On this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with CommBank Professional Services, the reigning Partner of the Year (BigLaw) discusses the myriad aspects of optimal leadership, including and especially empathy, in turbulent and uncertain times. Hosts Jerome Doraisamy and CBA National Director of Professional Services Daniela Pasini speak with Herbert Smith Freehills partner Nicole Pedler – who won the Partner of the Year (BigLaw) category at the 2021 Women in Law Awards – about the need for firms to be adaptable, the challenges faced by firms and their leaders when it comes to talent retention, the need for vulnerability and trust within one's team, and corresponding skills that leaders must display. The trio also explore what constitutes "legal excellence" in the current climate, growth areas in the 2022 marketplace and what Ms Pedler predicts for her own practice area, ensuring flexibility as part of a talent retention strategy and the importance of bringing one's whole self to work in order to build a community, and a business that attracts and retains the best staff. CBA was a gold partner for the 2021 Partner of the Year Awards. To learn more about its professional services offerings and its recent Legal Market Pulse report, click here. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!