LMA Midwest Conference Request for 2009 Presenters

Our biennial conference consistently attracts a wide range of legal marketing professionals, including marketing coordinators, business development managers, marketing directors, CMOs, and other professional service marketers. Past attendees have also included attorneys, marketing consultants, vendors, and media representatives. In 2007, Midwest Conference attendees came from Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, Detroit, Indianapolis, and points all around the Midwest. Attendance in 2007 reached a record level – 155 individuals – exceeding our maximum. The 2009 Midwest Conference attendance is expected to surpass those levels.

The 2009 LMA Midwest Conference theme is Green is Good: How to Sustain a Winning Strategy.

LMA Chicago is seeking speakers to present high-quality educational programs that provide conceptual, tactical, and practical advice that conference attendees can take back to their firms and put into practice.

What LMA Midwest Conference Offers Presenters

This Request for Presenters is an excellent opportunity for speakers interested in leading sessions, panels, or workshops and who desire to showcase their expertise before the nation' most highly respected legal marketing organization. This is a great opportunity for presenters to gain wide exposure, share best practices, and network with the legal marketing community. The 2009 Midwest Conference offers you direct access to and contact with marketing decision makers and future marketing leaders from the leading Midwest law firms.

What LMA Midwest Conference Programs Offer Attendees

New Voices & Diverse Perspectives

The LMA Midwest Conference offers attendees opportunities to hear new voices and diverse perspectives. We provide our speakers the opportunity to interact with a lively, enthusiastic, and intelligent group of legal marketing practitioners, marketing partners, consultants, vendors, and media. The LMA Midwest Conference also welcomes veteran marketing professionals who will present updated or newly-developed exciting materials.

Fresh Topics & Original Spins

LMA Midwest Conference offers attendees interactive, cutting-edge programs that will challenge, excite, and educate, or programs that "put a new face" on a familiar issue. Based on a survey of our membership, we are seeking topics of interest that include, but are not limited to:

• Green Topics:
• Ecology in a law firm
• Green programs/initiatives – best practices, implementation
• Combining green initiatives across other initiatives (business development, client gifts, etc.)
• Ecology in our culture
• What are other companies doing?
• How can anyone go green?
• Economy in a law firm
• Stretching marketing dollars
• Smart budgeting/how to budget
• Working with staff and budget limitations
• How to say NO – and how to say YES
• Trending and Forecasting in the Legal Industry
• The billable hour vs. flat fee arrangements – client and law firm management perspective
• Getting (and keeping) a seat at the table
• Advertising: To do or not to do?
• The European marketplace
• Merger mania/spin-offs: How big is big enough?
• Consultant differentiation: How to form a lasting and mutually beneficial relationship with vendor/consultant?
• China and India – is it too late for my firm? How is outsourcing affecting legal services?
• Technology – Best and Brightest
• Integrating Law Firm Support Departments – Getting HR, Marketing, Recruiting, Accounting on the same page
• What’s the next step in law firm growth – law schools or laterals?
• What motivates attorneys? How do we sell to them?
• Client Satisfaction: Beyond surveys
• Managing generational differences
• What’s wrong with marketing?
• Titles – Who are we and what do we do?
• Quality of life and motivation of marketers

Presenter Requirements

To submit your proposal, please follow the directions outlined below.

Contact Information

Submissions must include: presenter name(s), presenter title(s), firm/company, mailing address, phone and fax numbers, e-mail address, and company Web site address (if available).

Program Information

Submissions must include: title of program, 100-word summary of program for promotional purposes, detailed overview of program content, educational concepts that proposed program will cover, and the program goal and format (e.g., PowerPoint, panel, interactive workshop, multi-media, co-presenters, etc.). The following should be included:

• Explain if/how your topic or proposal fits into our theme (Green is Good: How to Sustain a Winning Strategy).
• Explain how your topic or proposal is unique and differs from that of competitors, past programs, or from traditional approaches.
• Describe why your proposed program will be of interest to conference attendees. 
• Detail the take-away(s) that members will receive from attending your session. 
• Provide three to five practical learning objectives. 
• Specify the level of audience experience for which you believe your program is best suited (i.e., entry level overview, mid-level, senior/experienced or all levels). 
• Specify the time period required for your presentation (i.e., number of minutes, morning/afternoon keynote or breakout session) – please note, 60-75 minute breakout session presentations are preferred.

If you are interested in participating as a panelist, please identify your interest and areas of expertise along with your contact information.

Proposal Requirements

Biography

Include a brief resume or biographical sketch for all of the proposed presenters.

References

Include three references of recent speaking engagements.

Handouts & Practical Take-Aways

Midwest Conference attendees want skills and tools they can use immediately. As marketing practitioners, our audience understands the practical theories and issues facing the legal marketing industry. They are looking for speakers to present SOLUTIONS. The ideal program will include practical advice, tips, shortcuts, and real world examples. In addition, programs must include value-added reference take-aways such as checklists, outlines, copies of presentations, articles, or lists of suggested further reading that support the presentation and can help attendees implement the concepts presented.

Further, handouts, PowerPoints, and other materials must be received two weeks prior to the conference date. LMA Midwest Conference is responsible for duplicating handout materials for distribution. Our attendees appreciate having all materials included in their binders and flash drives, so we must have your materials by this date for production. Because LMA Midwest Conference will duplicate handouts, speakers will NOT be reimbursed for duplication costs.

Proposal Delivery

E-mail your proposal (Word document or PDF format) to Megan McKeon, LMA Midwest Conference Co-Chair, at mckeon@mbhb.com. Please include the words "Response to 2009 Midwest Conference RFP" in the subject line of your e-mail.

Proposal Due Date

The deadline for submission is Friday, Jan. 30, 2009. We will not consider proposals received after this date.

Fees and Expenses

LMA Chicago is a member-sponsored organization. As such, we do not offer honorariums or speaker fees. LMA Chicago will reimburse speakers for transportation expenses only to include direct coach airfare and ground transportation (subject to pre-approval.) LMA Chicago will provide one night of accommodations the conference hotel. There is a cap on travel reimbursements. Please contact the LMA Midwest Conference Co-Chair with any expense-related questions.

Other Important Information

LMA Midwest Conference programs are non-commercial forums. Under NO circumstances will an LMA podium be used for direct promotion of a presenter’s product, service, or monetary self-interest. Sales pitches disguised as presentations will be immediately eliminated.

Selection Notification

The Midwest Conference Committee will select the 2009 presenters and will notify all submitters of our decisions no later than February 27, 2009. We look forward to hearing from you.

Megan M. McKeon, 2009 LMA Midwest Conference Co-Chair
Marketing Director
McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP
300 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6709
312 913 2105 p
312 913 0002 f
mckeon@mbhb.com