Compensation systems shape your firm’s culture, performance, and future. As co-author of RESPECT: An Insight to Attorney Compensation Plans and a trusted advisor to hundreds of firms, Brenda Barnes helps law firms design custom compensation models that reward results and align with long-term strategy.

Succession planning isn’t just about retirement—it’s about continuity, leadership, and value. Brenda Barnes and Camille Stell help law firms develop practical, forward-looking succession strategies that support smooth transitions, retain key talent, and protect the future of the firm.

Accounting & Billing is a core function in every law firm practice. To ensure that your assets are safeguarded, robust processes and internal controls must be in place. The five most common internal controls are segregation of duties, restricted access to financial systems, periodic reconciliations by another party, double-entry accounting systems and process standardization and approval processes.

A budget is a roadmap to follow and can help you and your firm meet your goals each year. A budget should be a critical piece of financial information prepared and monitored to ensure that partners maximize their profitability.

Cash flow forecasting is a mechanism to ensure that the law firm knows what is happening today, next week, and next month. Many cash flow projections are completed on a rolling 12-month basis.

Profitability is why we all are in business. However, some areas of our law firm may not be as profitable as others. The profitability analysis can include individuals, practice areas, industry types, or clients. Do you know if your billing rate contributes to profit? Do you have control over your expenses or do you have a top-line issue? A complete in-depth analysis of any or all of these factors will highlight the areas for improvement.

A 90-day strategic planning engagement for solo and small-to-mid-sized law firms ready to grow, streamline operations, or prepare for exit. Designed by Brenda Barnes, this hands-on program blends business planning, compensation design, and financial clarity—turning reactive firms into ready-to-scale businesses.