LMA is pleased to announce its 2023 International Board of Directors. The slate of candidates was ratified on September 2, 2022, and the newly elected and continuing officers and directors will begin their terms on January 1, 2023. More: https://legalmarketing.org/2023-International-Board
Legal Marketing Association – LMA International welcomes:
President Roy E. Sexton Director of Marketing Clark Hill Law Detroit, MI (Midwest Region)
Immediate Past President Brenda Plowman Chief Marketing Officer Fasken Vancouver, B.C. (Canada Region)
President-Elect Kevin Iredell Chief Marketing Officer Lowenstein Sandler LLP New York, NY (Northeast Region)
Secretary Amy Payton Verhulst Senior Business Development Manager Jackson Lewis PC Houston, TX (Southwest Region)
Treasurer Andrew Laver Business Development Manager Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC Philadelphia, PA (Northeast Region)
Treasurer-Elect Rachel Shields Williams Director of Knowledge Management Sidley Austin LLP Washington, D.C. (Mid-Atlantic Region)
Member-At-Large John Byrne Chief Marketing Officer Gould & Ratner LLP Chicago, IL (Midwest Region)
Member-At-Large Jessica Haarsgaard Business Development Manager Burr & Forman LLP Greenville, SC (Southeast Region)
Member-At-Large Diana Lauritson Senior Marketing and Business Development Officer Hogan Lovells Washington, DC (Mid-Atlantic Region)
Member-At-Large Trish Desilets Lilley Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer Stroock New York, NY (Northeast Region)
Member-At-Large Jaime Lira Marketing Director Cohen & Malad, LLP Indianapolis, IN (Midwest Region)
Regional Leaders’ Committee Chair Robin Devereux Gerard Chief Marketing Officer Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth PC Newport Beach, CA (West Region)
Chief Executive Officer Danielle Gorash Holland Legal Marketing Association Chicago, IL
So darn excited to work with these amazing souls, all of our fab volunteer leaders, our incredible membership, and marvelous HQ support team next year. ✨
REGISTER:https://bit.ly/3wwtImc … “Law firms and legal service providers: Know who’s gonna join us for Stack Ranking, Part 2 on 9/30?
“Meet our special guests: Roy Sexton of Clark Hill Law; Drew Hawkins of Womble Bond Dickinson US LLP; and Gordon Braun-Woodbury of Calibrate.
“Our esteemed colleagues will weigh in on the 2022 RubyLaw Legal Marketing Tech Study and opine on our insights. Come hear what they have to say!”
I seem to have started a flame war with Britney Spears 😂 – Britney, we do love you, but please stay kind.
Thank you, Drew Dinkelacker and Marketing Accelerator, for this opportunity. It was a delight working with you. Your prep, production, coaching, and hosting are top drawer!
Drew writes: “Every once in a while in a marketing leader’s life, a major rebrand occurs. On today’s episode of The Marketing Accelerator Podcast – featuring three insights in about three minutes – Roy Sexton, Director of Marketing at Clark Hill Law, is fresh off a rebrand launch, so I hit him up for the inside scoop. #roysexton #drewdinkelacker #rebrand #rebranding”
Excerpt (from yours truly): “What we [Clark Hill Law] learned from the surveying we did was that people wanted to tell their stories about their experience in the firm. This aligned with what we were hearing people expect around culture change, diversity, equity, inclusion, mental health, and so we put pieces together that allowed our folks across geography, across race, sexuality, gender, to tell their stories of their experience in the firm. This benefitted us because our clients want to know what kind of people they’re working with, and also the talent who will come work at the firm wants to know this is a good and welcoming environment. And that just enriched what was a very strong and clean and sophisticated brand with that humanity that was much needed.”
EXCERPT: “Human interest is key to understanding the buyer, yet as Roy Sexton of Clark Hill Law believes, the journey is a two-way process. Buyers are increasingly interested in the firm’s culture and each person’s passion for individual causes. Putting himself in the client’s shoes, Sexton expands on this sentiment, ‘I see what your pitch materials look like, but what kind of people are you and do you care about the environment and your community, diversity and equity? They want to know that you’re decent human beings, on top of the fact that you’re a good lawyer. You should provide an authentic performance and tell people that you’re doing things that show your passions.’”
