Brian Ward, Managing Director, Brian Ward & Partners Pty Ltd was the guest speaker at the March 2012 ILP Forum. Brian is a keen proponent of structuring a law firm as a corporation, especially to take advantage of corporate governance principles and the appropriate management systems. In fact, Brian Ward & Partners Pty Ltd has been incorporated since 2002.
Brian participated in a Q&A session with ILPForum Co-Ordinator Patrick Oliver. The questions were:
- What attracted you and your partners in Brian Ward and Partners to changing the firm’s structure from a partnership to an Incorporated Legal Practice? Was it an easy decision?
- How has being an ILP assisted the Directors in both the governance of the firm and the provision of legal services to clients?
- The firm has undergone some recent changes in personnel, how has the ILP structure helped or hindered those changes?
- How do you view the ILP Appropriate Management Systems? Has the Appropriate Management Systems improved the management and operation of the firm? In what way?
- I noticed that BWP uses the phrase “The Board of Brian Ward and Partners” in some advertising material. Why do you mention that BWP is an ILP in the firm’s marketing?
- Finally, do you have any tips for those who are incorporated or for those thinking of incorporating?
Brian’s answers can be downloaded here.
