Perspectives: Professional services

meetings, many attorneys have reported an uptick in productivity and the ability to do more for clients. And clients prefer this option too -– according to a recent survey by Information Age, almost 70% of consumers prefer using an automated online system for their legal affairs because of speed, cost, and ease of use. Richard Susskind, a renowned legal tech author, argues that evidence will be submitted online and eventually technology will help solve disputes based on predictive analysis. And it’s not just during hearings that technology can significantly speed up the legal process. Legal practices can be managed and in-depth research can be carried out by technology. In fact, AI can be applied to almost every aspect of the law, from contract analysis and document drafting to use of bots that can answer simple legal queries.

Some believe that the pandemic could create the kind of long-awaited change to the legal industry that was expected after the Great Recession but never materialized. Already, approaches to billing and technology are changing, giving rise to ideas about more widespread changes such as those related to business structures. For example, the first law firms with nonlawyer ownership have now been opened. And bolstered by COVID-19-related needs, certain practice areas were able to grow during the pandemic, including real estate, litigation and labor.

Looking ahead COVID-19 changed the landscape for many companies and threw up its own unique challenges to the status quo, but for many professional services firms, the outlook has largely been changed for the better. A survey conducted by Deltek outline some of the major challenges facing the global consultancy industry: changing client behavior, profitability, new competition, project complexity and cybersecurity.

Other challenges may be more nuanced. For insurance firms for example, the last year has thrown up all sorts of questions about the coverage they should provide and what business interruption insurance really means.

But professional services firms in Broward County are undoubtedly well-positioned for the future. Law firms in the region have typically been early adopters of new technology and few have lost out during the pandemic. Litigation, real estate and labor cases are sure to fill up lawyers’ agendas for years to come. In times of uncertainty, people look to their trusted advisers, which is when asset management, wealth management, advisory and consulting services will be most needed.

Perspectives: Professional services

Wes Holston

Managing Principal of the Fort Lauderdale Office – Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C. Insurance defense work is seeing a major uptick in South Florida as well as our other o ces since the pandemic began. We’ve defended some insurance companies that have been sued by restaurants and other businesses claiming they were harmed by the pandemic. Those businesses seek interruption insurance coverage and cite to their insurance contracts, which may or may not have pandemic or virus clauses. Led by Hope Zelinger and Krista Elsasser, the insurance defense group has added 10 associates in South Florida since May as we’ve continued to generate business on first-party property, large commercial claims, appellate matters, coverage issues and bad faith claims. Regarding securities cases, we haven’t seen many related to the pandemic, at least not yet.

Dennis Smith

Vice Chairman & Former President – Tripp Scott Our transactional work has kept us busy, with six closings at the end of August alone. Those are either sales of businesses to larger groups or loan closings. On average since the pandemic broke out, we are closing between 15 to 20 deals per month. Loan transactions for companies that are actively growing and still busy despite the virus have been at least as good as they were last year. The construction companies we represent are doing well across the board. Other than jury trials, our litigators have hardly missed a beat because all of the judges are highly enthusiastic about Zoom hearings and depositions – so much so that they are looking to continue using this tool after court houses open.

Felice Solomon

Founder & CEO – Solomon Search Group Many attorneys are skeptical about making a move. Parallel to that, several firms are booming. If anyone is hesitant, now would be a great time to take advantage of the current landscape. When firms are receiving more cases and in growth mode, it reflects future growth, job security and that firm’s work has not been a ected by COVID. Lots of firms are hiring and the law firms not hiring have said the only reason they have not hired is because they are monitoring the situation to see how the uncertainty plays out. A lot of those firms have now decided they have waited long enough and are hiring. It is a great time to be in South Florida legal and it shows all around.

Real Estate:

Fort Lauderdale’s real estate market pulled out all the stops to make sure the ripple effects of the pandemic were contained, morphing challenges into opportunities to the benefit of the long-term resilience of the market. Land scarcity, affordability and the recovery of retail will remain top of mind going forward.