Recruitment & Staffing

International Edition

Taking stock – partner hiring is down but acquisitive US firms remain a scourge for UK rivals

By Georgina Stanley | March 27, 2014

"They take our work and our partners and now they want our associates" – is how one senior partner at a leading City firm recently described the continued efforts by US law firms to make their mark in the London legal market

1 minute read

International Edition

Plus ça change – can Rare's diversity scheme transform the profession?

By Georgina Stanley | January 23, 2014

On the surface a lot can change in the legal world in six months. In the time since I went on maternity leave last summer, SJ Berwin has agreed and gone live with its much-trailed combination with King & Wood Mallesons (KWM), Lawrence Graham has finally found a merger partner in the shape of Wragge & Co, and CMS Cameron McKenna? Well, it hasn't yet managed the US link it has publicly set its sights on, but it has agreed a deal with ailing Scots firm Dundas & Wilson. In many respects though, these developments – with the exception of the KWM merger – seem unlikely to be transformational. Even in KWM's case, the impact it makes will be intrinsically linked to the extent to which the firm can integrate and overcome sizeable cultural differences. Meanwhile, UK mid-market merger activity is increasingly just business as usual for a host of firms scrabbling to improve – or simply maintain – their position in a saturated and highly competitive market.

1 minute read

International Edition

A conscious bias – why a little positive discrimination is no bad thing

By Charlotte Edmond | April 11, 2013

A reader questioned last month why we had chosen to highlight the fact that all of newly merged Dentons' recent EMEA partner promotions were female. Why was their gender relevant to their promotion, they asked – would we have raised the issue if all four of the new partners were male? And of course, he (or she) has a point. With so few women making partner – despite more of them than men joining the profession at entry level and various initiatives by firms to boost female retention – there is inevitably a bias towards reporting the few that do make the grade.

1 minute read

Language barriers – firms face challenge to translate Asia efforts into profit

By Georgina Stanley | February 21, 2013

For some time now, Asia – and Hong Kong in particular – has been seen as the land of hope and opportunity by international law firms. Its relative resilience against the worst of the downturn has meant firms have continued to plough money into the market, despite tightening purse strings elsewhere. But on the ground, as both our lead feature on life as an expat in Hong Kong and our front page story this week demonstrate, it's now a very different market to what it was a few years ago.

1 minute read

International Edition

Language barriers – firms face challenge to translate Asia efforts into profit

By Georgina Stanley | February 21, 2013

For some time now, Asia – and Hong Kong in particular – has been seen as the land of hope and opportunity by international law firms. Its relative resilience against the worst of the downturn has meant firms have continued to plough money into the market, despite tightening purse strings elsewhere. But on the ground, as both our lead feature on life as an expat in Hong Kong and our front page story this week demonstrate, it's now a very different market to what it was a few years ago.

1 minute read

Moods in Manhattan – mixed messages from the world's legal capital

By Georgina Stanley | October 11, 2012

You don't really appreciate until you talk to Manhattan lawyers in their own habitat how Wall Street firms at times seem weighed down by history. In London, partners often struggle to remember as far back as the 1990s. But their counterparts in the bustling yet conservative Manhattan community still find their focus drawn to key moments in their firm's past.

1 minute read

International Edition

Moods in Manhattan – mixed messages from the world's legal capital

By Georgina Stanley | October 11, 2012

You don't really appreciate until you talk to Manhattan lawyers in their own habitat how Wall Street firms at times seem weighed down by history. In London, partners often struggle to remember as far back as the 1990s. But their counterparts in the bustling yet conservative Manhattan community still find their focus drawn to key moments in their firm's past.

1 minute read

Legaltech News

In a World Without Affirmative Action, Technology Will Be Key to Ensuring Equitable Outcomes for All

By Matt Spencer and Angela Vallot | September 7, 2023

In any recruiting process, a myriad of factors determine a candidate's potential—too many for any one recruiter to consider without the use of technology.

6 minute read

The Legal Intelligencer

16 Attorneys Move to Dilworth Following Schnader Dissolution

By Amanda O'Brien | September 5, 2023

The group does not include any associates. "We need to see what the demand looks like," Dilworth chairman Lawrence McMichael said. "We did offer a couple of associates positions, but they went elsewhere."

3 minute read

Corporate Counsel

Celebrating General Counsel Compensation

By Mike Evers | September 5, 2023

I love this annual list of Fortune 1000 general counsel compensation that Corporate Counsel puts together. Mainly because it validates the value of the role. But also, I enjoy celebrating the success of many people on this list who I have the good fortune to know.

2 minute read

Corporate Counsel

California High Court Holds AI Vendors Liable for Biased Job Screening

By Maria Dinzeo | August 31, 2023

The decision, reached at a time AI regulation is in its formative stages, will have implications beyond the state's borders.

5 minute read

National Law Journal

Big Law's Use of 'Visiting Attorneys' in Spotlight After Lawyer's Arrest

By Abigail Adcox | August 29, 2023

Visiting attorneys may go through a different vetting system than U.S.-educated associates, as some law firms recruit visiting lawyers from international law firms that they have existing relationships with.

4 minute read

The Legal Intelligencer

Philadelphia Firms Saw Hefty Expense Increases Over Past 6 Months

By Amanda O'Brien | August 23, 2023

Owen Burman, a senior consultant and managing director with Wells Fargo, indicated that firms based in the city are likely catching up with their peers elsewhere in the country.

4 minute read

The American Lawyer

Stroock Loses Business-Side Leaders, as Uncertain Merger Future Poses Recruiting Challenges

By Justin Henry | August 23, 2023

"Joining Stroock, my goal was to focus on partner hiring…We were seeing a lot of success," said Regina Robbins, the firm's former director of talent acquisition. "When the information was getting out in the marketplace about the Paul Hastings group and about the merger talks, it was difficult to help the firm find partners and grow."

4 minute read

Law.com

Law Firms Are Planning More Staffing Adjustments: The Morning Minute

By Zack Needles | August 22, 2023

Want to get this daily news briefing by email? Here's the sign-up. WHAT WE'RE WATCHING CUT CAREFULLY - Here's a one-liner that will absolutely…

4 minute read

Law.com

Norton Rose Fulbright Cuts Back Office Staff in Australia

By Christopher Niesche | August 21, 2023

"As a result we had a small number of redundancies in Australia. These were difficult decisions to make and those individuals were closely supported through the process," a spokesperson said.

1 minute read

The American Lawyer

Major Lindsey Leader Splits to Launch New Recruiting Shop, Bringing Paul Hastings Strategist

By Justin Henry | August 15, 2023

Jeffrey Lowe and Don Currin intend to focus their efforts on partner placements at Am Law 50 firms.

4 minute read