In a span of two weeks earlier this month, both Mayer Brown and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe showed the door to partners over what the firms described as inappropriate personal conduct. What’s more, they weren’t secretive about their actions: in statements provided to press, the names of the partners were acknowledged, and both firms said they were acting to protect their “values”.

Credit the #MeToo movement. Several years ago, law firms might have handled such cases far more quietly – perhaps with a confidential settlement. At K&L Gates, for example, an ALM investigation found a pattern of such settlements between the firm and women who alleged sexual misconduct and discriminatory behaviour between 2002 and 2012.