Starting today, Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute’s 22nd Annual Marketing Partners Forum will kick off at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.  This conference is an excellent opportunity for Legal Marketing Professionals to meet with each other, share best practices and brainstorm with one another to find inventive solutions to the issues facing Law Firms today.

Kimberly Leach Johnson is one of the Faculty Co-Chairs of this year’s event.  In 2013, Johnson made history when she was the first woman elected as the Firm Chair for

Quarles  & Brady LLP, the first female attorney to hold this position.  She has spent over 30 years practicing Trusts and Estate Law and building her relationships with clients.  Throughout her career, Johnson has demonstrated a commitment to her clients that goes above and beyond, and this dedication extends to her continued service to her clients, even with her elected responsibilities and her job running the Firm’s Executive Committee.

Johnson is looking forward to the speakers and other events at the 22nd Annual Marketing Partners Forum.  She points to the struggles facing the legal industry since the 2008 Market crash, and in her words, “Marketing is key.  The demand for services has decreased and firms need to find innovative ways to offer services to clients.”  Specifically, the conference will give marketing professionals the chance to talk to each other and make connections.  Johnson says, “the speakers are great this year, and there will be many different ways to approach clients discussed.”  While Johnson acknowledges the temptations of the beach and the gorgeous Southern California weather, she suggests attendees overcome the temptation to skip the panels and go to the beach to really get the most out of the conference.  She says, “there will be a lot of opportunities to learn from the speakers and the other attendees, and a chance to learn what other firms are doing, and that can be really helpful.”

For Johnson, it all comes down to client service.  She points out that knowing your clients is the best way to serve them.  She says, “if you are trying to offer cross-services, the more you know the clients, the more you can add value.  When you understand you clients, you understand their needs better, and are in a better position to offer help and guidance.” 

In fact, Johnson advises getting to know your clients in different areas.  She says, “even if you’re just hanging out at home, after the kids have been put to bed, instead of playing a game on your iPad, google your clients. See what is out there about them, job postings, whatever, so you can really understand the issues facing them.” 

The Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute’s 22nd Annual Marketing Partners Forum features two days of action packed panels, roundtables, and opportunities to innovate and network with legal marketing professionals.  Implicit in this will be opportunities to learn techniques for getting the most out of client relationships.  As Johnson says, “When you put your client’s interest’s first, it ends up being a win-win.”