We are delighted to share with you the recording of the recent Professional Practices Alliance (PPA) Webinar, Partner Remuneration: Trends, Pain Points & What Firms Are Changing in 2026.
In this recording, Corinne Staves (Partner at CM Murray LLP), Zulon Begum (Partner at CM Murray LLP), Wonu Sanda (Senior Associate at CM Murray LLP) and David Shufflebotham (Founder at PepUp Consulting), Rob Millard PhD (Director at Cambridge Strategy Group) explore how firms are approaching partner remuneration in a period of rapid change.
In particular, the panel discuss:
- AI and the billable hour tension: As efficiency improves, does time spent still reflect value – or are firms disincentivising change?
- Evolution, not revolution (for now): Most firms are adapting incrementally – layering new expectations onto legacy systems rather than redesigning them.
- Performance, profit and misalignment: An increasing gap between how firms say they create value and what they actually reward.
- Complexity, discretion and challenge risk: Where more nuanced systems are increasing reliance on discretionary decision-making processes, evidence and consistency are critical.
- Culture follows compensation: What firms reward ultimately shapes behaviour – raising questions about whether cultures can (or should) stay the same.
- External pressure accelerating change: AI and external capital are pushing firms towards more data-driven, performance-focused models.
- A clear direction of travel: Away from traditional lockstep and towards contribution, profitability and demonstrable value – but with no single model emerging.
If you have any questions arising from this recording or would like to discuss partner remuneration, governance or performance frameworks in more detail, please contact Corinne Staves or Zulon Begum (Partners at CM Murray LLP), David Shufflebotham (Founder at PepUp Consulting), or Rob Millard PhD (Director at Cambridge Strategy Group).
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The Professional Practices Alliance is a multi-disciplinary collaboration between leading UK independent legal, accounting and law firm management specialist advisers, CM Murray LLP, Pep Up Consulting and Cambridge Strategy Group.
CM Murray LLP is Ranked Band 1/Tier 1 for Partnership by Chambers and Partners UK and Legal 500 UK:‘CM Murray are a really strong team with considerable depth and good knowledge of international partnership matters. They are very responsive too.’ (Chambers and Partners UK).
