Leadership Spotlight: Chris Frawley, Chair, Small Firm Shared Interest Group (SIG)

 Chris Frawley, Director of Business Development, John E. Osborne, P.C.

As we all know, New York City is home to some of the largest law firms in the world, most of them with well-staffed marketing departments that contribute heavily both to the membership and to the overall direction of the Metropolitan New York Chapter.  This sometimes leaves the needs of the city’s countless small firms underserved.

To help remedy this situation, the Small Firm Shared Interest Group (SIG) was formed in early 2008 to address the special marketing issues of firms with fewer than 100 attorneys and/or a marketing staff of 5 or less.  Frequently, the marketing needs of these firms are handled by people who aren’t themselves marketing professionals, and who can, therefore, benefit from the more specialized expertise available through LMA membership.

The group, currently chaired by Chris Frawley of John E. Osborn PC, aims to raise both the visibility and the involvement of these smaller firms in the LMA, and to set up a network that allows them to reach out to the wider membership for resources, advice, and assistance with their marketing needs.

The group’s first program, “Putting PR to Work For You,” was held on May 20.  The speaker was Brian Hickey, Managing Director of CJP Communications, a Public Relations firm specializing in Financial and Professional Communications.  The 15 people in attendance were given an overview of the PR process as it might be applied to small law firms.

Our second program, "NOT Your Fathers Advertising: New Possibilities for Small Law Firms," held on Wednesday, September 24, featured Andy Edelstein, an independent advertising copywriter and creative director, and member of the Metro Chapter.  Andy addressed the proliferation of new and relatively inexpensive advertising techniques now made possible by the rapid growth of the Internet and related interactive technologies.

Anyone interested in helping to shape the Small Firm SIG, or who might be interested in hosting a future event, please contact Chris Frawley at cfrawley@osbornlaw.com.

The next meeting of the Small Firm SIG is tentatively scheduled to take place in late November/early December.