Episode 69-Lessons Learned from David Rosenblatt-The Managing Partner Who Outlasted Them All

Counsel to Counsel - Career Advice for Lawyers

There are many paths to success in a law firm. I’ve emphasized on this podcast that growing your practice is a good place to start. Having your own clients gives you a sense of ownership that is hard to achieve when you are just servicing firm clients. If you have your own book of business, there is more opportunity to focus on the work you enjoy and the clients you like.

For some, getting involved in the management of a firm is another way to find more fulfillment. But it is not for everyone.

I once heard someone say that managing a law firm is like being the only fire hydrant in a town filled with dogs. David Maister and Patrick McKenna put it another way in their book First Among Equals. When you are running a professional services firm, you must lead through influence rather than authority.

In this episode, I have a great conversation with David Rosenblatt who has been one of the longest serving Managing Partners in the Boston legal market. He has served as Managing Partner at Burns & Levinson since 1998.

During that time, David has seen a lot of changes in the practice of law and a lot of changes at his own firm.

A few months ago, the firm announced that David would be stepping down from the role in 2023 and I thought it would be a great opportunity to speak to David and get him to reflect on his experience.

In this episode, we talk about David’s career, the changes he has seen, what has been most fulfilling for him, what advice he has for lawyers thinking about law firm management, and a host of other topics.