Testimonials
What our clients say about us.
In-house BD support
Gemma was recommended to me when we were looking for interim support while recruiting for a permanent BD role. Her business model was ideal for us, with Gemma providing strategic marketing and BD advice and Meg providing hands-on implementation on pitches, etc. This blended approach gives both flexibility and cost efficiency and, as a partnership, they worked seamlessly together so that I could be completely confident we had everything covered. They demonstrated that being remote didn’t impact the service provided or their ability to form strong relationships, and feedback from our fee earners across both real estate and corporate has been nothing but complementary. Gemma’s consulting skills, professionalism and understanding of the legal market are exceptional and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her.
Rachel Smith, Business Development Director
Cripps
Associate training
The feedback from the programme was extremely positive and the associates felt they had learnt valuable skills to take forward in their business development activities. I highly recommend Gemma's services if there are coaching or development needs – she will expertly identify those needs and is very effective at getting the job done.
Senior associate
International law firm
Associate training
This has probably been the most important investment in my career since law school. For nearly a decade, I have felt like I have been wandering around in the dark searching for clues on how to do good BD, speaking to everyone and no-one at the same time, and with no appreciation of the difference in substance or purpose between BD and marketing. Working with Gemma and Megan has given me the tools to create an actionable road map for sustainable business development, and I will be forever grateful.
Senior associate
International law firm
Legal directories
Working with Gemma transformed our approach to making submissions to the legal directories. She brought a holistic perspective to the selection and presentation of the firm’s mandates, drove a structured and well-organised timetable that ensured we were prepared in good time, and applied insights gained from her long experience working for the directories to ensure that our submissions focussed on the key points to highlight our firm’s expertise in each relevant practice area. She made a world of difference to the firm’s directory submissions. We could not recommend her highly enough.
Jonathan Pagan, Partner
Enyo Law
One-to-one consulting
Gemma and Megan are consummate professionals. They are always prepared and deliver top notch advice. If you are in need of a BD professional, look no further. You will not be disappointed!
Nicole Vele, Senior Counsel
Holland & Hart LLP
Strategic projects & planning
A huge thank you to Gemma and her wonderful team at Gemma Francis Consulting for their excellent work, patience, project management skills and above all being lovely good humoured people to deal with. You understood the time pressure of the assignment coupled with the demands on lawyers in a law firm and that is rare.
Ronald Graham, Managing Partner
Taylor Wessing, Dubai
Strategic projects & planning
Gemma rapidly understands what needs to be done and then delivers it, always with charm and a sense of humour. She has a commercial focus and the intellectual agility to move smoothly between influencing strategic thinking and taking the practical steps for implementation.
Elizabeth West, Former Head of Organisational
Reddie & Grose
BD executive training
I have learned so much from Gemma over the past six months and I am so grateful, I don't know where I would be without her support. Sharing her knowledge and taking the time to upskill me with prioritisation and delegation has been so helpful and I think it would have taken me a lot longer to do this without her help. I feel a lot more confident to take on the business plans for the team and the challenges that come with it. Having her mentorship has really been invaluable and I have taken so many tips from working with her, from management of meetings, addressing difficult situations to how to get the best out of the team. She is a huge role model to me!
Jess Hunt, Business Development Executive
Taylor Wessing London
Legal directories
Gemma Francis has worked with our practice for the last two years to assist us in preparing for directory applications/submissions. This involved Gemma in advising us, researching our practice, preparation of case studies, drafting the submission, acting as our point of contact and guiding us through the process from start to finish. Gemma has been knowledgeable, clear, kind and positive and, through her flexible availability and competent assistance, we have been successful in our preparations and aspirations. This has been a manageable process thanks to Gemma’s support.
Richard Higham, Director
Carlsons Solicitors