In a rapidly evolving legal landscape, law firms face mounting pressure to stand out, streamline operations, and connect meaningfully with prospective clients. Enter Leopard PROWESS, an innovative platform by Leopard Solutions designed to address these challenges with precision, data-driven intelligence, and a seamless interface. Though initially aimed at in-house counsel, Leopard PROWESS delivers unparalleled benefits for law firms, enabling them to optimize business development and showcase their unique value propositions.
The Power of Data-Driven Decisions
Leopard PROWESS stands as a testament to Leopard Solutions’ 20-year commitment to solving real-world challenges. Reflecting on the company’s origins, CEO Laura Leopard explains, “Everything we do here is really trying to solve a problem or a need that our clients have. When we started Leopard Solutions 20 years ago, it was about helping legal recruiters move beyond the Rolodex.” Today, the platform offers over 5,700 law firms and their histories, delivering actionable insights that were once painstaking to gather.
For law firms, this wealth of data provides a golden opportunity to refine their market positioning. Leopard PROWESS not only showcases attorney histories and firm attributes but also gives firms the ability to upload and manage their billing rates, alternative fee arrangements, and competitive differentiators. This transparency ensures that firms are not just another name in the directory—they’re seen as value-driven partners for in-house counsel.
Transforming Law Firm Visibility
In an age where referrals often drive decisions, Leopard PROWESS flips the script. No longer reliant on casual connections or word-of-mouth recommendations, law firms can leverage the platform to reach potential clients who may have never encountered them otherwise.
Laura Leopard emphasizes this point: “GC’s are calling their friends for referrals and their friend knows just one firm in Denver. We can show them the legal talent in 188 firms in Denver. This platform can get you in front of corporations that might not have ever found you without it.”
By allowing firms to enhance their profiles with detailed data on practice areas, billing flexibility, and success metrics, Leopard PROWESS creates a passive business development tool that builds credibility at scale.
Going Beyond the Bottom Line
A concern for some law firms is that providing billing rates might lead to a “race to the bottom.” However, Leopard PROWESS takes a more nuanced approach. In-house counsel, as revealed in Leopard Solutions’ recent Corporate Counsel Salary and Lifestyle Survey, prioritize value over cost.
Laura Leopard reassures firms, “Corporations aren’t looking for the cheapest legal talent; they’re looking for the best legal talent that gives them the best value for their money. And that doesn’t mean the lowest billing rate—it’s about finding the right fit within their budget.”
By equipping law firms with tools to showcase their expertise, diversity metrics, and flexibility, Leopard PROWESS ensures they stand out for the right reasons.
Streamlining Business Development
One of the platform’s standout features for law firms is its ability to manage connections and engagement. With tools to upload firm data, including timekeeper details and alternative fee arrangements, firms can customize their profiles to highlight what sets them apart.
Leopard PROWESS also enables firms to track their standing in key practice areas through the Leopard Firm Index and compare themselves with competitors in terms of attrition, diversity, and growth. Additionally, firms can use the system’s feedback mechanisms to understand how they’re rated by in-house counsel and identify opportunities for improvement.
Leveraging the Value of Connections
Building connections has always been key to success in the legal profession, and Leopard PROWESS enhances this dynamic. The platform maps out shared professional histories, enabling law firms to highlight meaningful relationships that can act as conversation starters with prospective clients.
For example, an in-house counsel user might discover that a partner at a target law firm shares a professional history with one of their colleagues. This type of insight allows firms to establish trust and credibility even before initial discussions.
A Game-Changer for Law Firms
For firms of all sizes, Leopard PROWESS represents an evolution in how they present themselves, connect with clients, and pursue business opportunities. By offering tools to:
- Showcase Expertise: Detailed data on practice areas and attorney experience.
- Enhance Transparency: Customizable profiles with billing rates, fee arrangements, and differentiators.
- Track Success: Metrics on growth, diversity, and performance compared to competitors.
- Build Trust: Tools to uncover and leverage shared connections with clients.
Leopard PROWESS empowers law firms to move beyond traditional methods and thrive in a data-driven marketplace.
As Laura Leopard succinctly puts it, “We’ve solved the problem of ‘Hey, Bob, do you know anybody in Denver?’ and backed it up with data and intelligence to inform decisions. For law firms, it’s an incredible tool to connect with corporations, showcase their value, and stay ahead in the competitive legal market.”
For firms ready to embrace the future of legal business development, Leopard PROWESS is more than a solution—it’s a strategic advantage.
