Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr’s gross revenue in 2020 didn’t amount to what firm leaders projected pre-pandemic, growing by less than 1% from 2019. But due to a significant cutback in expenses because of the shift to virtual work, the firm surpassed its predictions for profitability, showing double-digit growth in net income and profits per equity partner.

“The onslaught of the pandemic resulted in a number of expense reductions that just occurred organically,” said managing partner Barry Levin. “Things related to travel, sponsorship, events—all those things stopped for several months as the world began to move toward a more virtual environment.”