As a result of the pandemic, many law firm leaders have had to adapt to the world of remote working. Whilst for some hybrid working is viewed as a positive some people are missing out on the 'buzz' of in-person collaboration and the strategic differentiation it can yield.

Lesley O'Leary, Chief Operating Officer, comments for Briefing Magazine.

Finding ways of fostering collaboration has definitely become a more important strategic priority for Charles Russell Speechlys, says Lesley O’Leary, chief operating officer at the Firm – though there’s no quick fix. “We need to commit to collaboration and instil it in all our processes. You can’t just put a team together and say they’re going to ‘fix collaboration’ – it’s much bigger than that, it’s how we do things as a business.”

She explains the firm’s in-person collaboration has been supplemented with improved internal communications, both during and post-lockdown. “Our remote comms efforts have been very successful – anything virtual has been welcomed with open arms, and we can see people are really engaged with attempts to reach out and connect.”

In fact, virtualisation has been beneficial in fostering new kinds of connections, she says. “We talk about ‘bringing your whole self to work – work was in our homes during lockdown, we were seeing each other’s families and pets. That created an opportunity and an alternative channel for people to connect in a way we probably couldn’t do as easily before.”

Lesley's comments were first published in Briefing.