"The lawyer should be on tap, but never on top. It's got to be the client's issue. It's got to be their fight, and you should be there ready for the advice, ready for putting the case, whatever it is"

In this episode, Mark and Andrew welcome Hannah Blom-Cooper, a seasoned civil fraud lawyer and partner at Greenberg Traurig. Hannah provides a fascinating look into the world of litigation, the distinct roles of solicitors and barristers, and the intricacies of insolvency law. She shares her experiences in assembling legal teams under urgent conditions, navigating the heavy regulation in the legal profession, and balancing workloads within her team.

Hannah also delves into the challenges of managing vulnerability and uncertainty in law firms, emphasizing the importance of trust and effective communication. Memorably, she introduces her 'Third in line for the Conga' metaphor for leadership and her unique insights into team dynamics.

This episode captures the inner workings of legal teams and the skills required to thrive in a high-pressure environment.

Pass it on resources
In this episode the following resources were mentioned, or recommended by Hannah:

• Malcolm Gladwell and Adam Grant discussing Hidden Potential
• Adam Grant's Hidden Potential, The Science of Achieving Greater Things

Chapters

1. 00:00:00 Intro
2. 00:01:07 Role of Solicitors vs. Barristers
3. 00:04:18 Insolvency Law Overview
4. 00:06:55 Assembling a Team for Urgent Cases
5. 00:10:30 Building and Balancing Legal Teams
6. 00:15:06 Internal Market for Legal Resources
7. 00:19:02 Pricing and Capacity in Legal Cases
8. 00:22:24 Trust and Communication in Legal Teams
9. 00:27:24 Challenges of Litigation and Uncertainty
10. 00:30:56 Managing Vulnerability in Litigation Teams
11. 00:34:53 Team Communication Mechanisms
12. 00:38:32 Balancing Task Work and Team Development
13. 00:42:19 Hannah’s Role and Leadership Style
14. 00:45:35 The Conga Metaphor in Leadership
15. 00:47:17 Seeking Feedback and Team Dynamics
16. 00:48:53 Deferential Behavior and Team Interactions
17. 00:50:06 Anticipating Needs and Team Cohesion
18. 00:50:32 Best Team Memory
19. 00:54:17 Team Red Flags: Mood Hoovers
20. 00:55:12 Conclusion

Thanks for listening!

Music by Tom Farrington