Charlotte writes, “Leading U.S. law firms are looking at pitching in an increasingly wider context and use automation and analytics to free up time to understand the buyer journey and bring more personality to pitches. Months of work is paying off today as we release Pinnacle’s review of ‘How Winners Win’ in North American law firms. It’s different. It’s inspiring. It’s insightful. It’s a glimpse into what firms, who are ahead of the curve do. Reading it, will be 20 minutes well (very well) spent.
“As always, getting ahead is only possible with a community wanting to do bigger and better – with people who will lead from the front, empower others through the benefit of knowledge and see the value of sharing. … Read, share, pass on to a colleague with as much love as I do and if you can spare 15 minutes to let me know what you thought about it, please drop me an email on charlotte.takacs@pinnacle-oa.com!”
Thank you, Paula Tsurutani and Association of Legal Administrators (ALA), for including my humble thoughts in this important piece on the essential need for solid internal #communications. Honored to be here alongside luminaries and friends like Jaffe’s Terry Isner, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP’s Sean Gibson, Builden Partners’ Jocelyn Brumbaugh, Blank Rome LLP’s Frank Spadafino.
EXCERPT: “It was always important for us to facilitate and step back so our leaders’ and colleagues’ voices could be heard — both to inform and to unify,” says Roy E. Sexton, Director of Marketing at Clark Hill Law. “Our chief executive officer John Hensien started a monthly newsletter; our chief human resources officer Kathleen Sullivan worked with her team and the marketing team to increase storytelling about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) concerns; and our chief operating officer Phil Ross started a weekly update to provide guidance on the evolving standards and mandates to keep everyone engaged and informed.”
Hearing from top management helped drive more cohesion, revealed a greater sense of humanity and led to increased institutional awareness and pride about the firm’s people and work.
As more employees work remotely or reduce their face time in offices, using a strategic mix of internal communications tools can help raise morale, connect people and projects, and launch efforts that can elevate social impact initiatives or new business opportunities. …
Sexton agrees. “Collaborating with marketing, leveraging great internal stories, whether on a firm intranet or on social media, can create mutual lift.” …
Increasingly, the line between internal and external communication has blurred, especially with the rise of social media and podcasting. Clark Hill saw an explosive growth in podcasts, which mutually advanced employee engagement and business development.
“Everything we are pushing out externally also benefits the internal,” says Sexton. “We released 80 podcast episodes across an array of subjects, and our hosts used these opportunities to engage with Clark Hill colleagues, clients and prospects. When clients see a rich culture, they want to work with us. And talent wants to come work here.”
“Marketing Dynamics: Lawyers and Marketers in Unison … In this episode of the Digital Marketing Master podcast, Roy Sexton speaks acutely on the interactions between lawyers and legal marketing teams on the forefront of his work at Clark Hill Law.”
Thank you, Richard Levick and LEVICK, for this opportunity. I enjoyed our conversation mightily. (We’ll always have elevators. 😉)
“Legal Marketing Association – LMA International President-Elect, Roy Sexton, who leads Clark Hill Law’s marketing, branding and communications efforts speaks with host Richard Levick of LEVICK about law firm marketing, the challenges and evolution of the profession and his own story in a deeply personal and joyous program which has as many laughs as important marketing lessons. Listen here…”
Grateful for the opportunity to discuss organizations I love like Clark Hill Law, Legal Marketing Association – LMA International, Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor, and Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. And I want to frame this intro you wrote! 🙌
“When I picture the sort of person who would be heading up marketing for a law firm like Clark Hill, Roy Sexton wasn’t who I had in mind. But I’ll be totally honest: I’m glad.
“After nearly 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, and business development Roy has risen to the top of his game and now sits as President-Elect of the LMA for 2022. An impressive feat for sure, but what really draws me in is his character.
“Roy is a warm, charming iconoclast, pushing his lawyers to bring more to the table than, well, just law. There’s an air about him that he deliberately chooses to be different, almost as if he’s smiled in the face of corporate law and said ‘let’s try this another way, shall we?’
“We spoke about his team, his philosophy, and why a master’s degree in theatre beats an MBA.”
Thank you, Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor, Lauren Budhu, Kim Kelly, Julaine DeMink LeDuc, and team. This means the world to me. Proud to support this incredible mission ❤️. #KeepingFamiliesClose
“Roy Sexton has been on the RMHC Ann Arbor board since September 2017 and has served as a liaison to the executive committee and as marketing committee chair.
