14th August 2026 | Paul Marmor | International, International Bar Association, Global Network

Paul Marmor was part of the faculty for this year’s IBA Academy for Leaders, which is a cutting-edge programme for law firm leaders presented by the IBA’s Law Firm Management Committee, taking place at King’s College on the Strand, London.

Paul Marmor, the immediate past chair of the LFMC, was part of a faculty made up of over 35 academics, lawyers in private practice and leading consultants to the legal industry.  The 2026 cohort was a very strong, made up of 30+ participants consisting of managing partners and emerging talent from across the globe, learning about all aspects of law firm leadership.

Paul chaired a panel of General Counsel (i.e. lawyers in charge of legal departments in businesses/corporations) to provide the class with an opportunity to hear what clients really want.  The panel made a great contribution.  We heard from:-

  • Jacqueline Moreton, GC at Bannerjee Entertainment
  • Dawn Stallwood of Floodlight Business
  • Duc V Trang of Landon Advisory Services

 

Bannerjee Entertainment is one of the world’s largest content-creation and production groups in the realm of film and television.  Jacqueline spoke from the perspective of an in-house lawyer navigating a fast-moving, deal-intensive creative industry, where so much acumen is required in terms of handling the people and talent involved.

Dawn Stallwood of Floodlight Business brought a strategic and commercial lens, particularly focusing on leadership, having recently published Beautiful Leadership: Your Personal Framework for Authentic Impact.

Duc V Trang of Landon Advisory Services spoke from the perspective of somebody involved in multi-jurisdictional businesses, explaining what sophisticated clients expect when they engage external counsel, and where law firms consistently fall short.

It is difficult to summarise the key messages from the panel, but in essence:-

  1. As a lawyer, know your client’s business as well as you know their legal problems.
  2. Be proactive, provide added value and never take anything for granted, and be sensible in terms of your costs.
  3. Look at providing good leadership and culture change from the top: create behaviours that work both ways in terms of providing support to what the businesses and their GCs need, cutting out the legalese where possible.

 

The IBA Academy for Leaders provides a valuable opportunity for law firm leaders from around the world to share experiences, challenge established thinking and consider the future of the legal profession. Visit the IBA website to learn more about its Law Firm Management Committee and Academy for Leaders, or contact Paul Marmor to find out more. 

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