Law Firms Fill Trade Show Booths at Corporate Counsel Convention
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I'm at the annual Association of Corporate Counsel meeting in Chicago. It's a convention of clients -- with 2000+ in-house counsel walking the exhibit floor and taking in CLE classes. Kevin Buck, the chief marketing officer of the ACC, said that it's the biggest convention ever, with 40 law firms exhibiting from all over the world.
There are law firms from Italy, Canada, the UK, South America, and of course the US, with some of the most recognizable firms nationwide. They have partners in the booths, and are giving away soccer balls (Simmons & Simmons), stuffed toy bulldogs (Womble Carlyle) and screwdrivers (Saul Ewing). A single booth space costs $21,000.
Partner Mike Lampert of Saul Ewing said the screwdriver symbolized "solving the client's problem." However, he emphasized a mini-CD entitled "The Law of Inside Counsel," which excerpts the firm's 200-page book on the topic.
The firm even has a playbook -- a ring binder listing all 8 attorneys from Saul Ewing who are at the ACC conference, whom they are to target and a list of planned actions. Also, the lawyers are networking with other law firms, trading cards and making referrals. Paul H. Malanowski, Director of Client Relations, said the price of the booth was definitely worth it -- last year the firm picked up a "significant piece of business that paid for the cost of the booth." Tonight the firm will be serving Philly cheese steak sandwiches at the booth. "We have the best food," Lampert said proudly. And it's reflective of where the firm started -- in Philadelphia. Now it has offices from the Hudson to the Potomac Rivers.
For the list of law firms who are exhibiting in trade show booths at the conference, continue reading...
Law firms are taking booth space right next to the software and deposition vendors. Business development for law firms has included buying space at trade shows for some 5 years now. They are putting partners in the booths, bringing teams of lawyers to fan out among the 2,000 attendees, and getting new business. And why not? It's a convention of customers. Here's a list of 39 of the law firms and networks exhibiting today at the conference:Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Bryan Cave
Foley Hoag
Greenberg Traurig
Hogan & Hartson
Jackson Lewis,
Lindquist & Vennum
McGuireWoods
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt
Simmons & Simmons
Berwin Leighton Paisner
Blake, Cassels & Graydon
The Bomchil Group law network
Bryan Cave International Trade
DLA Piper US
Eversheds
Ford & Harrison
Fraser Milner Casgrain
Gowling Lafleur Henderson
Holland & Knight
Hunton & Williams
Jackson Walker
Kilpatrick Stockton
Kim & Chang
Lex Mundi
Littler Mendelson
Meritas
Minority Corporate Counsel Association
Nixon Peabody
Ogilvy Renault
Ogletree Deakins
Portolano Colella Cavallo
Saul Ewing
Stikeman Elliott
Terralex Inc.
Troutman Sanders
WeirFoulds
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice,
Worklaw® Network
