John W. Daniels Jr.
Chairman
Quarles & Brady LLP
John W. Daniels Jr., chairman of the law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP, discusses a redefined concept of value in today’s business world and how his organization at every level strives to offer it to clients.
“Providing value in today’s law firm is focused on one thing – helping clients accomplish their business objectives. We strive to serve our clients as trusted legal advisors as well as business partners, offering sound legal counsel and strategic thinking based on the client’s goals.
“On our part, it requires more investment and engagement with our clients than ever before, from all levels of our organization. It requires us to understand every client’s strategic objectives, follow key developments in their industry sectors and provide a level of responsiveness that knows no weekends.
“Where once we worked almost exclusively with our clients’ corporate legal counsels, we now not only collaborate with them, but also meet regularly with our clients’ top executives and business unit leaders to gain first-hand insight into the issues and concerns that “keep them awake at night.
“Our largest and longest-standing clients – those that I would argue we know the most intimately – constantly challenge us with new demands and higher expectations that continually redefine the concept of value in their eyes and in ours.
“It’s taken us – and the entire legal profession – a little while to understand that providing purely technical legal service is no longer enough. Today, we must deliver client-defined value by providing trusted legal and business advice and more to accomplish our clients’ objectives.”
