At Rutan & Tucker, change happens slowly. Many of its senior partners have worked there for decades. The firm, based in Costa Mesa, Calif., opened a second office in Palo Alto, Calif., in 2003 the first new location since the 1970s.
But with one-third of its lawyers in real estate and corporate work, the firm was forced to make some changes when the recession hit. Already heavy on partners, the firm laid off some associates. And billing rates, averaging $300 to $650 per hour, have remained flat for the past two years.
