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Maryland Law Firm Leaders Working to Support Each Other
In March, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused law firms across the state to move to remote work, three managing partners at three different Maryland firms found a way to come together in a time when we were all forced apart. Tom Dame, Managing Partner at Gallagher Evelius & Jones LLP, Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum, Managing Partner at Brown Goldstein & Levy, and David Shuster, Managing Principal at Kramon & Graham, P.A., organized a conference call for managing partners from law firms across the state to discuss the transition to remote operations and other logistical issues law firms face amidst a global pandemic. Since its inception, the call has grown to incorporate more law firm leaders, judges, and other leaders of the profession.
WE TOOK A MOMENT to learn more about the circumstances that sparked the need for the conference call and how it has evolved since that first phone call.
How has the role of managing partner changed since the onset of the pandemic?
Tom: The job of every law firm managing partner has changed during the pandemic. It now involves a number of new components, including planning for an entirely remote workforce, preparing for the eventual return to the office, managing the risk of an economic downturn, finding ways to connect with people who are working in different places, and providing positive and honest communication about what is needed for the firm and individuals to succeed under difficult and unusual circumstances.
How did the idea for a call between the managing partners of firms across Maryland come into being?
Sharon: These calls were a result of the pandemic and came about because of a strong working relationship that three of us already had. Tom Dame, Dave Shuster and I had connected on how and when we were each pivoting from office to remote, given the pandemic. As we shared our respective plans, we quickly realized that there were managing partners state-wide who must be making the same types of very hard decisions that we were each making. We thought of a call to see if we could collaborate more broadly and support each other. Managing during such trying times is not easy to do alone.
What was the first call like compared to the calls that you are leading now?
David: The first call had fewer people. The main focus of the discussion was the transition to remote operations and operational logistics. For example, people wanted to know how colleagues were handling such things as tech challenges, daily mail collection, skeleton crews, etc. Since that first call, the number of participants has grown dramatically. In addition to dozens of law firms, the calls now include judges, the law school deans, members of the Attorney General's Office, and representatives of the MSBA. During the calls, Chief Judge Bredar reports on the status of the operations of the federal court, and Dean Weich (University of Baltimore of Law) and Dean Tobin (University of Maryland School of Law) also provide updates from the law schools' perspectives. We have also invited guest speakers on COVID-19 topics. More recent calls have dealt with the logistics surrounding easing back into the office.
How did you get managing partners from other firms on board to participate in the calls?
David: It wasn't difficult. Participants have joined the group by word of mouth. Friends and colleagues have reached out to other law firm leaders and, likewise, people started to hear about the group and requested to be included.
Tom: I have learned so many things about how law firms are dealing with the issues presented by the pandemic. However, what is most striking is the overall strong spirit of sharing and support among law firm leaders. The leaders have been quite open about offering help
What is one thing you have learned from these discussions with other managing partners that you didn’t know prior to the calls?
Tom: I have learned so many things about how law firms are dealing with the issues presented by the pandemic. However, what is most striking is the overall strong spirit of sharing and support among law firm leaders. The leaders have been quite open about offering help and guidance to one another as we all face many of the same challenges. I have also learned a great deal of valuable information about the pandemic operation of the federal court as Chief Judge Bredar has faithfully provided a full report on the status of the Court’s operations and plans in each conference call.
Sharon: That competition between firms does not stand in the way of strong, solid support when times are tough.
David: From the calls and based on my own firm's experience, I learned that we aren't nearly as dependent on office space as we once believed. I think most in the professional-services business have reached the same conclusion. I am very interested to see how businesses rethink their space requirements.
Have you changed any of your practices as a direct result of these phone calls and discussions with other managing partners at different firms?
Tom: We have implemented some of the return to office safety measures that other law firm leaders suggested. Also, our summer associates participated in a few of the educational programs that were planned by a subgroup of the law firm leaders.
David: We did adopt certain policies or procedures implemented by other firms in connection with their efforts to ease back to in-office operations. Hearing how other firms are tackling these issues was very informative and helped us in developing our plans.
Will these calls continue after the COVID-19 pandemic?
Sharon: We are continuing to have these calls until such time as managing partners do not find them helpful. It is possible that we will talk to the MSBA about some type of relationship that can be developed in the future.
MORE ABOUT THE CONFERENCE CALL ORGANIZERS:
Tom Dame is the Managing Partner at Gallagher Evelius & Jones LLP where he practices Health Law and Litigation. He has spent his whole career at Gallagher serving in several leadership roles including as leader of the litigation practice group from 2000 to 2014 and as administrative partner from 2015 to 2017 before becoming Managing Partner. His goal as Managing Partner is to lead the firm in building on its strong foundation, honoring and preserving its core values, as the firm moves forward into the changing future of legal services.
Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum is the Managing Partner at Brown Goldstein & Levy where she practices Disability Rights, Civil Litigation, Administrative Law, and Regulatory Law. She joined Brown Goldstein & Levy in 2000 and has served as the Managing Partner for over five years. Since becoming Managing Partner, she has set up various active committees made up of attorneys and nonattorney alike who bring their creative talents to various tasks.
David J. Shuster is the Managing Principal at Kramon & Graham, P.A. where he practices Commercial/General Civil Litigation. He joined Kramon & Graham, P.A. as an associate in 1999 and rose to Principal in 2003. In 2012, he took on the role of the Managing Principal. Before becoming the Managing Principal, he served on the firm's Compensation Committee and other ad-hoc committees to address specific projects or initiatives. His goal as Managing Principal is to uphold the firm’s culture of respect and collegiality and ensure that all important decisions are made by consensus.