London Inc. April 2022 - 10

Upfront Leadership
MEETING THE FUTURE
Stepping up to lead the London Lerners LLP
office at a transformative time, Yola Ventresca
navigates new norms, new ways of working
and greater cause for change
CHANGE IS AN inevitable part of the legal profession.
But the speed and breadth of change experienced over the
course of the pandemic has been unprecedented in the
legal field.
In January, Yola Ventresca was appointed managing
partner at Lerners LLP's London office (www.lerners.ca),
taking the helm from long-time managing partner Graham
Porter, who continues as chair of the firm. And from evolutions
in technology to the demands of new generations of
lawyers, Ventresca is stepping up at a transformative time
for the firm - and profession as a whole - balancing both
long-standing traditions with an industry facing unique
challenges as it welcomes a new chapter.
" The pandemic has changed the legal profession as
a whole, rapidly accelerating the pace of modernization
in a profession that has been resistant to change, " says
Ventresca, who herself is an accomplished litigator and
certified workplace investigator with a track record of
successful strategic leadership, business development and
10|londonincmagazine.ca|APRIL 2022
Lerners LLP managing partner, Yola Ventresca
involvement in the London community.
For one thing, Ventresca says the industry's adoption of
digital tools and remote court proceedings are here to stay.
" Virtual trials, meetings and consultations are not
going away, " she says, pointing to factors such as the ease
at which expert witnesses can be presented, reduced travel
time and the ability for individuals and organizations
to work with lawyers who are physically in a different
location.
" It's benefitted clients and been somewhat of an
equalizer, to the extent that clients have more choice in
who they use as legal counsel. "
And while the legal field historically relied on an in-person
workforce, law firms made drastic changes to not only
accommodate remote work, but also maintain productivity
during the pandemic. Those modifications, says Ventresca,
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London Inc. April 2022

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