Leading from the front
A Tauranga law firm’s huge national win proves that even the smallest of changes can make the biggest difference.
words KARL PUSCHMANN
When Cecilia Burgess heard her name announced as the winner of the prestigious, ‘Law Firm Leader of the Year’ award at the NZ Law Awards last November, there was only one thought rushing through her mind; “Don‘t trip up the stairs.”
“I really didn’t expect to win,” the CEO of Tauranga law firm Cooney Lees Morgan says. “I was blown away. It’s very humbling to get an her, UNO is prepared to take a guess at what made her leadership stand out; her belief in the company’s core values.
It’s quickly apparent that her focus is on creating a supportive environment for her team, and the positive flow-on impact that has for Cooney Lees Morgan’s clients. One small example was a recent offer of free parking to the firm’s staff.
“We have a lot of people who are working mums or dads,” she says, noting that the school run is often a daily pain point for working parents.
“Taking away that stress was a really good thing. A tiny thing to do, but huge ramifications for our people.”
It’s a small showcase of her commitment to the firm’s values, particularly towards “whānau”, or family. Cecilia is also proud of the firm’s Rainbow Tick accreditation, which was a difficult, “soul-searching” process to complete, but important in showcasing their commitment to inclusivity.
“We spent a lot of time challenging ourselves and looking at our documents, asking ourselves, ‘Is this showing an unconscious bias?’,“ she reflects.
As well as values-based improvements, Cecilia has also been steering Cooney Lees Morgan through a significant internal transformation, streamlining and improving their systems and processes behind the scenes.
Although these changes may be unnoticed outside the company, together they contribute to an award-winning performance that has greatly benefited both the firm and its long-time clients, many of which have been loyal for decades.
“I don't think you get to achieve that in this day and age unless you are delivering something beyond the letter of the law,” she smiles. “It's about the whole experience.”
