Law firm leaders: have you avoided talking about succession planning with your partners because it may be uncomfortable or because you can always get to it "next year"? Has next year turned into a decade, with twice as many partners now needing to do succession planning and clients asking pointed questions? Or worse, are talented young lawyers leaving your firm because they don't see a future? Senior lawyers: have you avoided the subject because you feel the firm will not adequately reward your succession efforts? Or make you feel irrelevant once you mention the words succession or retirement? As a partner who had leadership positions in two firms and who worked with lawyers on succession for many years, I believe there is a way to avoid the issues raised above.I help law firms of all sizes and individual lawyers create and implement succession plans. My focus includes:1. Consulting with firm leaders on putting together a firmwide succession strategy which is consistent with the culture and core values of the firm.2. Working with senior lawyers on developing their individual succession plans, and then serving as a resource during implementation of the plan.3. Coaching junior lawyers on how they can help senior lawyers who are doing succession planning, with the goal of stepping up to client and firm leadership roles. I previously held the position of Succession Planning Partner at an Am Law 100 firm and have been engaged with law firm succession for many years. I have also served as office managing attorney, firm president (175 lawyer firm) and on the compensation committees of my two firms. I also just finished my own succession journey after 37 years of law practice, so have a true appreciation of the issues senior lawyers face in approaching succession planning.My succession planning work is at Ernst + Bernick, LLC. My partner, Carol Bernick, focuses on advancing women and lawyers of color into law firm leadership roles. We both offer mentoring for lawyers. See more below and at www.ernstbernick.com.In addition to my succession work, I mediate food safety claims exclusively. My law practice was focused on food safety for over 25 years. I have litigated or mediated over 2000 food safety matters. See more below and at www.davidernstmediation.com.