When is the best time for partners to make a lateral move? According to a report released by ALM Intelligence, the most important factors in making a successful lateral move include time of year, stage in a partner’s career, and whether the move is to a firm with a higher or lower PPP.
ALM Intelligence journalist, Hugh Simons, notes “fall seems to be the time of year to start exploring seriously so that you can move early in the new year.” According to the report, early in the year moves are more common and more successful with 35 percent of moves occurring in the first quarter compared to 15 percent in the fourth quarter.
A second aspect of timing is the stage of career at which a partner decides to move. Data from the report revealed lateral success rate is highest for movers in their 50s. The last factor affecting lateral success included whether the move was to a firm with a higher or lower PPP. The data revealed that retention was higher for moves made to higher PPP firms.
“The key takeaway for law firm leaders is more fundamental than the dynamics of lateral partner moves. Rather it is to observe that PPP is not just a reflection of performance; it is also, and more importantly, a critical determinant of competitive strength. Ultimately, as the best lawyers go, the best clients follow – competition for the strongest partners is competition for the great clients that underlie a firm’s long-term strength and vitality,” Hugh Simons notes.
See the full report and article on The American Lawyer.
Contact Bill Sugarman for more information.
The American Lawyer published results from its annual Midlevel Associates Survey, finding that “associates generally continued to report high levels of satisfaction with their jobs,” and report being happier with their compensation than they were a year ago.
Each year, the publication surveys third-, fourth-, and fifth-year associates on several aspects of job satisfaction, including compensation and benefits, training and guidance, interaction with partners and other associates, the interest and satisfaction level of the work, the firm’s policy on billable hours, and management’s openness about firm strategies and partnership chances. The participating firms were ranked on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score possible.
According to the report, “the greatest increase in associate satisfaction came in the area of benefits and compensation,” with respondents giving firms an average score of 4.29, up from an average of 4.17 last year. Of the 102 firms surveyed, the top five firms in terms of midlevel associate satisfaction in numerical order were Cozen O’Connor, O’Melveny & Myers, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Paul Hastings and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.
See highlights of the full report and article on The American Lawyer.
Contact Bill Sugarman for more information.
The American Lawyer released their annual Global 100 report, a ranking of the world’s 100 largest law firms by gross revenue, profits per partner, and total attorney headcount. Overall, gross revenue grew by 2.8 percent for The Global 100, and profits per partner increased, on average, by 0.5 percent. Attorney headcount also saw an increase this year, with an annual growth of 2.7 percent.
American firms accounted for 81 of the world’s top-grossing firms, matching a record set in last year’s survey, the report revealed. The remaining places are filled by 12 British firms, three from Canada, two from China, one from Australia and one from South Korea. According to the report, this is the second time in the history of Am Law’s global rankings that U.S.-based firms occupy the top five spots.
Latham & Watkins reigns in at No. 1 again this year, with the highest gross revenue of The Global 100. Baker & McKenzie retained the No. 2 spot, leading the top 5 in terms of total attorney headcount with 4,719 attorneys. Kirkland & Ellis advanced two spots to No. 3 this year, thanks to a 15% increase in gross revenue and 14% jump in profits per partner. Skadden Arps remained in its respective spot from last year, coming in at number 4. DLA Piper, on the other hand, dropped two places this year to claim the No. 5 spot, after a 3% decrease in total revenue.
See the full rankings and highlights from The Global 100 on The American Lawyer.
Contact Bill Sugarman for more information.
Law firm mergers and acquisitions are on track to reach an all-time high in 2017, according to the latest report released by legal consulting firm Altman Weil. So far this year, there have been 52 combinations announced, including 24 in the second quarter, topping the prior mid-year peak of 48 in 2016.
Altman Weil’s MergerLine report revealed acquisitions of firms with twenty or fewer lawyers accounted for 86% of all deals in the first quarter and 71% in the second quarter of 2017. For these deals, acquirers’ primary focus was the Midwest, including firms in Ohio, Indiana, Missouri and Michigan, and the Southern US, including firms in Florida and Texas.
“The chief driver of combinations is the battle for market share that’s being waged in response to flat or decreasing demand for law firm services, and we don’t expect that to change any time soon,” said Altman Weil principal, Eric Seegar. “Law firms of all sizes are vying to acquire new clients, expand into new markets, and upgrade their brands through quality combinations. Many of the largest U.S. firms are now routinely looking outside the domestic market for those opportunities.”
See the full report and article on The American Lawyer.
Contact Bill Sugarman for more information.
The American Lawyer released its 15th annual A-List rankings of the top 20 “most well-rounded” law firms in the United States. Firms are ranked based on a combination of factors including revenue per lawyer, pro bono commitment, racial diversity, associate satisfaction and percentage of female equity partners.
Munger Tolles ranked No. 1 on this year’s A-List. Climbing from last year’s number two, the firm moved up thanks to high scores in diversity, pro bono work, and number of female equity partners. Ropes & Gray came in second place on the A-List with high scores in almost all categories except for diversity. Paul, Weiss jumped 23 spots to claim the No.3 spot, thanks to a strong female equity score and significant increase in associate satisfaction. Kirkland & Ellis landed spot No. 17, slipping from 8th place last year, due to a decrease in its associate satisfaction and diversity scores. Skadden Arps moved up four spots to claim 12th place, thanks to an increase in its associate satisfaction and pro bono scores.