“His niece Gabby as an infant had a series of asthma-related health problems, and the RMHC Detroit House was there for her mom at an incredibly challenging time. ‘I can’t imagine what life must have been like for them during those early challenging days when Lori stayed at the House – and it always pains me that I wasn’t yet around to show my support,’ Roy said. ‘When I project forward, I think about those families now under similar circumstances, and it motivates me to do whatever I can to spread the word on RMHCAA’s incredible work, to drive revenue to support our mission, and to show our fantastic staff the love and respect they richly deserve.’
“Every December for his birthday, he does a Facebook fundraiser and five years later, it’s going strong. Last year, he raised over $4,000, and this year to celebrate year five, the goal was $5,000. ‘I am so heartened by all the stories I receive from friends who were impacted by RMHC around the country, experiences I never knew they had had, all positive.’ Learn more: https://rmhcannarbor.org/ #KeepingFamiliesClose #BoardSpotlight”
Thank you, Madelyne Lawry and Charley Lawler and Ingham County Bar Association! Alex France and I had an absolute ball presenting today! #lmamkt
Event description: “Clark Hill marketing pros Roy Sexton and Alexandra France will share their professional and personal perspective on how to authentically connect with others and maximize the power of social and digital media. This landscape is ever-evolving and over the past 18 months using these channels to connect with clients, prospects, and colleagues has become more important than ever. They will share their own victories (and horror stories) in this space, and offer tips on how to efficiently and effectively establish a lasting digital presence.”
Scenes from a kaffeeklatsch … Damn! That was fun! ICYMI, here is our chat with the fab Stephanie Preston, PhD and professor of psychology at The University of Michigan.
We discuss how our brains have taken their “survival wiring” to, at times, “acquisitive” extremes and what that might mean (pro and con) for marketers. We touch on what may underpin mental health challenges facing those in the legal industry, how influence and persuasion and empathy can benefit our communications and marketing work, and what life in pandemic might mean for all of this.
Yes, there are showtunes, supplied this time by my incredibly talented ma Susie Sexton, and shout outs during the show include Brent Stansfield, Wayne State University, The Penny Seats, Lauren M. London, Four Seasons Total Landscaping, Inc (see sweatshirt), Ball State University, David Letterman, Arena Dinner Theatre, Anthony Newley, Russell Crowe, Mary Trump, and Unhinged Movie.
Stick around to the end for Rob Kates’ touching tribute to his thespian parents and Stephanie’s wonderful acknowledgment of the transportive super powers of prized knickknacks.
Official episode description: Legal Marketing Coffee Talk is back Monday with host Roy Sexton (ME!), Director of Marketing at Clark Hill, and guest Stephanie D. Preston, PhD and professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Preston examines how the brain evolved to use emotions to influence decisions across species, particularly in interpersonal and investment contexts.
How does this apply to legal marketing!?
Well, Dr. Preston focuses her attention on our desires and how our neural processes that originally evolved to guide mammals toward resources that are necessary but scarce may mislead us in our current modern conditions of material abundance. In other words, she will help us understand how our brains work. She will also explain to us the interesting connection between marketing and psychology and how their connection has led to overconsumption in some areas.
My legal marketing buddy Nancy Myrland and I both love movies. Notably, we particularly love movies where kindness is prevalent and inclusive behaviors are modeled.
At least that’s how I rationalize the fact that two grown legal marketers both adore the Paddington films. That little bear from deepest, darkest Peru has a mantra: “If we are kind and polite, the world will be right.”
Lovely, isn’t it?
This concept couldn’t be more important in our tumultuous times. “Disruption” is the word of the day, and, man, are we ever disrupted.
Of course, we see this culturally and politically, but we also see it in our legal industry. Technology brings amazing advances, efficiencies, and “super powers” we never knew we could possess. Would I have imagined 20 years ago, I would have a device in my pocket and social networks therein that would allow me to access friends and experts around the globe in an instant? Nope.
[Image Source: Wikipedia]
However, this technology also brings great change. As the music industry, the print media industry, the photography industry, and many others have all witnessed, technology can cause customer migration, profit erosion, infrastructural change, and wholesale business model reinvention.
We in the legal space have known for years that this is coming for us – at what speed and in what fashion is still being determined. We are living in our own history right now, and we won’t see the forest for the trees for quite a while. However, we as marketing and communications and strategy and business development professionals must be on the forefront of these conversations, must embrace the new ideas, must socialize them within our organizations, and must be active participants in the writing of that history.
