Corporate Leadership Awards 2024: Laurie Gerber, Blank Rome
Blank Rome's Chief Financial Officer Laurie Gerber was recently recognized in the Philadelphia Business Journal's inaugural Corporate Leadership Awards, which honors top finance executives and individuals in other C-suite roles who reside in and/or work for companies with a presence in Greater Philadelphia.
Below is an excerpt of Laurie's honoree profile, as published in The Legal Intelligencer.
Laurie Gerber
Chief Financial Officer, Blank Rome
The past few years have been a financial roller coaster for law firms, which saw transactional work spike in 2021 – and along with it revenue – before cooling down. In 2021, Philadelphia-based law firm Blank Rome saw its gross revenue jump over 13%. Despite an industry slowdown, the firm posted nearly 8% gross revenue growth last year, reaching $626 million. Steering finances is Laurie Gerber, who was the firm’s director of finance, budget and tax prior to being named CFO in 2015. Gerber leads a team of 45 focused on forecasting and cash flow, working to keep the firm agile for unforeseen economic shifts. Gerber has also played a role in Blank Rome’s expansion, specifically in its opening of offices in Boston and Dallas, ensuring seamless financial integration.
Years in current role: 9
Education: B.S., Drexel University
Originally from: Brooklyn, New York
A go-to negotiation tactic: Listen first. Pay attention to what others say and express yourself clearly in order to help reach a mutual conclusion that satisfies everyone.
My approach to collaborating with our C-suite executives: Our firm is led by a proactive COO who ensures that the C-suite functions as a cohesive executive team. In this environment, each chief is well-versed in the other’s objectives, working collectively to achieve our individual goals, thereby strengthening our unity which then helps to drive the firm’s success.
An unexpected skill I frequently use: Rather than just focusing on numerical metrics, we also utilize a skillset that emphasizes scrutinizing and improving our processes which has led to enhanced efficiencies. This, combined with the development of interpersonal skills within our team, has helped us to better adapt to continuous changes.
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"Corporate Leadership Awards 2024: Laurie Gerber, Blank Rome," was published in The Legal Intelligencer on July 11, 2024.