Last week saw Vault.com release its 2017 survey of the best law firms to work for and O’Melveny and Myers is the new reigning champion. Among quality of life factors that matter to many of today’s associates, the firm scored first in satisfaction and honors, and placed second in firm culture, leadership transparency and substantive
Managing Excess Law Firm Growth-Spinning Off the Struggling Office
Law firm growth is a popular strategy or tactic among law firms seeking to compete in today’s ultra competitive legal services market. Growth often is achieved through mergers, practice group acquisitions and lateral hiring. And in some cases, the growth initiatives result in new offices being opened in markets previously not served. New
Lexit: How to Respond to Lawyer Exodus from Your Law Firm
Modest attrition at law firms is to be expected-it happens continually and few firms are exempt. But when the lawyer departures spike, or the particular resignations are from your most important lawyers, management must respond quickly.
Lawyer departures don’t just happen for any reason. Unexpected and damaging departures often can be traced to problems a
Moving Laterally? – Being Careful is More Important Than Ever
Movement of attorneys between law firms is as robust as ever with today’s lateral hiring not just focusing on the hiring of individuals. Firms seeking to fill out capabilities often hire away groups of lawyers in an effort to gain some velocity from their expansion strategy. True mergers, especially when a large firm is eyeing
Addressing Your Law Firm’s Declining Demand Through Change-Five Considerations
Although pockets of law firms are enjoying increased demand, revenues and profitability, the general news about the industry as a whole is tepid. A recent article by Chris Mondics about law firm financial performance cites a common problem these days of law firms lacking enough work to keep their lawyers busy. The article (drawing on
Hiring Ross As Your New Associate-Five Additional Steps for Law Firm Innovation
The march of change and innovation in the legal services industry continues. Last week it was reported that Baker Hostetler has licensed “Ross” for its bankruptcy group. Baker Hostetler’s decision to use the Ross Intelligence artificial intelligence product to perform some of the basic functions traditionally the role of associates is innovative and signals change.
Law Firm Merger-Four Rules to Follow
Mergers between law firms garner headlines. Just last week, Kansas City’s Husch Blackwell was in the news when it announced that it was merging with Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., a Wisconsin based business and litigation firm. The merger comes less than year after Husch Blackwell’s Chairman Maurice Watson described the firm’s newly adopted strategy
Boomer Law Firms: Some Demographic Challenges
Ward Bower’s Existential Threats to Law Firms provides an excellent review about a few of the economic and demographic issues that threaten today’s law firms. As Mr. Bower notes, some of the law firms previously fixtures in league tables and in the AmLaw 200 have either failed, been acquired or otherwise have disappeared from
Law Firm Capital Contributions-How Healthy an Investment?
Recent commentary on trends among law firms has highlighted the increasing popularity of requiring greater capital contributions from owners. As Law.com‘s Nell Gluckman notes, instead of capital requirements in the 20-25% range as was common for years, law firms more frequently are jacking up the owner capital requirements into the 30-35% level. In some
Law Firm Focus-When Positive Financial Performance Is Not Really Positive
In a time of increased competition among law firms, a firm’s positive news, developments or performance always seems welcome. Peer recognition for the firm is nice. Likewise, having clients show confidence in the firm by hiring it again and again naturally is a boost of confidence. And climbing revenues and profitability is almost always viewed