The Context

Our client is an internationally recognised and leading African firm specialising in providing intellectual property, commercial, real estate, and dispute resolution advice and support. The firm is locally and internationally renowned for its work in South Africa and across the African continent. However, the firm faced challenges such as plateauing growth in some practices, competitive pressures, and margin pressure. To address these issues, the firm sought to develop a new strategy to set its strategic direction for the next three years. Despite having the strategy in place, senior firm leadership were concerned about the best approach to implement the strategy effectively on the ground.

The Solution

We began by reviewing the firm’s strategy, identifying the key outputs required for its success. We helped pinpoint the essential projects and ‘business as usual’ work necessary to achieve the strategy’s promised outcomes. Working closely with senior leadership, we established criteria to prioritise these projects and initiatives. This process led to a reduction in the number of projects, narrowing the focus to a manageable and impactful portfolio. We assisted various teams in scoping their projects and developed a comprehensive programme plan for the upcoming year. Throughout the implementation phase, we monitored project progress and provided support for replanning as needed to ensure consistent and effective execution.

The Outcome

Our efforts resulted in the project portfolio being streamlined from 36 items to a focused list of 9 key projects. This focus enabled consistent project delivery, with regular checkpoints to reassess and replan if necessary. The involvement of partners and other members of the legal services team was crucial to ensuring buy-in and alignment with the new strategy. As a result, the senior leadership team was able to concentrate on the critical projects needed to achieve the strategic goals, providing clear direction, and fostering a unified approach across the firm.

“Echo Advisory has provided invaluable support to our firm in respect of the implementation of a number of strategic projects. We are very grateful to have had the benefit of the expertise of Echo Advisory as we navigated the complex challenges that come with attempting to implement a strategic plan. We highly recommend their services to any firm seeking solutions of this nature.”

Chairperson, leading African law firm