But what works for Freshfields or Clifford Chance with 1000 people in London and what works for Mayer Brown is different. Our philosophy has to be different and our success rate has to be higher. But globally it is a different thing. For instance, I don't think dishing out loads of brochures is regarded as very rewarding. Partners at the firm develop their own client relationships and Balfour believes the firm is sufficiently well known not to need to use awareness advertising.
Many firms are reluctant to give information regarding the numbers of marketing staff they employ.
They want to play it down. It's not seen as something that professional people do, it's the equivalent of double glazing salesmen. International learning curve The problems facing law firms in the UK and US are nothing when compared to those their counterparts in Europe, Asia and Latin America experience. In several European countries bar association rules restrict firms' marketing activities, as they did in the UK and US until the late 1970s. Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland are particularly strict.