Hindsight is a fine thing. And with the benefit of hindsight, Clifford Chance’s (CC’s) decision to take a 17-partner West Coast team from Brobeck Phleger & Harrison, led by former chairman Tower Snow, was a complete dog.
Even at the time, CC was uncharacteristically in two minds about the move – at one stage it publicly called off the deal. This indecision certainly jarred with CC’s reputation for decisive action. After all, if you are going to make such a bold strategic move, you cannot go about it half-cocked.
