Southern African Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (SAVCA)’s Post

Exits are imperative for recycling capital for further deployment, and demonstrating ability to return capital to investors. Notwithstanding a challenging exit environment globally, Southern African PE firms achieved Exits valued at R21.3bn in 2023, a level last seen in 2023. In the upcoming #Exits Masterclass, our facilitators will unpack what it actually means to have an Exit in mind when you start the investment process and how to go about making it a reality. Dont miss out!

Law Firms: Off to Leicester to deliver the first part of my Bespoke True Worth training programme for a new law firm client. As always, it will be a highly interactive 4-hour workshop which delves into the communication and psychology (including value, mind-set, confidence, self-worth) around getting paid your true worth consistently and unapologetically. The focus is then on taking new beneficial actions to eliminate: 💧under-estimating 💧discounting 💧over-servicing 💧not billing and 💧not getting paid! This will be followed up with on-line group coaching to ensure that new behaviours are being implemented and embedded. This is the key to its success and results in: For the firm: 💎increased revenue – just one small change in behaviour can result in thousands of pounds extra revenue per fee-earner. This means in a year you could be adding hundreds of thousands of pounds to your bottom line. 💎reduced stress.  For the lawyers: 💎greater commercial awareness leading to improved career prospects 💎 less stress, as better able to manage clients on all fronts and 💎 increased self-confidence It is always wonderful to be in a room together and it is not unusual for there to be lightbulb moments and shifts occurring on the day. "Along with several colleagues, I was fortunate to attend some fantastic training and coaching with Vanessa on getting paid our true worth. The results speak for themselves: Increased billing, much greater confidence in managing those money conversations with clients and so much more. The training will pay for itself, as the ROI will continue in the weeks, months, and years to come. Other comments from colleagues include “super insightful”, “invaluable”, and “inspiring”. Highly recommended." Iain Colville   ✅I help decent law firms to get paid their true worth consistently and unapologetically while keeping their clients happy, by uncovering and eliminating those behaviours which cause a financial loss and stress. Result: Confidence up = Billing up, recovery rates up, a financially healthier firm and happier lawyers. 📞Happy to have a no-obligation chat to explore how I can help and find out if we are a good fit for each other. Please feel free to get in touch.

Law Firms: Off to Milton Keynes to deliver the first part of my Bespoke True Worth training programme for a new law firm client. As always, it will be a highly interactive 4-hour workshop which delves into the communication and psychology (including value, mind-set, confidence, self-worth) around getting paid your true worth consistently and unapologetically. The focus is then on taking new beneficial actions to eliminate: 💧under-estimating 💧discounting 💧over-servicing 💧not billing and 💧not getting paid! This will be followed up with on-line group coaching to ensure that new behaviours are being implemented and embedded. This is the key to its success and results in: For the firm: 💎increased revenue – just one small change in behaviour can result in thousands of pounds extra revenue per fee-earner. This means in a year you could be adding hundreds of thousands of pounds to your bottom line. 💎reduced stress.  For the lawyers: 💎greater commercial awareness leading to improved career prospects 💎 less stress, as better able to manage clients on all fronts and 💎 increased self-confidence It is always wonderful to be in a room together and it is not unusual for there to be lightbulb moments and shifts occurring on the day. “Vanessa is a refreshing; professional, engaging, entertaining, intriguing, interesting and fun speaker and trainer. Her ability to engage a group of people from paralegal to partner is outstanding. I can’t recommend Vanessa enough! THE get paid your true worth expert for sure and an absolute return on investment for my firm! If you’re looking to increase your bottom line by enabling your people to charge their true worth, then I’d urge you to contact her.” Sharon Boyd ✅I help decent law firms to get paid their true worth consistently and unapologetically while keeping their clients happy, by uncovering and eliminating those behaviours which cause a financial loss and stress. Result: Confidence up = Billing up, recovery rates up, a financially healthier firm and happier lawyers. 📞Happy to have a no-obligation chat to explore how I can help and find out if we are a good fit for each other. Please feel free to get in touch.

According to the 2024 PwC Law Firm Survey 100% of Top 10 firms, and 79% of Top 11 – 25 firms are actively pursuing commercial training for partners and fee earners And 95% of the Top 26 – 50 firms are very focused on this This is similar to the 73% of the Top 100 actively pursuing commercial training in last year’s survey If you are indeed one of those firms actively pursuing commercial training for partners and fee earners, how about equipping them with the models and frameworks from a traditional MBA curriculum, practically applied to a law firm context? Very simple call to action on this one – get in touch with either myself or Darren Mee to discuss The Legal MBA Academy We’re currently piloting the Academy programme with a UK firm for the remainder of 2024 and actively signing firms up for cohorts starting in 2025 We’re looking to work with the Senior Associate and/or Junior Partner cohorts of 10 firms in 2025, so if this is a top priority for your firm, get in touch

🚀 On 7 October 2024 (5pm), ex-Magic Circle lawyer Jake Schogger from Commercial Law Academy is hosting a free expert-led webinar covering commercial awareness. ⭐ In particular, Jake will be covering… - What is “commercial awareness”? - Why is it important for lawyers? - Why is it important for applicants? - How does it come up in interviews? - How can you demonstrate it? - Sources and techniques to help you build commercial awareness Jake will also be on hand to give personal anecdotes about his experiences of commercial awareness, and to answer your employability-related questions. Register for free via https://lnkd.in/eWkSBvzk Also, if you have not already then use code ASIMJ24 to get 100% off your first month (new customers only) - ends 27th September 2024. ⭐Why choose the Commercial Law Academy?⭐ 🔍 In-Depth Courses: 22 courses covering recruitment, commercial awareness, corporate law, IP, and more. 🎓 Expert Guidance: Advice from City lawyers who’ve been there. 📚 Comprehensive Resources: Access to best-selling handbooks and key legal concepts. 💼 Success Stories: Learn how others secured training contracts at top firms.