Fine, Roy. So where does Paddington come in?
Empathy and understanding and listening are crucial business skills that are too often dismissed as “soft.” Yet, having finely calibrated emotional antennae helps us predict the future and navigate the present. Culture eats strategy for lunch. A cliché but an apt one. Without accurately assessing the anxiety ridden waters in which we swim and finding ways to engage and allay our partners’ emotional pain points, we will never achieve the organizational focus required to create lasting, meaningful change.
[Image Source: Wikipedia]
The next time you are in a heated conversation with partners over an issue close to your heart, stay calm, stay empathetic, stay committed, and don’t meet their energy at a heightened level. Underplay it, keep the facts on your side, and use empathy: why are they arguing your idea? why are they pushing back? Trust me, it’s not to torture you. Don’t make it about you.
First, lawyers learn through argumentation. That’s how they burnish ideas. Also, the money you spend, at the end of the day, comes out of their pockets. Understand that business model and appreciate it. Further, change isn’t easy for any of us. Who has bought an exercise book somehow thinking it will magically transfer abs to them without actually following the prescribed routines? This guy for one. Knowing that none of us want to change but that we must change, take the time to understand your partners’ histories, training, experiences and how all of that will impact their willingness to adopt the very ideas they must adopt to survive.
And first and foremost, be kind and polite (even if others aren’t … and especially if others aren’t). The world will be right.
Postscript …
[Image Source: Wikipedia]
This is why I go to LMA’s annual conference: my energy and emotional “work reservoir” are replenished being around like-minded professionals.
I learn new skills and trends and issues facing us all, not just in the sessions but in the hallway chatter and the cocktail parties and the late night coffee runs.
In fact, do not flee the social interaction or run off to take a conference call in your downtime. Talk to people, learn from them, include them.
LMA can feel like the biggest clique in the world. It ain’t.
[Image Source: Wikipedia]
It’s just that we don’t get to see each other that often, and, for new people, it can seem like we don’t want you to play our reindeer games. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I was one of those new people (what feels like yesterday), but I tweeted and I facebook’d and I got out of my own head and I approached people.
And we old guard, in turn, need to be mindful and empathetic about what it was like to be “new.” Be kind. Be polite. Be supportive. Be inclusive. Those skills will serve you well at LMA, at your firms, and in life.
So says Paddington Bear.
Wow! Thank you, Blaine Fowler! He read this piece by Heather Morse at the Sterling Heights Chamber/Chemical Bank Sales & Marketing Conference. Thanks to Joan Giffels for capturing. And Heather for making me a hashtag. I feel pretty damn special this week. #bearoysexton#bearoysextonchallenge#lmamkt
Second version, captured by Brenda Meller of Meller Marketing and Social Media below …
________________________ [My street cred follows … ] _____________________
Roy Sexton is responsible for leading Kerr Russell’s marketing, business development, communications, and strategic planning efforts.
He has nearly 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, business development, and strategic planning, having worked at Deloitte Consulting, Oakwood Healthcare (now Beaumont), Trott Law (formerly Trott & Trott), and St. Joseph Mercy Health System. He has been heavily involved regionally and nationally in the Legal Marketing Association as a board member, content expert, and presenter. He is treasurer-elect currently for the Legal Marketing Association’s Midwest Regional Board of Directors.
He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Wabash College, and holds two masters degrees: an MA in theatre from The Ohio State University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He is a graduate of Leadership Detroit and Leadership A2Y, was a governor-appointed member of the Michigan Council of Labor and Economic Growth, and was appointed to the Michigan Mortgage Lenders Association Board of Governors in 2012.
He served as an at-large member of LMA’s Midwest Regional Board, served on the advisory committee for Strategies Magazine, and was a member of the Social Media SIG steering group. He has been involved on the following nonprofit boards and committees: First Step, Michigan Quality Council, National MS Society, ASPCA, Wabash College Southeast Michigan Alumni Association, Penny Seats Theatre Company and the Spotlight Players. He currently sits on the boards of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Ann Arbor, Royal Starr Film Festival (Royal Oak, Michigan) and encoremichigan.com. He is a published author with two books Reel Roy Reviews, Volumes 1 & 2.
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Reel Roy Reviews is now TWO books! You can purchase your copies by clicking here (print and digital).
Reel Roy Reviews 