Comments for The Firm Identity

Comment on Another Circle of Hell by Keir Aubrey

Keir Aubrey — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:38:40 +0000

I was looking to join a firm that has merged four times in six years and was still on the look out for another. To me it smacked of desperation and totally put me off.

Comment on Osborne Clarke: they gotta feline by Mark Brandon

Mark Brandon — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:47:50 +0000

That is the first time I’ve seen a colophon used by a law firm. Wired magazine uses colophons to indicate what influences went into each issue, often including foodstuffs and alcohol.

I’m wondering quite what OC’s designers were on when they did this. I kind of love it, but then I love Japanese ‘anime’, and most of my mates not only think I’m crazy but make me watch it on my own.

OC’s little international-cityscape reminds me VERY much of ‘Townville’, the city where the Powerpuff Girls ‘live’.

OK, I’ll shut up now…

Comment on Is it a bird? A plane? No, it’s Eversheds by Mark Smith

Mark Smith — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:13:33 +0000

Good post. I suspect it’s a function of the fact that ’sheds operates in so many different markets and also its geographic spread (both locally and nationally). If the survey had been carried out in the City, then I suspect the results might have been different, but whatever, it’s good for the profession to see a law firm in the list. I suspect post-legal services act we may see more legal brands getting higher recognition.

Comment on Strange bedfellows by Jamie White

Jamie White — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 13:24:09 +0000

Merger mania indeed. An interesting bit of side-news from Hildebrant here – http://www.hildebrandt.com/blog/archive/2010/04/08/law-firm-mergers-a-slow-quarter-but-picking-up-quickly.aspx

Comment on Is it a bird? A plane? No, it’s Eversheds by Jamie White

Jamie White — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:02:07 +0000

A less measured approach to this hot topic exists here – http://www.rollonfriday.com/ThisWeek/News/tabid/58/Id/491/fromTab/36/Default.aspx – I have to say, I did think that Eversheds’ parting shot was pretty well delivered. In their words -

“We apologise if the Superbrand results aren’t to the liking of some of our competitors, but an independent survey of 1700 business executives is pretty hard to fiddle, even for our crack media team. We were the third highest law firm last year and the fact we’re now first shows that it’s no fluke. Perhaps the results reflect the reality of what’s important to those who actually use legal services.”

Comment on Home Truths, No.2 by Mark Brandon

Mark Brandon — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:20:53 +0000

I agree with Andrew that there needs to be a shade more personality here. Or any at all in fact.

The site is remarkable in that the navigation is very clear – a constant bugbear with law firms who often see their ‘personal’ information (like, er, how many people they have on a particular team, for instance) as something to be jealously guarded against poachers rather than an opportunity to show what they have to offer.

It’s a shame as DWS is a firm with a great deal of personality, generally greatly liked and respected by other lawyers and still rated by junior lawyers as one of the best places to work at – oh, and has one of the highest ratios of female partners in any of the top firms.

Is white really the best colour to display one’s diversity? (no pun intended)

Comment on Home Truths, No.2 by Jamie White

Jamie White — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:43:40 +0000

The ellipses hints at a promise of something bigger than the logotype, doesn’t it? Almost as if they’re leading you somewhere. I like the fact that they chosen something that’s suggests considered brevity, too; the stripping away of purposeless prose. In isolation, i like the way the full points mirror the rhythm of those three quite evocative and phonetically-pleasing words.

Like Olswang, DWS uses an interesting balance of black and orange, the combination of stoic and vibrant, classy and sassy. I get the impression that the firm leans more towards measured assurance rather than bold assertion as well. The colour palette seems to reflect that rather well.

I don’t know who works on the brand but I think it’s one of the strongest in the UK 50.

Comment on Surrender to a Higher Power by Token1

Token1 — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:18:37 +0000

Surely the controls over branding are shot the s**t in the light of social media? No one can control their reputations, just make sure there’s more good news than bad?

Comment on Home Truths, No.1 by I-COM

I-COM — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:56:58 +0000

But law firms are notoriously difficult organisations from which to get a consensus on brand values or ethos.

The Nabarro site hangs together quite well but they have it easy you should try managing a dual audience strategy for law firms that provide a service for both corporates and private client.

Getting the imagery right then can be even more tricky.

Comment on Home Truths, No.1 by Jamie White

Jamie White — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:41:57 +0000

I’ve been in meetings where this site has been held in really high regard. I think you’re right, it runs out of steam a little with it’s photography but it’s amazing how much people buy in to the ‘Clarity Matters’ principal. I think Nabarro is one of those rare firms that has managed to tap into a reasonably uncommon vision.