One of the frequently asked questions by ITLs and law students is "will I readily get a job after being licensed?" The response I give will depend on my assessment of their mindset during our interactions. If I sense there's an entrepreneurial spirit, I will highlight that their license to practice allows them the freedom to launch on their own. This may seem like a mammoth undertaking and can evoke anxiety and fear as by then, most ITLs would still be considered newcomers. I always recognize the fear of the unknown and the claws of comfort that impact their reluctance to think big and offer support. When I started my law firm, I lacked clarity. I knew what I wanted, but there was no roadmap to get there and no blue-print on how to build it. I knew I needed a guide and sought the help of coaches and mentors including Kerry, Paula and Andrea. Within a few hours of my first coaching session with Andrea, I learned about law firm metrics and KPIs I should be tracking to own a profitable business. I was introduced to books that empowered me. This is why I have invited the dynamic duo- Irena Brooks and Andrea Henry, owners of Henry- Brooks LLP, to share how you can launch your practice and earn 6-figures in your first year. Their Incubator is for lawyers who need support with launching their own firm. Remember, the sure way to increase your momentum is to hire a coach or mentor who can illuminate your path and shave years off your learning curve by teaching you the disciplines they used to obtain their goals. I am sharing all the good things I have found with you. If you too want to become a Canadian lawyer and launch the law firm of your dreams, join us this Sunday, April 7 at 2pmEST. You will be happy you did. Register by clicking the link below. https://lnkd.in/g8cyyKtm

Dear connections, I am thrilled to share that I have completed a certificate course on Corporate & Business Law from Udemy! 📜 This course was incredibly knowledgeable, providing me with a deep understanding of the essential principles and practices in the field. I am eager to apply this knowledge to my professional journey and contribute more effectively to my current and future projects. #ContinuousLearning #CorporateLaw #LawStudent

New lawyers: It’s not you. Those first couple of years of practice are the hardest. Nothing quite prepares you for when the training wheels come off and you’re sitting behind that desk. My first two years were a constant struggle. - The learning curve was steep and I made mistakes every day. As a student who earned gold stars my whole life, finding myself having constant mini failures was new and difficult. - I compared my abilities to those who had practiced years or decades more than me. I never considered that maybe they struggled, too. - Lawyers are notoriously terrible teachers. Few legal workplaces have robust training programs. A “sink or swim” approach does not fit all learning styles. - My network was just starting to grow and I felt like I had few people to turn to for advice or support. Sound familiar? Really, it’s not you. But there’s good news. - It’s hard to believe right now, but over time, your confidence will slowly increase. You will grow. At some point, you will do the same task twice. You’ll start with some baseline knowledge of a deal or case. You’ll have an example you can work from. You will see the same issue come up again. You will know what comes next. Right now, every task is new. Some day, the tasks will repeat and you’ll know how to handle them. - You can take learning into your own hands. There are now more accessible resources than ever to help you get through this phase. Podcasts, books, and CLE courses at your fingertips. Programs like Laura Frederick's How to Contract. Books like Nada Alnajafi's Contract Redlining Etiquette and her Contract Nerds platform. There’s a whole industry out there focused on helping lawyers improve and thrive. - Investing in your network will pay off. Look for people who inspire you, who practice law and live a life you admire. Connect with them here or follow up with them after you meet them. As a new lawyer, you might think you have little to offer. But try to let that go. We’ve all been new and I’ve found most lawyers are more than willing to share their paths. Not only is it not you, we need you. We need you to bring your big ideas and positivity to the profession. We need you to help us modernize and improve. It’s not you. And it gets better. What helped you through those first tough years of practice?

Want training on a specific part of the conveyancing process for your team? Do you have an issue that keeps arising on matters that is a sticking point or your team isn't confident in? Want to have bespoke training to fit around your team's pain or development points? Want an interactive session where questions can be raised and we can get the knowledge and confidence 🆙 Bookings for training days are incoming this week as firms and providers are thinking ahead to after the holidays. If you're interested in a training day or half day with me between now and March 25 please either PM me or email and lets' chat about how I can help you. #learninganddevelopment #legaltraining #lawfirm #lawfirmmanagement

Senior associates and partners from law firms come to me because they’re underserved. (Yes big law firms too) « We have LinkedIn training but it’s too generic and there is not much support » We often talk about the importance of skills in the legal industry. As to how important a skill is. My simple guess is, the « worth » of a skill is commensurate to the value it brings to a market. By this logic, law firms should be jumping at empowering lawyers with skills that bring clients along and make them more money So why is it that these skills seem completely looked down on / overlooked? I’ve spoken to lawyers from many firms now so it definitely isn’t an isolated issue. How can law firms expect a ROI on generic training in the likes of « have a professional picture  » ? I taught one partner how to use LinkedIn to attract clients. A few months later she had 50 prospects in her database and $60K of paid work generated for the firm. How much is that skill worth now? $60K and counting. But she took it on herself to not only self-finance, but self-train. Because the firm didn’t just lack the infrastructure. They were not willing to support a training that would have brought a 10x return in 6 months. What am I missing here? 📌 PS: by training I mean proper training that delivers tangible outcomes and transformation. Not a half day workshop to tick a box ✔️