Chambers USA Editor Laura Mills attracted a large contingent of Detroit City Group members to Honigman’s Bloomfield Hills office on October 23. Mills led a wide-ranging discussion on strategies for participating in the annual Chambers USA research process. Participants included (from left) Sarah Stachowicz of Bush Seyferth Paige, Mark Gilman of Decus Consulting, Christy Baas of Miller Canfield, John Cornwell of Plunkett Cooney, Cindi Deittrick of Kienbaum, Opperwall Hardy & Pelton, Laura Mills, Joe Melnick of Honigman, Michael Zuchewich of Honigman, Rich Marsolais of Honigman, Barb Silkworth of Miller Canfield, Roy Sexton of Trott & Trott, Kimberly Sawchuck of Fakhoury Law Group, Tracey Parzuchowski of Howard & Howard, Ava Ortner of Dykema, Cindy Richards of Howard & Howard, and Daniel Cherrin of Fraser Trebilcock. |
A few updates ago, I suggested that the Detroit City Group’s affiliation with LMA Midwest had put many Michigan law firms “on the map” with legal consultants and other industry leaders who otherwise may not have paid us much attention. The latest example of this benefit of LMA membership took place on October 23, when Chambers USA editor Laura Mills met with a group of about 20 Detroit City Group members to discuss strategies for participating in the annual Chambers research process.
Like many others, my firm has participated with Chambers for years and puts considerable effort into the practice area submissions. While the publisher is open to describing in general terms how it ranks lawyers and law firms, the process has always been shrouded in a measure of mystery. How many of our references does Chambers actually contact? What does the researcher ask them? Does preparing a submission really help our chances of being listed? If we promote one lawyer for individual listing will it detract from our other lawyers who are currently listed? While the Chambers website and researchers provide general guidance on these issues, I always felt that there had to be “insider” information they weren’t revealing.
That’s why it was particularly helpful to be able to ask these questions to Ms. Mills directly. To her credit, she was refreshingly candid in her comments about what researchers look for, what the editors consider in establishing the listings, and how to put individuals and practice groups in the best light to get listed. From the various invitations I have received to annual roll-out events it seemed that the only firms that ever received personal attention from Chambers were on the coasts or in Chicago. This was a rare opportunity for our City Group members to meet Ms. Mills and benefit from her expertise – an opportunity that likely would not have occurred except for our affiliation with LMA Midwest.
We appreciate Ms. Mills’s willingness to address the Detroit City Group and hope she will consider visiting us again.
Steering Committee update: Long-time Detroit City Group Steering Committee member Sarah Stachowicz has made a career change, but we are happy to report that she will continue to be part of the City Group. Sarah, who was the first marketing director for litigation defense boutique Bush Seyferth Paige, joined Crain’s Detroit Business as an account executive on November 26, with responsibility for law firms and other accounts. Crain’s is well known to City Group members as one of the region’s premier business publications and as a supporter and sponsor of local LMA events. We wish Sarah the best of luck and look forward to working with her in her new position.