As 2014 draws to a close, there have been more than a few reports of generous associate bonuses at some well-known firms. In an industry that has had its share of challenging economic news since the Great Recession, news of these bonuses is a welcome change. While the increased bonuses are positive, especially for
Strategy of Merger: Four Steps for Success for Law Firm Leaders
Distressed Law Firm Acquisitions-The Times May Be Perfect (Part Two)
As reviewed in Part One last week, the example of the Morgan Lewis/Bingham McCutchen mass lateral transaction may serve to stimulate the pursuit of distressed firms by healthy firms. Although distressed law firm transactions are nothing new, the model of that deal plus two new legal developments may foster greater distressed law firm activity.
The
Distressed Law Firm Acquisitions-The Times May Be Perfect (Part One)
This is the first of two installments that examine the changing landscape of distressed law firm acquisitions and how recent developments may encourage healthy firms to pursue struggling firms like never before.
Last week, the long-anticipated Morgan Lewis acquisition of a core component of Bingham McCutchen’s practice was announced. Described as a mass lateral
The Key to Law Firm Success in 2015-Focus
For years, a premise behind law firm growth was the recognition (or belief) that many clients required a broad range of services. Sensing a need, and wanting to meet it, law firm leaders sought to build not only bigger law firms, but also ones that offered many substantive specialties. As the thinking went, once a
Lateral Hiring In 2015-Preparing for the Upcoming Movement
As the last quarter of 2014 nears its end, the ingredients for the lateral hiring stew are being added. Firm and individual lawyer performance on the year, bonus expectations and realization, internal law firm management and politics-all will be factors in determining individual lawyer contentment. The same factors, viewed from management’s perspective, will drive an
Insourcing By Corporate Legal Departments-Some Lessons to Be Learned
The concept of insourcing by corporate legal departments has generated some press recently. Jennifer Smith’s Companies Curb the Use of Outside Law Firms highlighted the issue for law firms and judging by the reaction, it explained for some law firm leaders what has been happening to them. Other writers and commentators (here, here
Investing More Capital at the Law Firm-Five Thoughts for Leadership
Invested capital at law firms varies widely and reflects the differing philosophies between firms. The amount invested says something about a law firm’s values, speaks to its fiscal approach and provides commentary about a law firm’s culture. Traditionally, the more capital in a given firm indicated a strong institution with the shared value of fiscal
In a Time of Law Firm Transition, Executing on the Fundamentals is Key
Interesting news about the legal industry in transition was reported over the last couple of weeks. Jacob Gershman of The Wall Street Journal wrote one of a number of articles that reported a drop in legal jobs. Jennifer Smith recently wrote that clients are gaining traction in tamping down the cost of legal services. Robert
Strong Leadership and Sound Strategy: Law Firm Success in Transitional Times
Some recent news and commentary drives home the idea that the legal industry and its law firm participants are facing transition. Jennifer Smith of The Wall Street Journal reported that more law firm clients are insourcing-taking in work heretofore performed by outside counsel. That development, by some accounts impacting large law firms in particular, occurs