Professor Empson, who is Director of the Cass Centre for Professional Services Firms,  says that many professionals 'while denying any sense of themselves as political animals, are, in fact, highly politicised.' Empson identifies three key leadership tactics which senior professionals in professional service firms need to deploy in order to work effectively within these complex power dynamics:

• Gaining and retaining legitimacy to lead through market success - proven success as a professional is a requirement for being accepted as a leader
• Enabling autonomy whilst maintaining control - giving individual professionals independence but balancing this with the needs of the overall firm
• Interacting politically whilst appearing apolitical - effective leaders of professional service firms understand intuitively that all political dealings must be covertly handled.

Outlining four key qualities found in skillful politicians - social astuteness, interpersonal influence, networking abilities and apparent sincerity - Empson says: 'Leaders in professional firms must be supremely effective politicians. As with the best politicians their skill comes from persuading their colleagues, their electorate, that they are not pursing their own self-interest. Instead they persuade them that they are genuinely motivated by the desire to improve the situation of the people around them.'

The report is the result of a three-year ESRC-funded research project. Empson conducted over 100 interviews in 16 countries with senior professionals of some of the world-leading professional service firms in the legal, accounting, and consultancy sectors. For more information, contact benmartin@futurelex.com or go to www.futureoflawsummit.com.