The Speakers

CECILIA BURGESS, CEO, Cooney Lees Morgan, Tauranga

How to exercise and embed great leadership in a high-performing law firm 

As the great philosopher, Kenny Rogers, wrote, ‘you’ve got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away and know when to run’. Leadership in a law firm is about tailoring solutions to issues, maintaining good working relationships with all internal stakeholders and knowing when to allow an exception to the rule. Law firms are dynamic and ever-evolving. They are populated with smart people who are trained to question everything. Flexibility is the key to leading high performing firms. Drawing from her experiences in global, national and now a regional firm, Cecilia will share what she means by flexible leadership and will give some tips as to how she approaches leadership in professional services firms.

DAVID GILROY, Managing Director, Conscious Solutions, Bristol, UK

Is there anything that law firm leaders should be scared of when it comes to marketing?

David is the co-founder and Managing Director of Conscious Solutions, the UK’s leading digital marketing agency providing website and marketing services to over 350 law firms.  Founded in 2003, Conscious’s vision is to help law firms become more successful online. In this interactive and entertaining session, David  will create a safe space for law firm leaders to 'talk marketing'.  In his part-presentation, part-workshop and part Q&A session, David will explain what’s current in the UK law firm marketing scene and pass on some tips from their work with their clients.  He will also present some data on measuring ROI from marketing, something key for law firm leaders to understand. There will be plenty of time for discussion and burning questions. David has also offered to do a mini-website audit for any firm attending. Delegates may contact him to find out what he needs from you to do this.

ANN-MAREE DAVID, Executive Director, College of Law, Brisbane

Building the Next Generation of Lawyers: Innovation, Purpose, and AI-Driven Change

For the first time in history, five generations are working side by side in the legal profession, with Gen Z leading a transformative shift. This interactive presentation explores how law firms can adapt to the expectations of this digitally native, socially conscious, and highly flexible generation while fostering cross-generational collaboration. Key themes include building robust competency frameworks, prioritizing mental health, embracing Generative AI, and redefining career success. As AI reshapes legal work, firms must cultivate smart yet humble lawyers—technologically adept, purpose-driven, and open to lifelong learning. Join us to explore strategies for developing a dynamic, future-ready legal workforce.  While she no longer practises law, Ann-Maree David has dedicated her career to guiding those who do.  Ann-Maree will share her insights from the front line where, as the Executive of the College of Law in Queensland, Australia she is responsible for preparing the next generation of lawyers for admission to practice.

MITCHELL ZADOW, Managing Principal, Sharrock Pitman Legal, Melbourne

Creating (and Maintaining!) High Performance in a Small Firm

‘High Performance’ is a phrase we all hear, and maybe are brave enough to label ourselves and our law firms; but what does that really mean, in practice? This presentation will share some practical initiatives and approaches that Mitchell Zadow and his team at Sharrock Pitman Legal have implemented to cultivate and value a high performance culture.  In doing so, Mitchell will also draw on learnings and experiences from his professional journey and perspective, having started at the firm as a First Year Lawyer and now leading the team as Managing Principal.  These ideas and suggestions will offer insights for attendees to take, shape and adapt in their own personal career and leadership transitions, and to consider implementing in their wider teams and firms. Mitchell was included in Australasian Lawyer Magazine’s list of 2025 Top Law Firm Leaders in Australia and NZ.  Sharrock Pitman Legal a boutique commercial law firm in eastern Melbourne and was a finalist for ‘Regional/Suburban Law Firm of the Year’ in the 2023 and 2024 Australian Law Awards, and in 2024 was included in Australasian Lawyer Magazine’s list of the Top 30 Law Firms in Australia and New Zealand.

 Venue

The Hilton, lake taupo

The venue for this year's Future Firm Forum is the five-star Hilton, Lake Taupo, situated at the heart of the Central North Island of New Zealand.

The 19th century hotel combines Victorian charm with modern styling, just 10 minutes from Taupo town centre. It has a swimming pool, tennis courts, a fitness center, and lake-view dining from the restaurant balcony.