New firms added to AmLaw’s A-List were Paul, Weiss (No.3), Sherman & Sterling (No.8), Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (No.14), Manatt, Phelps & Phillips (No. 15), Arnold & Porter (No.16), and Hughes Hubbard & Reed (No.19).
Additionally, The American Lawyer released a list of the next 20 A-List firms (No. 21-40), The A-List Runners Up. A few firms on the list made last year’s Top 20 but faced shortcomings in vital areas, forcing them off in 2017. Those firms were Morrison & Foerster (No. 22), Jenner & Block (No. 23), Sullivan & Cromwell (No. 24), Willkie Farr & Gallagher (No. 25), and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (No. 26).
See the full report and article on The American Lawyer.
Please contact Bill Sugarman, a legal recruiter, for more information.
Law firm managing partners’ expressed greater optimism in the economy and legal market for the second half of 2017, according to a report released by Citi Private Bank.
The quarterly survey polled law firm leaders, 106 of which are among Am Law’s top 200 firms. Over half of those who participated in the survey expressed confidence that the second half of the year will be considerably or somewhat better than the first, indicating an uptick in overall confidence from the previous quarter.
The projections, according to the Am Law Daily, “may prove to be a bullish outlook for an industry that has been dogged by stagnant demand, particularly among Am Law Second Hundred firms.”
See the full report and article on The American Lawyer.
Contact Bill Sugarman for more information.
As law firm billing rates are rapidly increasing overall, a new study shows that firms that raised their rates more slowly are starting to see better revenue growth. According to the report, released by Thomson Reuters’ Peer Monitor, law firms that increased their billing rates at a more gradual pace are experiencing an increase in demand from their clients. Although the demand for legal services overall is down, the study shows that some firms are getting a much higher volume of work than others. “Firms that are willing to take less of a rate increase seem to be doing better with demand,” said Leonard Lee, an analyst at Peer Monitor.
In the first half of 2015, Am Law 100 firms saw a drop in demand by 0.2 percent, similar to Am Law Second Hundred firms, which saw a decrease of 0.4 percent. However, mid-sized firms that benefitted from a softer increase of billing rates saw a 1.6 percent increase in demand overall. The report warned its readers that this is not a proven method to increase revenue, and there may be other factors to consider. “Over the last few years, a lot of work seems to be moving down market,” Lee said. He explained that the study gives averages and every firm is different, but the data shows a definite correlation between rate increases and revenue.
See the full report and article on The American Lawyer.
Contact Bill Sugarman for more information.
The American Lawyer released their annual Global 100 report, ranking the top law firms across the world. The report is based on gross revenue as well as number of attorneys and profits per partner. Attorney headcount saw an increase this year, with an annual growth of 6.4 percent. Overall, gross revenue grew by 3.1 percent for The Global 100, and profits per partner increased, on average, by 4.9 percent.
Latham & Watkins reigned in at No. 1 again this year, with the highest gross revenue of The Global 100. Close behind leader Latham was Baker & McKenzie and DLA Piper in spots 2 and 3, respectively. Skadden also remained in its respective spot from last year, coming in at number 4, with a higher revenue per lawyer average than each of the other top 5 firms. Kirkland advanced one spot to No. 5 this year, knocking Dentons down to number 6.
See the full rankings and more of the highlights from the AmLaw Global 100 on The American Lawyer.
Contact Bill Sugarman for more information.
According to Am Law Daily, mixed opinions were exchanged last week at the International Bar Association’s annual conference, regarding the risks and benefits of law firms’ global development. Lawyers traded their thoughts during a panel discussion on Wednesday. “We were forced by our clients,” to expand abroad, said Antonio Barba, a partner with the Spanish law firm Cuatrecasas, Goncalves Pereira.
Peter Pantaleo, general counsel at DLA Piper, said, “I can guarantee any law firm in this room can make a small fortune going abroad, if they’re prepared to lose a large one.” Pantaleo explained the risks, alluding to DLA Piper’s office in Singapore and the losses it faced in an effort to open its doors. DLA also recently closed their office in Venezuela because of the political risk at hand. Other firms, such as Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, are facing the same problems. The firm planned on expanding to Hong Kong and Shanghai last year but pulled out because of global setbacks they’re facing.
The most substantial risk for law firms that are expanding globally is the clash of cultures in different countries, according to the American Lawyer. “Clients are deeply turned off when they walk into a room in Bogota and see me sitting there,” said Elliott Portnoy, Denton’s CEO, who is based in Washington.
On the other hand, the American Lawyer points out, there are definite benefits to a firm’s global expansion. Pantaleo went on to explain that the Swiss verein model works well for DLA Piper and other firms. The structure allows offices to work more independently while protecting each country’s revenue. The partners don’t have to worry about foreign tax policies, and the model makes it easier to adjust compensation and staffing.
View the full article from the Am Law Daily on the American Lawyer.
Contact Bill Sugarman, a legal recruiter, for more information.