Welcome to Fika Friday: Where Legal Ops Meets Great Coffee
"Strategic planning is the continuous process of making present entrepreneurial decisions systematically and with the greatest knowledge of their futurity..."* - Peter Drucker
Translation: Make smart decisions now, organize brilliantly, and measure everything. Or as we like to say: Don't wing it, BREW it.
What's All This About Then?
You're a legal professional drowning in pricing pressures, project chaos, and process nightmares. Sound familiar? Well, grab a coffee (preferably something stronger than instant) because you've found your people.
The Fika Friday blog is where UK legal operations gets the attention it deserves - with a side of Swedish coffee culture wisdom and just enough irreverence to make Monday mornings bearable.
The Problems We Actually Talk About
Pricing Panic : Clients want fixed fees but you're still thinking in six-minute increments and the billable hour ( and that Smoke Ball thing )
Project Pandemonium: That "simple" group litigation just spawned seventeen sub-committees
Process Purgatory : Your case management system was apparently designed by someone who's never seen a law firm and hasn't had an interface refresh since Windows 7 was a thing ( whatever Windows is )
Fixed Costs Frenzy : Navigating Fixed Recoverable Costs without losing your sanity (or shirt)
Tech Terror : AI is coming whether you're ready or not (spoiler: most aren't)
Enter the BREW Framework
Because every good solution needs a memorable acronym, we present BREW - but here's where it gets interesting. Like any good brew, this is just your starting point. Once you've got the foundation right, we can craft different blends depending on what you need ( and this is just the start of the BREW):
Build strategic foundations
Refine operational processes
Execute with precision
Win through continuous improvement
From this base, we can brew up specialized solutions: litigation strategy and analytics, funding optimization, regulatory compliance frameworks, or technology transformation roadmaps. Think of BREW as your espresso shot - essential, concentrated, and the foundation for whatever comes next.
It's like project management, but with more caffeine, better analytics, and results that actually stick.
The 3Ps: Where the Magic Happens ( but they have evolved )
Pricing: Death to the Billable Hour (Well, Sort Of)
We help you navigate the brave new world where "how much will this cost?" isn't answered with "how long is a piece of string?"
Worried that your ££££ may never be seen again? We have a BREW for that. Because let's face the hedge funds have taken a battering.
Heard the hype about Value Based Pricing? We call it Outcome Based Pricing - far easier to explain. Think alternative fee arrangements that actually work, Precedent H that doesn't give you nightmares, and pricing strategies that make both you and your clients happy.
Projects: Herding Cats with Style
Whether it's a Group Litigation Order with more parties than a small village or a technology rollout that won't end in tears, we bring military precision to legal chaos. We follow ISO standards , coffee-fueled, and surprisingly good at making impossible deadlines possible.
Process: Making Things Actually Work
We turn your operational spaghetti into a well-oiled machine. Process mapping that doesn't require a PhD to understand, workflow optimization that saves time instead of creating more work, and automation strategies that won't replace humans (yet).
Who We Work With: The Full Legal Ecosystem
Here's the beautiful thing about legal operations - it touches everyone. We work across the entire UK legal sector because, frankly, everyone's got the same fundamental challenges (even if they won't admit it):
Law Firms: From large to boutique specialists, but we do have a preference for lawyers with open mind
ATE Insurers: Risk assessment and portfolio optimization and making sure you get those premiums back in
Hedge Funds & Litigation Funders: Due diligence and performance analytics we follow the money
Corporate Legal Teams: In-house efficiency and cost management and keep an eye on those pesky external teams
Barristers' Chambers: Who would think that Counsel would have a need? But you do, you just may not know it yet ( though one or two do)
The problems might look different from each perspective, but the solutions often share the same DNA: better strategy, smarter analytics, and processes that actually work in the real world.
Meet Your Guide: Will Whawell
35+ years in UK legal costs and operations, which in legal sector terms makes him practically Gandalf (or Aragorn, depending on whether you need wisdom or action). But here's the thing - while I started in legal costs, costs is so yesterday. I mean excel spreadsheets and iffy time recording I have evolved from the world of detailed assessments and hourly rates to strategic operations across the entire legal ecosystem.
Think of it like F1: you might start as a mechanic understanding every bolt and component, but the real value comes when you can see the whole race strategy, optimize pit stops, and help the entire team perform at their peak.
What do I enjoy? Taking complex legal operations challenges and making them manageable - preferably over excellent coffee.
Why Fika Friday?
Fika is the Swedish tradition of coffee and conversation that builds relationships and sparks innovation. It's that magical moment when good ideas emerge from genuine connection.
Every Friday, we explore how small conversations over coffee can lead to big changes in how UK legal practices operate. Because the best solutions often come from the most unexpected places.
What You'll Find Here
- Real talk about legal operations challenges (no consultant-speak, promise)
- Practical insights from the trenches of UK legal practice
- Coffee-fueled commentary on industry trends and changes
- Case studies that don't read like academic papers
- Tools and frameworks you can actually use on Monday morning
Monday might be serious business, but by Friday... well, let's just say the coffee gets stronger and the insights get more interesting.
The Independence Difference
We're not trying to sell you software but can recommend some really cool stuff, recruit your staff, or convince you to switch providers. We're here to give you the straight story about what works, what doesn't, and what's worth your precious time and money.
Think of us as your friendly neighborhood legal operations consultants - if your neighborhood happens to be the rather specialized world of UK litigation funding, case management, and regulatory compliance.
Ready for Better Coffee and Smarter Legal Ops?
Whether you're wrestling with pricing models, managing complex litigation, or just trying to make sense of the latest regulatory changes, you're in the right place.
Pull up a chair, grab your favorite mug, and let's figure this out together.
P.S. Yes, we really do start every client meeting with proper coffee. Life's too short for bad coffee and inefficient legal processes. So no meeting , no engagement.
Want to chat? Every good conversation starts with great coffee. Schedule your Fika session and let's see how we can help you turn legal operations chaos into competitive advantage.
Email: fika@t3ps.co.uk
Website: www.t3ps.co.uk - it is where the proper stuff happens
Office: The Colony HQ, Altrincham Road, Wilmslow SK9 4LY - make an appointment there is a superb coffee lounge available.
T: 0161 327 4607
M: 07304080836
"Simplify, then add lightness" - Colin Chapman
T3PS Legal Dynamics: Engineering Success in Legal Operations