In a profession "less diverse than doctors or engineers [who are] 88 percent white," says Danielle Holley-Walker, dean of Howard University Law, the legal community is still struggling with diversity (as quoted in the ABA Journal). In fact, the recently released Vault/MCCA Law Firm Diversity Survey found that...
In-house attorneys have always extolled the abolishment of the billable hour as a major plus over traditional firm life. But now, The American Lawyer reports that the time sheet "seems to be gaining popularity with in-house lawyers," many who have begun using the it as a way to prove their worth...
Last year saw the dissolution of several high-profile firm mergers, yet still boasted a record 91 successful law firm amalgamations (Altman Weil). However, closely following the recent termination of merger talks between Greenberg Traurig and London's Berwin Leighton Paisner, consultancy Gulland Padfield released the results of a...
Schiff Hardin laid off seven current associates and retracted offers for four incoming associates yesterday, reports the ABA Journal. This comes after the widely publicized mass exodus of 22 partners in January, which included Schiff's former managing partner. Schiff isn't the only big law firm that's conducted massive layoffs...
Baker and McKenzie retains its title as the best-known law firm in the world, according recent rankings by UK-based research firm Acritas. However, although the "sun never sets on Baker & McKenzie's empire," reports The American Lawyer, "challengers continue to make progress against established, old-line firms in the...
BTI Consulting recently analyzed over 300 law firms to identify the key characteristics shared by the most profitable law firms, observing that while "rates can help...
Managing partner of Akerman's Chicago office, Scott Meyers, sat down with Crain's to discuss the firm's growth strategy. Akerman, a mid-sized, full-service firm based out of Miami, opened their Chicago office two years ago with eight lawyers, which has since grown a team of 45 attorneys. Meyers tells Crain's that...
The "vast majority" of lawyers and staff from Houston-based IP boutique Novack Druce Connolly Bove & Quigg will be absorbed into the fast-growing Polsinelli, according to recent reports by The American Lawyer. Polsinelli chairman and CEO Russell Welsh told The American Lawyer that acquisition by Polsinelli, which...
Finding a foothold in the Chicago market isn't as easy for the elite 'big law' firms as they might like to believe, reports Claire Bushey of Crain's Chicago. The article looks at three national firms that had big aspirations for growth upon their respective moves to Chicago:...
Seeming to defy the laws of supply and demand, hourly billing rates at national corporate law firms have increased 3 to 4 percent per year since the recession, according to Citi Private Bank's Law Firm Group (The Wall Street Journal). In fact, they report, these rates have continued...