Designed for business development professionals, this track includes three high-powered sessions conducted by leaders in the law firm business development field.

Morning Break-Out I:
Fast Forward 2
Jill Weber and Todd Noteboom, Leonard, Street and Deinard

In 2004, Minneapolis-based Leonard, Street and Deinard introduced an innovative program designed to help a pilot group of 20 attorneys generate an additional $500,000 in revenue each over two years. The Fast Forward® initiative is an integrated business development program that incorporates several key elements, including an individual business plan, outside coaching assistance, a training program that follows a “learn-see-do-use” model, and sales incentives.

Based on a $150,000 program investment, the firm realized $7.5 million in fee receipts growth over a two-year period.

The initial Fast Forward® was featured at a standing-room only breakout session at the 2006 LMA Annual Conference. “Fast Forward 2” will focus on the second phase of the Fast Forward program with a new group of participants and new program model. Presenters will highlight key lessons learned from the initial program, important modifications to the program structure, and how key program elements are being incorporated into business development training for associates.

Morning Break-Out II:
2007: The Year of Convergence - Aligning Your Brand, Technology, and Business Development Initiatives
Pam Kleier, Kleier Marketing

The program will explore alignment strategies in the following areas:
Brand and Business Development

• Are partners and associates equipped to represent both your firm’s capabilities and its brand in business development meetings?
• How is the firm’s brand realized in client interactions, support services and up-sell opportunities?
• How many partners or associates have a clear understanding of the firm’s brand promise?

Brand and Technology

• Is responsiveness and accuracy central to your firm’s brand identity? How are you utilizing technology to support those attributes, either with clients or prospects?

Technology and Business Development

• Is your firm’s website an information center or does it serve as the first step in your business development process?
• Is interaction and automation built into your website?

Afternoon Break-Out II:
Launching an Effective Alumni Program
Chris Kraft, Hubbard One

With high attrition rates, a decline in the number of law school graduates and an increase in competition for new business alumni programs are more in demand than ever before. A community oriented alumni Web site enables a firm to cultivate strong relationships, maintain up-to-date contact information, create business development opportunities, and reduce networking costs. However, your alumni Web site is only as strong as the program you develop. This interactive session will provide best practice tips for launching an effective alumni program, analyze law firm alumni program challenges and provide a brief overview of alumni program technology.

The presenter will also examine how some firms are building and successfully launching alumni programs. Specifically the presentation will focus on how to develop a successful strategy, how a Web site fits into that strategy, how to supporting marketing to continually drive awareness of the program and how to track program success.

Please note, due to space restrictions, there is no Business Development track for Afternoon Break-Out I. Please take advantage of one of the other tracks during this break-out time, or enjoy some time in the exhibit area with our sponsors and exhibitors.