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  • WisBar News
    March 09, 2012

    Unraveling the law firm compensation knot: March Wisconsin Lawyer highlights compensation systems

    March 9, 2012 – The March issue of Wisconsin Lawyer features articles on compensation systems, surrogacy law, the expanded right to sue out-of-state insurers, and preparing your law firm for the “seismic” departure of baby boomer attorneys in the next two decades.

    Unraveling the law firm compensation knot: March Wisconsin Lawyer highlights the impacts of compensation systems

    The March issue of Wisconsin Lawyer features articles on compensation systems, surrogacy law, the expanded right to sue out-of-state insurers, and preparing your law firm for the “seismic” departure of baby boomer attorneys in the next two decades, among others.

    March 2012 Wisconsin Lawyer

    March 9, 2012 – When it comes to law firm compensation systems, “one size definitely does not fit all,” according to Milwaukee attorney and lawyer coach Michael Moore, whose article anchors the March Wisconsin Lawyer, now available online and in mailboxes soon.

    With a bit of Greek legend, Moore tackles law firm compensation in his article, “Untying the Gordian Knot: Law Firm Compensation,” noting that compensation systems can be a controversial topic in law firm management, and there is no magical system.

    “Whether lawyers are forming a new firm or dealing with existing systems, they should be cautious with compensation decisions because simply improving short-term personal rewards may create negative and long-term damage to the law firm’s culture and values,” Moore writes.

    Surrogacy law is inadequate in Wisconsin

    In “Wisconsin’s Undeveloped Surrogacy Law,” De Pere lawyer Thomas Walsh discusses the law of surrogacy in Wisconsin, why it’s inadequate, and highlights solutions to improve the law.

    “The law in Wisconsin is remarkably undeveloped. Those attempting to use the surrogacy process in this state are left to wonder whether their agreements will be enforced and their own personal needs met,” Walsh writes.



    Milwaukee attorney Michael Moore believes that law firm compensation is one of the most controversial topics in law firm management. In this WebXtra video, he advises law firms to be cautious about these decisions, because efforts to improve short-term rewards may create negative, long-term damage to firm culture and value. Read his article, “Untying the Gordian Knot: Law Firm Compensation.”

    He spotlights the ABA Section of Family Law’s Model Act Governing Assisted Reproductive Technology as a model for state laws. The Model Act addresses important aspects of surrogacy, such as gestational agreements, health insurance, and payment to donors and carriers.

    “One area of the surrogacy process that has invited a great deal of debate is the payment of compensation to gamete donors and surrogates,” Walsh explains.

    Personal injury and out-of-state insurers

    A catastrophic motor vehicle accident is the backdrop for “Lessons from Casper: Expanded Recovery for Injured Litigants,” written by Fox Point attorney Monte Weiss.

    In his article, Weiss explains why injured litigants can now bring direct-action suits against out-of-state insurers, regardless of whether the policy is issued or delivered in Wisconsin.

    “This direct access to an insurer is important because often the individual tortfeasor will not have sufficient independent financial resources to provide full compensation for the cost of today’s injury claims,” writes Weiss, who also explains the implications for corporate officers.

    Keep your best clients during the “seismic generational transition”

    In the “Practice Management” column entitled, “Successful Succession: Keep Your Best Clients When Boomer Lawyers Retire,” Minneapolis attorney and professional coach Roy Ginsberg provides advice on how law firms can prepare to keep their best clients as “baby boomer lawyers” retire, noting that some 400,000 lawyers in the U.S. are nearing retirement age.

    “Take a careful look at your law firm’s most influential leaders and biggest rainmakers,” Ginsberg writes. “Chances are that these individuals will be retiring over the next two decades. Is your law firm prepared for the seismic generational transition?”

    Ethics and risk management

    March 2012 Wisconsin Lawyer

    The ever-mindful Tom Watson, a lawyer and vice president at Wisconsin Lawyers Mutual Insurance Corporation, Madison, sees spring as a springboard for “8 Ways to Freshen up Your Risk-Management Procedures,” which appears in his monthly “Managing Risk” column.

    “Improving your risk-management strategies may help you keep clients, save money, and avoid being the subject of an Office of Lawyer Regulation complaint,” Watson explains.

    Finally, Dean Dietrich, past chair of the State Bar Professional Ethics Committee, delves into the supervisory responsibilities of partners and managers in the monthly “Ethics” column.

    In “Supervising Lawyers: Accountability for Others’ Work,” Dietrich provides guidance for supervising lawyers seeking to define their responsibilities, whether supervising one lawyer or serving on a law firm management committee. Dietrich is a lawyer in Wausau.



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