Mike Strotz

Peer-to-peer Roundtables are 45-minute discussion groups, each led by a managing partner from a mid-market law firm.

The hallmark of an Alternative Event, the peer-to-peer roundtable discussions are like group therapy for firm leaders. These small groups, following the Chatham House rule, allow everyone to share problems and solutions. New for this year, each discussion will run longer allowing for a more in-depth discussion on your chosen topic.

These facilitated discussions will deliver insights and takeaways from peers that are simply not otherwise available.

Ask-the-Expert sessions are focused and interactive sessions where participants have the opportunity to engage directly with a seasoned professional in a specific field. The sessions are designed to provide valuable insights, practical advice, and in-depth knowledge on particular topics of interest.

1. Innovation isn’t AI, it’s a way of thinking
Innovation isn’t only about adopting new technology, it’s about building a repeatable system for spotting opportunities, driving change and staying competitive. In this practical session, discover why innovation has become a matter of survival, how firms can embed it into everyday decision-making, and the practical steps to create a culture and system that consistently turns ideas into action.
Natalie Foster, CEO, Inspire Legal Group

2. Unlocking the value of your Top 50 Clients: how to build a ‘must win’ client strategy that drives cross-sell, recurring revenue and lifetime value
This round table will focus on client growth / value creation proposition around cross sell and the impact of a strategy to increase gross reoccurring revenue and client life-time value.  Focusing on the importance of clear objectives, key results, harnessing behaviours, incentivising engagement and building trust.
Abby Winkworth, Director, Ambire Advisory Limited

3. Better business, stronger culture – why PE doesn’t have to be the villain
PE has a reputation problem but for firms that get the relationship right, investment doesn’t erode culture – it funds the conditions for it to thrive. One year in, Rob Dillarstone shares his experience.
Robert Dillarstone, CEO, Greenwoods

4. Ask-the-Expert – Think like an investor: A value creation mindset
Alongside investment capacity, external investors bring a value creation mindset to work with management teams to improve the business throughout the hold period. This session aims to explore:

• What investors look for in legal firms and how to assess your own firm through that lens
• How an investor mindset can be applied by leaders to identify value within the firm, regardless of PE involvement

Mike Strotz, Director, EY-Parthenon & Fredrik Burger, Private Equity Operating Partner, EY

5. How can firms harness AI to drive efficiency and enhance wellbeing while safeguarding mentorship, professional development, and firm culture?
AI could be the most important productivity tool since the coffee machine, but if robots are doing the heavy lifting, why is everyone still so tired? Join us as we discuss how to support our junior talent, promote our culture and values, and figure out what to actually do with the hours AI saves us….besides giving everyone higher targets of course.
Mark Kiteley, Managing Director, Rawlins Davy Reeves Solicitors

6. The 4-Day Week, flexible working and productivity
Flexible working models, from four day weeks to staggered hours and hybrid patterns, are increasingly attractive to firms and staff alike. But many leaders are still grappling with a harder question: what actually happens to productivity, collaboration and decision-making when traditional working patterns disappear?
This roundtable explores how different working practices are really playing out inside law firms, and the unintended consequences they create – particularly around meetings, availability and accountability.
A practical peer discussion on designing working practices that support focus, performance and client service.
Marcin Durlak, Managing Partner, IMD Solicitors

7. Beyond AI: Why EI and relationships are the real competitive edge
As law firms invest heavily in AI, it’s easy to overlook what the profession is built on: relationships. This roundtable explores why emotional intelligence and culture remain the real differentiators for law firm leaders, shaping trust, judgment and client outcomes, and why firms that combine AI with strong human insight deliver better results for clients.
Vijay Parikh, Managing Partner, Harold Benjamin