It is a given that it can be very frustrating and disappointing not to win, whether your effort is on winning a proposal for new business, court case, leadership position, or any other goal you set to achieve. To win and experience are deeply entwined. You do not lose by not winning.

In a necessary and long overdue need to right the balance of power and decency, a daily spotlight has been shone on the integrity of organizations, both public and private and that of individuals, regardless of celebrity status. As it should. You always want to promote a culture of integrity at your firm, full stop.

A law firm alliance is a collaborative innovation that has varying levels of intimacy, exclusivity, and binding allegiances. If your firm is looking to service a client in a jurisdiction where you do not have an office, and may need counsel on a regular basis but not so frequently or critically that you would merge with a local firm, consider joining an alliance. An alliance is a viable option for building relationships with other counsel and sharing referrals without having to jump into a formal arrangement that could prove too costly, binding or, simply, unnecessary.