.
• Q&A will be handled via e-mail for telephone seminar attendees.

COURSE SCHEDULE (April 22) (Eastern Time)

• Q&A will be handled via chat room for Webcast attendees.
• Q&A will be handled via e-mail for telephone seminar attendees.

FACULTY

Eileen Garczynski, Ames & Gough / McLean
Lori D.  Thompson, Spilman, Thomas & Battle, PLLC / Roanoke

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Eileen Garczynski, Ames & Gough / McLean

Eileen Garczynski is a senior vice president and equity partner of Ames & Gough. She is a lawyer by training and has more than 30 years of risk management and insurance experience. She leads the law firm initiative at Ames & Gough, focusing on the risk management and insurance needs of law firms. She is a Special Liaison to the American Bar Association's (ABA) Standing Committee on Lawyers' Professional Liability, having been a former member of that committee. She is also the former vice chair of the Insurance & Risk Management Committee for the Section of Intellectual Property Law of the ABA. Ms. Garczynski recently authored the second edition of How to Place a Cyber Liability Insurance Policy as well as a guide on Protecting Law Firms Against Management Liability Threats for the American Bar Association.

Lori D. Thompson, Spilman, Thomas & Battle, PLLC / Roanoke

Lori Thompson is an experienced litigator who regularly represents businesses in state and federal court proceedings at the trial and appellate levels and represents individuals in complex estate and family law disputes.  Prior to joining Spilman, Thomas & Battle as a Member in August of 2019, she served as an executive officer of a national law firm for over 7 years, and her roles included serving as the Business Development Officer, where she led two mergers that doubled the size of the law firm and supervised practice group, industry team, and client team leaders; and as the firm's General Counsel.  Upon the closing of the law firm in 2019, she served as Chair of the firm's Dissolution Committee. 

Ms. Thompson is AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubble, and has been named Best Lawyers^© "Lawyer of the Year" in Roanoke for Bankruptcy Litigation, a "Leader in the Law" and an "Influential Woman of Virginia" by Virginia Lawyers Weekly, and among the "Top 50 Women Attorneys in Virginia" by Super Lawyers.  She is a past President of the Roanoke Bar Association and past member of the VBA Board of Governors.  Ms. Thompson was also inducted as a Fellow, Virginia Law Foundation, Class of 2014.  She received her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.