Over the last few years a booming Brisbane economy has been good news for law firms, many of which have taken the opportunity to successfully establish themselves. Mills Oakley Lawyers is one such firm, rapidly making its mark.

Now, with a declining economy, Mills Oakley is continuing to pull ahead of its competitors through its countercyclical practices. Buoyed by robust teams practising in litigation, insolvency and construction, the economy is once again on Mills Oakley's side.

Despite its rapid growth (last year Mills Oakley was named Australia's fastest growing law firm) Mills Oakley's CEO, John Nerurker, says that the firm is not, and never will be, the largest law firm measured by lawyers or offices. "Our goal is to be the firm of choice for all our clients," he says. "Our clients want a law firm large enough to be able to respond to their most complex legal needs. They also want a firm small enough to be efficient, nimble and responsive. That is exactly what we offer at Mills Oakley."

Nerurker states, "The intention is to position Mills Oakley as a genuine alternative for clients considering using a top tier firm. Mills Oakley provides equivalent legal expertise, but with more Partner contact and a significant cost advantage obtained by a lower and more realistic overhead infrastructure".

With the current levels of consolidation in the legal market, there's a risk that a group of Goliath-like firms will be created, who will not be able to resist the temptation to continuously push up their margins. Firms at the top of the mid-tier, like Mills Oakley, who are well-run and have the best legal talent, are well positioned as the new "go to" firm for large corporates looking to reduce their legal spend. "We work within the same market and economic conditions that every other Australian law firm does", says Nerurker. "What we do is add that little bit extra; like only hiring lawyers who share our passion for an unwavering client focus and making absolutely sure that all our lawyers are as well, if not better, trained than their top-tier counterparts. All these things combine to create the right kind of client experience. This is one way we will continue to differentiate ourselves."

Recent figures suggest that top-tier firms may have enjoyed their market leadership for too long, as mid-tier firms push their way up the legal food chain through innovative management and effective leadership.

While Nerurker asserts that Mills Oakley is not competing for a place in the top-tier, he knows he's heading up a firm that's going places and is likely to be of increasing interest to astute legal counsel throughout corporate Australia. "We want to capitalise on our status as a premium mid-tier firm and have ramped up our plans to continue attracting expert lawyers who share our sense of camaraderie and our commitment to delivering exceptional client value" explains Nerurker, who has managed the firm for the past four years. "It is this dedication to excellence, enshrined in the mindset of our staff which makes Mills Oakley shine a little brighter in an extremely competitive marketplace." ALB