2007 PKF Business Improvement Awards

 

Our Congratulations go to the winners of this years' PKF Business Improvement Awards.   The Award Ceremony took place during the stunning Summit 07 Gala Dinner.  With over 200 guests in attendance, Sharon ? [need to check with John Chisholm] of PKF, proud sponsors of this years' Award, announced the winning firms, Thynne & Macartney and Ryan Carlisle Thomas in association with Stringer Clark. 

 

 

 

Thynne & Macartney are a small law firm in the Brisbane market who developed a strategy to differentiate itself by focussing on profitability rather than chargeable hours. To achieve this aim the firm developed a model that provided statistics at an individual, team and firm level and implemented the initiative through a consultative process  which continues today. The firm openly shares profitability information with all fee earners. The initiative has resulted in improved financial results and a culture where fee earners have learnt commercial skills, make their own informed decisions and are rewarded based on merit – an outcome many firms aspire to!

Developed a comprehensive claims handling and dispute resolution framework to handle approx 5000 claimants in Australia, NZ, South Africa & Canada in the largest compensation fund established by the UK Government. They were the only firm to operate remotely outside the UK. The innovation included automation, a dedicated call centre, a client management program and comprehensive training programs for a range of people including respiratory specialists.  The firm achieved a high return on its investment and  staff enhanced their skills. But the initiative also meant that  claimants were able to access Australian representation without detriment or disadvantage because of their place of residence being outside the UK – a major benefit to these claimants.

 

		Margaret Fitzgerald of Thynne & Macartney, the proud recipient of the PKF 2007 Business Improvement Award - Small Firm Category
Ron Pearce and Valmai Trudgen of Ryan Carlisle Thomas In Association with Stringer Clark Winners for the  Large Firm Award

Our thanks go to this years judging panel for their tremendous input to the Award Program and the time taken to review all of the award submissions. 

 

 

Professor John Gray - New South Wales – Professor Gray is an Associate Professor at the College of Law - Western Sydney

Dr Peter Lynch – Queensland - Principal of dci lyncon, a boutique professional firm practice improvement consultancy.

Megan Hender – South Australia – A trained lawyers, Megan now consults to the industry and specialises in quality and risk management, training and development, writing and editing

Shirley Hamel - Victoria - Hamel Consulting Services, a consultant in strategy, operations and change management for professional and financial services organisaitons.

The Australian Legal Practice Management Association offers each year an award to recognize the achievement of a law firm in improving their performance.  The Business Improvement Award is granted to a firm in recognition of some improvement they have made in the conduct of their business.  The award is very wide in its scope and the business improvement can be achieved in finance, technology, training, knowledge management, recruitment, staff retention or marketing process.

 

 

We encourage all law firms to take part in the Award Program.  Details of next years awards program will be released in early 2008.