Case Study: The Law Offices of Thomas J. Noonan

SITUATION

For the past 16 years, Olmstead & Associates have provided the Law Offices of Thomas J. Noonan with management consulting services, ranging from developing initial business start-up plans and management strategies, accounting, and bookkeeping services to ongoing coaching, mentoring, and technology support services. The law firm has grown to one of the most successful insurance defense and commercial and creditor bankruptcy firms in the Midwest with a roster of clients that includes several Fortune 500 corporations. Olmstead & Associate's legal management-consulting firm's mentoring and coaching services have been instrumental in the success of the practice in terms of developing its client base, staff and generating revenue growth.

OBJECTIVES

Since 1985, Olmstead and Associates have been by Tom Noonan's side assisting him in building his practice to what it is today. The following are some of the objectives we've identified throughout the tenure of our relationship with Tom Noonan and his firm.

1. Organize and prioritize all of Mr. Noonan's ideas and develop a multi-faceted approach to help build the practice.
2. Foster and balance growth within the firm's client base and staff.
3. Implement 21st Century businesses practices and maintain a forward thinking mindset.
4. Keep the proper perspective while both struggling and experiencing successes with the firm.
5. Continuously seek innovations and provide on-going coaching and mentoring services to help guide the firm.

HOW WE HELPED

1. We served as a mentor and ex-officio partner to the firm and over the years have provided a tiered approach to helping build Mr. Noonan's practice by offering the following consulting services:

a.   Analyzed the feasibility of creating a law practice;

b.   Formulated a business plan for the practice;

c.   Developed a marketing strategy and package to use to solicit clients;

d.   Prepared budget scenarios and financial statements;

e.   Helped find office space and provided input on hiring staff and helping to train them;

f.   Acted as the command post and communication center while the office was under construction;

g.   Provided software to help mainstream the processing of time billing and accounting and then trained the staff to use the software efficiently; and,

h.   Has provided, and continues to provide, ongoing technical support and networking consulting to streamline efficiency and coaching and mentoring in a variety of practice management areas.



2. We helped the practice become more client focused and redesigned their services to meet the needs of the changing economy by helping them acquire excellent communication strategies with clients, properly packaged services, team delivered services, and active and persistent marketing programs.



3. Mr. Noonan displayed early in his relationship with Olmstead & Associates an ability to excel in recruiting and retaining attorneys and staff. We have helped him use those abilities to establish a challenging and rewarding work environment and to be proactive in training and development of his staff.



4. We guided Mr. Noonan in recognizing that all firm personnel (attorneys, other professional service specialists, management personnel and staff) are all key assets and part of the team. Today, Mr. Noonan ensures that each employee is considered an equal within the firm and is given his or her own responsibilities and authority. He has established trust and learned to have faith to the abilities of both the staff and attorneys. We have helped Mr. Noonan realize that he cannot do everything and that he must delegate some of his major responsibilities to the staff and trust in their abilities to get things done.



5. We have helped the firm develop the proper mindset to keep things in perspective through the many highs and lows within the firm. The proper mindset consists of 21st Century business strategies that requires the Mr. Noonan to always thinks like a businessman; think from the client's perspective and partner with clients; have a vision and a plan for the firm; implement and maintain first-class services for the client with a team approach; market the firm and develop a first class image; strive for outstanding ratings and designations by professional associations; dare to be different; always remain focused; treat employees well and energize the entire office staff; make the office a fun place to work.



6. To maintain the firm's competitive edge, we continuously look for innovative ways to lead the firm. We insure that the firm stays at the brink of technology and continues its forward mindset and implementation of 21st Century management practices.

EVALUATION

Olmstead & Associates has played a key role in the success of the Law Offices of Tom Noonan. The firm has grown more than 25 percent in revenues per year since 1996 and to a practice having nine attorneys, 14 staff members and offices in both Illinois and Missouri. The practice has received and maintained an AV rating by Martindale-Hubble since 1986 and is approved by A.M. Best. The firm also has been featured in Missouri Lawyer's Weekly in its section on the "Top Verdicts of 1999" and as one of the "Top Ten Trial Attorneys" by the St. Louis Metropolitan Bar Journal.

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