Ashurst's corporate department has engaged a management consultant to allocate work to associates on a completely blind basis.
Management consultant Dave Cook started allocating work to associates back in July. He hands it out based on associates' previous experience and workload, rather than on their personal relationships with partners. So everyone should have an equal crack at the juiciest deals and there should be marginally less beasting. Although it'll be interesting to see how it plays out in reality:
Partner - Why have I been given John on this deal? I want Jane. I always have Jane.
Cook - Jane billed 400 hours last month and has just come off a deal, we thought she should have a bit of time to breathe.
Partner - Jane has a first in nuclear physics from Oxford, works like a trojan and never complains. John has a low double digit IQ and got a job here because his father is CEO of a massive client. I want Jane.
Cook - Sorry, the work's been allocated.
Partner - My firm, my deal, my rules. Give me Jane or I'll have your job.
Cook - OK.
There is also the potential downside of lack of continuity for clients, who may have to get used to an ever-changing roster of associates staffing their deals. Many will say this is not a bad thing, and the firm says that the pilot has been a great success. According to The Lawyer, Head of Corporate Simon Beddow said that the department was now looking to recruit a management consultant to establish the system on a more permanent basis.
Tip Off ROF
Management consultant Dave Cook started allocating work to associates back in July. He hands it out based on associates' previous experience and workload, rather than on their personal relationships with partners. So everyone should have an equal crack at the juiciest deals and there should be marginally less beasting. Although it'll be interesting to see how it plays out in reality:
Partner - Why have I been given John on this deal? I want Jane. I always have Jane.
Cook - Jane billed 400 hours last month and has just come off a deal, we thought she should have a bit of time to breathe.
Partner - Jane has a first in nuclear physics from Oxford, works like a trojan and never complains. John has a low double digit IQ and got a job here because his father is CEO of a massive client. I want Jane.
Cook - Sorry, the work's been allocated.
Partner - My firm, my deal, my rules. Give me Jane or I'll have your job.
Cook - OK.
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John hears he finally gets to work on a £500m mezzanine financing deal. |
There is also the potential downside of lack of continuity for clients, who may have to get used to an ever-changing roster of associates staffing their deals. Many will say this is not a bad thing, and the firm says that the pilot has been a great success. According to The Lawyer, Head of Corporate Simon Beddow said that the department was now looking to recruit a management consultant to establish the system on a more permanent basis.
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In regards to the first comment, I purely design and implement the function. The original article was wrong and a permanent Resource Planning Manager will be recruited, rather than a Management Consultant.