Lawyers have to understand that, be they assistant solicitors or senior partners, they are involved in (and often running) just another business.

'Partnership' and 'professionalism' can no longer be an excuse for non-delivery of corporate, profit-led, market-driven objectives.

Everything must be geared to the cost-effective production and development of a quality, professional service in as caring and as fun-filled an environment as is possible in this changing, competitive world.QED is why people come to work - the quality of the work they do, the environment in which they do it (both people, geography and resources) - and the dosh has to be right.

QED calls for going the extra in explaining things and just attending to the little things without seeking refuge in 'they'll understand' or 'I haven't got the time'.Constantly keeping the 'turn on' factor going for equity partners is a major challenge.

Lock step must be consigned to the dustbin of history along with the notion that partnership is something so special that you end up with a firm of lovely, destitute, disenchanted people.Firms must look at their overhead remuneration structure and service lines as objectively and as firmly as any commercial organisation does.

The threats to the lawyer's delivery of professional service in the future will be coming from all quarters; there will be no room for people who seek refuge in the fact that equity partnership is the same 'club' today as it has been in the past.Nothing should prevent us from taking decisions which are right for the business.