TOMORROW ' S TRENDS TODAY
W L
Photo : Richard Burnett , Commercial Director
TOMORROW ' S TRENDS TODAY
Are you running a business ? If you are , chances are change is your constant companion . Is the pace of change accelerating , as some people believe ? When the “ Old Way ” seems to be replaced with “ The New Way ” so rapidly , how are business owners keeping up ?
Wirral Life interviewed Richard Burnett , Commercial Director at HM3 Legal to find out how their legal business is adapting to constant change .
Hello , disruption From architecture to packaging , energy to technology , disruption is no longer the darling of a select few , it is becoming mainstream .
Richard comments : “ The electric vehicle market is a shining example of ongoing disruption . We ’ re seeing a scramble for market share in a rapidly-emerging industry particularly from China-based manufacturers . It may be a surprise to hear that the UK legal sector is undergoing a transformation too . Amid a sea of “ sameness ” a handful of legal businesses are leading the charge to differentiate and disrupt the market . HM3 Legal is one example .
“ In 2022 we created “ 6 New Standards for Bl ** dy Lawyers ” to address head on the frustrations that people can feel when dealing with traditional law firms . It is astonishing to still see correspondence from solicitors that state “ we will get back to you in 3 days ”!
“ Chances are , anyone running a business has a very busy life ; we created our “ No Chase Pledge ” believing clients deserve a more responsive service . In 2021 , The Times suggested the shift toward technology in legal circles “ is also being driven by clients who are demanding more ”. Add to this AI and it becomes clear the vision once imagined as the distant future , is here and now .”
Purpose , purpose , purpose According to recent research by WTW , 85 % of employees are inspired when working with company leaders who have a clear business vision . This typically leads to companies experiencing 2.6 times greater revenue growth over three years . Richard adds : “ Know your
‘ Why ’” is phrase often used at HM3 Legal . Capturing the essence of what we ’ re trying to achieve provides a clear sense of direction . We ’ ve found narrowing the focus facilitates problem-solving for clients as it cuts away distractions and clutter . Our approach also includes understanding the strategic direction of businesses we ’ re working with – that way we can be sure our legal solutions are acting in a complementary way .”
The devil ’ s in the ( legal ) details Richard concludes : “ In our experience , people shy away from legal jargon – often based on working with an old-fashioned “ bl ** dy lawyer ” who was more focussed on the clock than client care . Yet having the right legal paperwork in place can be a key to building resilience and protecting business operations . Legal foundations built on solid contracts and terms for supplying goods and services , securing intellectual property , or comprehensive employee policies that close the door to legal challenges in an Employment Tribunal can lead to longer-lasting success .
“ For many progressive UK SMEs , paying attention to emerging trends is no longer a nice to have , but essential for sustainable growth . The latest PwC research shows continuing with business as usual suggests “ 40 % of global CEOs believed their companies would no longer be viable in ten years ”. Given the speed of change , the realm of what only seemed possible in the future may arrive tomorrow . Eyes open , ears to the ground is one way to stay ahead .”
Does this sound like your kind of legal team ?
Contact : Richard Burnett , Partner and Commercial Director , HM3 Legal . T : 01244 318131 E : rhb @ law . uk . com
14 wirrallife . com