Helping companies and law firms shape a new legal ecosystem that delivers better outcomes for less cost
Law firms and in-house legal departments need each other to succeed
They want to help one other, and they depend on each other, but they don’t really understand each other well enough. They don’t communicate effectively and they don’t know how to make things much better.
We think it’s time for a new kind of relationship that works better for both parties: a “True Partnership”.
True Partnerships are founded on five key pillars: commitment; communication; equality; respect; and trust. We believe that the relationships between law firms and in-house groups should be defined by those features.
The True Partnership approach can deliver sustainable long-term benefits by improving the economics for both parties, enabling communication, enhancing collaboration, sparking innovation, uncovering efficiencies, strengthening relationships, and producing happier lawyers who enjoy their work more.
A more collaborative way of working
Building Trust
We work together, jointly, with both the in-house team and the law firm. By establishing a shared vision, seeking common ground, and collaboratively identifying and solving problems, the parties build trust and find new opportunities.
Win-Win Relationships
The best foundation for a True Partnership results from an in-house legal department and a law firm working together to design, build, and operate their own customized working relationship, with the goal of making things work better for both parties.
Alignment of Interests
We can improve financial metrics by enhancing value, reducing cost, and improving predictability. We can improve engagement levels by getting everyone focused on common goals, reducing obstacles, and aligning interests.
And we’ll do this for both the company and the law firm, at the same time.
The pandemic has revealed some crucial truths. Despite the challenges and tragedies faced by so many, the legal profession has proven that it can do things differently. Lawyers have reaffirmed their ability to adapt and change.
In that context, we believe forward-thinking companies and law firms now have the opportunity to shape a new legal ecosystem that delivers better outcomes for less cost.
We have launched The True Partnership Project so that we can work with a select group of legal professionals to pursue these goals.
We guarantee our work
We want our relationships with our clients to be governed by the same kinds of values that we try to build into the True Partnerships we help shape: accountability; balance; clarity; collaboration; respect; and transparency.
Our fees are based on scope and value, rather than billable hours, and they’re shared by both parties. We focus all our efforts on delivering the desired outcomes.
Martin Guest
Martin is a tested and proven General Counsel, with two decades of in-house experience, most recently as General Counsel Canada at Manulife in Toronto, where he led a group of 300 professionals, with responsibility for all legal and compliance activities in the Canadian Division, as well as Employment law and Global Technology law.
Prior to that role, he was a Partner at Torys LLP, as a member of the Managed Assets Practice Group, before which he spent 12+ years as a member of the Senior Executive Team at Fidelity Canada, leading the legal, corporate secretary, regulatory, and compliance functions. He began his career as a corporate and securities lawyer at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP.
Throughout his career, Martin has been recognized as a creative problem-solver and a strategic thinker, whose approach is defined by collaboration, partnership, and crystal clear communication.
Friedrich Blase
Friedrich has been working with law firms on strategy and management issues for 20+ years. His experience ranges from some of the world’s largest firms to “independent” leaders in several countries. Leaders in these firms seek his advice on strategy, competitiveness, innovation, and change management issues.
He spent five years at the senior leadership table at Holland & Knight, working exclusively on strategic and major innovation projects. During his time, the firm beat its AmLaw peers on key financial metrics and was recognized by the FT Innovative Lawyers for several undertakings.
Friedrich serves on the boards or as an informal adviser of 15+ legal tech start-ups in Canada, the US, and in Europe. The Ontario Bar Association named him their 2021 Innovator-in-Residence. He is a German-qualified lawyer with a Ph.D. from the University of Cologne.