Turning Talent into Teamwork: How Fennemore Transforms Individual Strengths into Practice Group Success

In today’s legal landscape, talent alone isn’t enough. The true differentiator lies in a law firm’s ability to align that talent around a shared vision, turning individual strengths into collective success. At Fennemore, we believe the foundation of strong practice groups is built on collaboration, clarity, and leadership at every level. Success comes when individual attorneys understand how their contributions move the group forward and feel ownership over those outcomes.

Empowerment Starts with Alignment

One of our key priorities is helping practice group leaders strike the right balance: giving attorneys room to lead while ensuring accountability. That balance comes from trust paired with clarity. When goals are transparent and attorneys are empowered to take initiative, the result is a more dynamic and engaged team.

Leadership in Action: A Succession Story

A recent example illustrates this in action: A senior partner approaching succession planning introduced a newly hired attorney to one of his longstanding clients. With proactive mentorship and a clear integration plan, the new partner brought in fresh ideas that resonated with the client, ultimately strengthening the relationship and generating new business. This kind of thoughtful transition reinforces the power of collaboration and trust.

Breaking Down Silos

Of course, challenges remain. One common obstacle is the “lone operator” mindset, where attorneys succeed individually but operate in silos. We address this by fostering cross-collaboration, mentorship, and open communication, which breaks down barriers and reinforces team success.

Leadership at Every Level

Leadership isn’t about hierarchy; it’s about showing up with vision, responsibility, and a commitment to others. We recognize and support attorneys who lead through action, whether they’re managing teams, mentoring peers, or quietly driving innovation. Our job is to create the conditions where that kind of leadership can thrive.

At Fennemore, we know that great legal work starts with great teams. Practice group success isn’t just about hitting targets. It’s about creating an environment where attorneys are trusted to lead, encouraged to collaborate, and inspired to contribute to something greater than themselves. That’s how we turn potential into progress—and talent into lasting impact.

Greg Miskulin is Fennemore’s Chief Practice Officer. He provides business support to the Practice Group Leaders by assisting with a range of tasks from developing group business plans and examining productivity analytics, to helping with project and timekeeper management. Greg also works with practice groups and individual attorneys on internal cross-selling and cross-office collaboration. Learn more about Fennemore’s practice groups here.