WFConnect

• What is William Fry Connect?

  William Fry Connect is a new way for experienced senior lawyers and tax advisors with proven revenue generating skills to work with autonomy and flexibility yet benefit from the support of a top-tier firm.
  

   

  William Fry Connect lawyers and tax advisors will have the title Consultant and an independent contractor relationship with the firm, commensurate with the control they will have over the work they decide to do and for whom.

• Is William Fry LLP (William Fry) changing?

  The world of work is changing and William Fry is adapting to the needs of clients, lawyers and tax advisors.  By providing a wider pool of talent to our clients and providing flexible terms for those who want to work in a more versatile way, we are taking a front-footed approach that benefits all parties.

• Will the quality at William Fry Connect be different to William Fry?

  Every lawyer and tax advisor joining us through William Fry Connect will be of the same high quality and calibre expected of all William Fry lawyers and tax advisors. All will go through the same recruitment processes and adhere to the same standards as the wider firm.

• Who can apply to join us through William Fry Connect?

  William Fry Connect is open to any lawyer or tax advisor with at least seven years’ experience gained at a leading Irish or International legal or tax practice who has the ability to generate business and is looking to work more flexibly.

• Why are we doing this?

  We are widening the talent pool available to clients by providing flexible terms for those who want to work in a more versatile way. We are also facilitating an inclusive and diverse culture at our firm by accommodating and supporting those needing greater flexibility in their lives.
  
  William Fry is leading the Irish market with the creation of two propositions designed to benefit lawyers/tax advisors and clients. In addition to William Fry Connect, which is our platform for non-William Fry lawyers and tax advisors to join a top tier firm to practice on flexible terms, we have created an interim solutions business, PeopleBridge by William Fry.

• What kind of lawyer/advisor will be interested in William Fry Connect?

  Increasingly, lawyers and tax advisors want control over when, where and for whom they work. William Fry Connect gives lawyers and tax advisors the flexibility to practice on their own terms while benefiting from the support of a top-tier firm.
  
  In particular, William Fry Connect will appeal to:

  • senior lawyers and tax advisors wanting to step back from full time partnership
  • commitments but wishing to continue to generate an income from their client relationships
  • lawyers and tax advisors wanting to travel and work flexibly
  • lawyers and tax advisors with caring responsibilities

• Can William Fry Connect lawyers and tax advisors team up with others at William Fry?

  Every William Fry Connect lawyer and tax advisor will be part of William Fry and will have the option to work seamlessly on larger transactions with other William Fry lawyers and tax advisors.

  One of the many benefits to lawyers and tax advisors joining us through William Fry Connect is that they can, when needed, access the full resources of William Fry and work with other experts within the firm.

• What are the benefits of being a consultant versus being employed directly by William Fry?

  Consultants are sole traders. They set their own terms for the work they take on, the fees they charge and the hours they work.
  
  The William Fry Connect model provides a new way of working for consultants in that it enables lawyers and tax advisors to work on their own terms and yet benefit from the support of a top tier firm.

• Who looks after file opening, conflict searches and billing?

  William Fry Connect takes away the administrative burden, freeing time for lawyers and tax advisors to concentrate on practicing. We have a centralised file opening, conflict search and accounts function that looks after the on-boarding of new clients, conflict searches, invoicing and collections.

• Will secretarial support be provided?

  Every William Fry Connect lawyer and tax advisor will be supported by our secretarial and document production teams.
  

• How do William Fry Connect lawyers and tax advisors get paid?

  William Fry Connect lawyers and tax advisors are paid a high percentage of the fees collected for the work they undertake themselves and a percentage of the fees collected for the work they refer to others.  They also earn an introductory commission if they introduce other lawyers/tax advisors to William Fry.

• Does William Fry Connect have offices?

  William Fry Connect lawyers and tax advisors will typically work from wherever they choose, even outside Ireland (subject to some conditions) but will also have the option of William Fry office space if needed.

• Will William Fry Connect lawyers and tax advisors need a practising certificate and/or to maintain membership of the professional body relevant to their qualification?

  Yes. These will be obtained by William Fry with the cost being recouped from earnings.

• Will William Fry Connect lawyers and tax advisors be covered by William Fry's professional indemnity cover?

  Yes, they will.

• Where do lawyers and tax advisors go if they want to hear more or join us through William Fry Connect?

  We encourage anyone who wants to hear more, has further questions or who wishes to submit their CV to do so via WFConnect@williamfry.com and we will respond promptly. For a confidential discussion, please contact Richard Breen (richard.breen@williamfry.com),  Ivor Banim (ivor.banim@williamfry.com) or Rachel Fox (rachel.fox@williamfry.com).