Patrick Dransfield

Patrick is an author and principal at Clearway Communications and a consultant for Asia Law Portal.  Patrick was a consultant and also co-founder of In-House Community.  Previously, Patrick was marketing director for Asia for Shearman & Sterling and White & Case respectively and prior to that the Asia managing director of Euromoney Institutional Investor. Patrick began his publishing career with Haymarket Publishing.

During his time at Euromoney Institutional Investor, Patrick published China Law & Practice Law Firm Directory’98’ (the first Chinese law firm directory); and ‘IFLR Deals of the Year Awards’ (the first legal Awards Ceremony in Asia) and the first legal investment guide to South Korea IFLR in 1999.  

 Patrick is also the originator of the highly regarded and practical ‘7 Steps Programme’ for legal marketing and business development which he first conceived of during his time at Shearman & Sterling, implemented successfully at White & Case and has passed on through numerous training sessions to private practice law firms in India, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and USA.

Patrick is a published author (‘Tracks of Time: Moments of Transition’) and is in frequent demand as a writer and commentator on the business of law and has been published by the Financial Times, Asia Law Portal and Asian-mena Counsel, among others.  His speaking engagements include: International Bar Association (‘Law Firm Management Committee’ IBA Seoul 2019), Management Events Corporate Secretary Forum, PSMG, the Meritas Legal Alliance, the Shanghai Bar Association, ICON, Fudan and Hong Kong Universities and In-House Community events on various subjects including marketing, business culture, mental health, diversity, personal and business development and the needs of in-house legal teams. 

Patrick holds a BA Joint Hons, Degree from Leeds University and a Master’s Degree in Far East Area Studies (Chinese History, Politics and Anthropology) from London University’s School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS).  He speaks conversational Putong Hua. 

Patrick was included in Asia Law Portal’s 30 people to watch in the business of law in Asia in 2019and interviewed in the January 2020 issue Asia Law Portal on the business of law in Asia over the past two decades