Structured finance and mergers and acquisitions practices are cooling down, and medical malpractice and workers’ compensation cases are just plain cold, according to legal consultant Robert Denney’s 19th annual “What’s Hot and What’s Not in the Legal Profession” report.

In addition, Denney said in his annual legal market forecast that increasing rates from large firms are creating opportunities for mid-sized firms and also causing primary firms to be replaced by their clients at a growing rate.