Withers, Worldwide 2024

The brief

Founded in 1896, Withers Worldwide is a leading law firm with over 1500 staff, 230+ partners and 17 offices in the US, UK, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. The biennial global partnership conference is a critical moment in their calendar, a high-profile event bringing Withers’ senior leadership together. This was the first time the client had considered hosting the event in Asia and expectations were high.

The brief called for a location that could deliver premium service, value for money and an exceptional experience for every partner flying in from around the world.

With an experienced internal marketing team leading content and stakeholder engagement, Withers needed a delivery partner they could trust to own the logistics and tech side of the event; someone who would anticipate challenges and deliver a memorable experience, without compromise.

Key challenges of the brief included:

‣ Selecting a destination that balanced value and accessibility for a global audience.

‣ Managing end-to-end logistics for 240 partners.

‣ Sourcing ‘wow factor’ cultural moments to provide destination insight and appeal to the well-travelled and educated audience
Maintaining the highest standards without waste or excess. Sustainability is a key priority on the agenda for Withers and Lemon Lane.

With our relationship spanning a decade, Withers turned to Lemon Lane, knowing we would act as a true partner, an extension of their team – not just a bolt-on supplier.

Our approach

We ran a full destination and feasibility study across Asia including Singapore and Bangkok, analysing flights, hotel options, transfer times and ground costs, before choosing Bangkok for its balance of value, quality and cultural appeal.

From there, we led on planning, negotiating, contracting and delivery of the guest experience, leaving Withers to focus on the event’s strategic aims.

Among the many highlights we:

‣ Secured the Shangri-La Bangkok – a prestigious riverfront location that allowed us to bypass the city’s notorious traffic, with boat transfers and walkable access to compliment the programme inclusions.

‣ Managed flexible hotel contracts to accommodate potential last-minute changes, such as date changes, common within the legal world.

‣ Designed an elegant gala dinner at the iconic Mandarin Oriental that involved transforming the grand hotel ballroom into a breathtaking, Thai-inspired setting.

‣ Personalised leisure options to suit different travel appetites (and the weather, from immersive cultural tours to relaxed social time
Implemented low-impact practices where possible, including digital delegate materials, gifts with purpose and support to local communities and no one time use plastics.

Throughout, we provided the high-touch service and partner-level care the Withers team have come to expect, acting as a calm pair of hands and a solutions-focused partner across every stage.

Lemon Lane made our partners’ conference run seamlessly, despite Bangkok’s unpredictable weather! Their calm, practical and positive approach kept everyone happy, delighted... and dry! Efficient, reliable and fun to work with, they handle any challenge with a smile and deliver exactly what they promise, every time.

Nigel Sprunt

Global Business Development & Marketing Director

The Result.

Outsourcing to Lemon Lane gave Withers’ marketing and leadership teams the freedom to focus on delivering standout content, building relationships and meeting their business goals.

Our local knowledge, network of trusted suppliers and group buying power ensured a seamless event, on time, on budget and fully to brief, while rigorous risk management and a scalable approach meant no unexpected surprises.

Feedback was outstanding across logistics, hospitality, and the overall partner experience. The success came down to truly understanding the client’s expectations and anticipating their needs before they were even voiced. The team felt supported at every stage, confident in the outcome, and proud to have delivered a flawless event (even when challenged by a date shift that landed us squarely in rainy season!).

MEASURING SUCCESS:
In alignment with Withers success measures, we delivered an outstanding guest experience with low environmental impact:

‣ Conscious catering for all meal breaks and where possible removed red meat
‣ Selected a venue that is accredited as ASEAN Green Hotel Standard
‣ Guest travel emissions were tracked and carbon emissions offset
‣ Waste was low, and what was produced was either recycled or repurposed
‣ 85% of name badges were collected and recycled via Tetra cycle zero waste box