About

Justin Whealing knows law firms.

He started LVH as he wanted to do legal consultancy differently from competitors.

Justin’s links with the profession stretch back the best part of two decades. He has been a leading journalist, consultant, and a forceful advocate for practitioners on issues that directly affect the legal community and the people within it that give law firms its soul.

As a consultant, he has been a leading adviser to law firms for many years. Justin has won and led multiple mandates around Australian market entry, communications strategy, senior partner search and law firm mergers. He is a sought after speaker at industry events, has been a regular opinion writer in The Australian and The Australian Financial Review.

In July 2020 Justin launched LVH Consulting, which is a nod to his three daughters; Lucy, Violet and Hannah.

Case Studies

Justin has successfully led and managed a number of expansion strategies for law firms. Here are a few.

01

Helping to launch a market leading corporate practice in Sydney for a large international law firm. Justin additionally assisted the same firm to launch the firm’s Brisbane office.

02

Being approached by the managing partner of a dominant domestic firm to lead a search to find a market leading litigation partner in Perth. Justin fulfilled this brief via the placement of a senior partner from a rival global firm. This client contacted Justin further to help launch a high-end major projects and infrastructure practice in Sydney. Justin sourced a senior partner at a global firm, an established market leader to fulfil this mandate.

03

Working with one of the world’s largest global law firms to expand in Australia. The firm initially launched in Australia a few months previously with a modest presence. Justin conducted a thorough market and candidate analysis in the practice areas the client earmarked for expansion. Over two years he helped to place many partners for this client.

04

Approaching and being engaged by a specialist international firm to assist in the launch of its Australian practice. Justin led a team that provided the client with a thorough Australian legal market and firm analysis, and led negotiations that saw a leading domestic boutique firm be selected as the preferred merger partner by the client for its Australian launch. Further to this work Justin subsequently introduced and helped to broker a further merger with a well-regarded boutique firm to establish a Melbourne office for the global client.

05

Being approached by and working with the The Australian newspaper on large law firm surveys.

06

Working with the managing partner of a leading national firm who asked for assistance to help find a litigation partner in Brisbane. A global law firm partner was successfully placed into the role.

07

Working with an Australian law firm CEO to expand its financial services arm, placing a leading global law firm partner in Melbourne to spearhead this push.

08

One of the world’s foremost and largest professional services firms approached Justin to conduct an extensive analysis of its Australian legal practice.

09

Being approached by the managing partner of a global firm in Australia to assist with its partner remuneration policies in a bid to develop a stronger firm culture.

10

In addition to the above Justin has successfully placed many partners and helped to broker further law firm mergers. Justin has also assisted many law firms around communications, marketing and media strategy, and has been used by law firm heads to help draft strategy documents, board reports and internal communications. Justin is also often called by clients to discuss sensitive matters pertaining to strategy, culture, remuneration and retention.

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