Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates
P.C.
75 Ponce De Leon Ave NE Ste 101
Atlanta,
GA 30308(470) 294-1674
www.garymartinhays.com
A look at what we're watching in the changing legal landscape, and what our reporters and editors will be discussing at Legalweek 2023.
Alaina Lancaster | September 21, 2023
Required succession planning might lead to less scrambling and uncertainty for law firms and clients alike, and perhaps even fewer firm implosions in the aftermath of leadership changes.
Christine Simmons | July 20, 2023
The march by big law firms to mandate more time in the office isn’t only a logistical issue about where lawyers are working and billing hours. It’s a sign of a much larger shift in the legal industry, amid lowered law firm demand and some continued alarms of a potential recession.
Gina Passarella Cipriani | May 11, 2023
Whether it be due to financial troubles and defections or cultural mores and work-life balance, law firm leaders are increasingly in the hot seat. And now it seems partnerships are no longer afraid to switch leaders midstream.
Gina Passarella Cipriani | February 23, 2023
Amid the Great Recession, law firms laid off swaths of junior lawyers, particularly in practices like real estate. Four years later, as the market rebounded, they realized they didn’t have many qualified mid-level real estate lawyers.
Christine Simmons | January 19, 2023
Now that some practice areas have slowed down, and now that there’s more pressure on law firms’ bottom line, firms and partners are considering options they have put off for years or hadn’t considered at all.
Gina Passarella Cipriani | November 17, 2022
Client needs are evolving into something beyond matter-by-matter advice, and law firms haven’t quite figured out how to work that into their offering.
Christine Simmons | October 13, 2022
The Am Law 100 followed the leader to this risky economic position. Will firms decide for themselves how to dig out? Any upcoming economic downturn will test the industry’s approach to watching and matching their peers.
Gina Passarella Cipriani | October 06, 2022
Law firms, recently hungry for as many lawyers as they could find, are now looking to trim ranks. But rather than using layoffs, law firms are managing people out through the review process.
Christine Simmons | August 12, 2022
Amid softening corporate demand, law firms are in a profit bind about how to pay partners who have big compensation expectations. And it turns out law firms have limited strategies to address it.
Gina Passarella Cipriani | July 20, 2022
The legal industry is increasingly being drawn into polarizing political debates with potentially significant consequences.
Gina Passarella Cipriani | June 09, 2022
For the past two years, talent wielded its collective power to change where they can work, how they get paid, and even at times who a firm represents. Is that about to change?
Christine Simmons | April 28, 2022
The environment is ripe for law firms to trim partnership ranks and keep close control of the equity tier, for large lateral groups to be cherry-picked, and for new firms to spin off.
Lizzy McLellan | August 26, 2021
The most recent leadership changes across the legal industry provide a sampling of how firms are breaking the mold in choosing who will take the reins.
Zach Warren | October 29, 2020
Markets that were previously the purview of only the largest law firms are beginning to see competition that isn't only local firms, but also fellow multinational firms presenting alternative structures.
Christine Simmons | October 08, 2020
This Law.com Barometer highlights how law firm leaders are taking advantage of outsourcing to reduce overhead and keep profit margins steady.
Zach Warren | October 01, 2020
The first Law.com Barometer breaks down how alternative legal service providers are gobbling up talent—and what that means for law firms.
Christine Simmons | April 27, 2023
A growing concern of declining law firm profits is the long-term effect on associates, including lack of training, performance reviews that lead to cuts, and some law firms reshuffling their associate ranks to right-size their class years.
Christine Simmons | March 02, 2023
The Big Law dichotomy in financial performance in the last year is becoming more clear. And it’s not the story we’ve heard through the years of the rich getting richer.
Gina Passarella Cipriani | January 12, 2023
While clients will likely rationalize legal spend with lower-cost providers in down times, that hasn’t always come to fruition. But there is evidence to suggest it may already be happening this economic cycle.
Heather Nevitt | December 15, 2022
For general counsel and their legal departments, it’s been another demanding year.
Christine Simmons | December 01, 2022
Could law firms have predicted this a year ago when they were slammed with billable hours and their associates were hitting all nighters to meet client deadlines?
Gina Passarella Cipriani | April 21, 2022
Law firm partnerships are on a proverbial hamster wheel as equity partners leave and firms scramble to elevate new lawyers into the partner ranks.
Lizzy McLellan | February 24, 2022
No matter who leads and who follows, the message is clear: Young talent is worth investing in, and proven young talent is worth even more.
Heather Nevitt | February 10, 2022
The 'Great Resignation should be called the 'Great Reflection' due to the fact that we’re not seeing lawyers question whether they should be practicing law, but rather reflecting on how, why, and for whom they practice it.
Lizzy McLellan | January 13, 2022
Outside the Am Law 200, a great proportion of midsize firms benefited from increased demand and decreased expenses in 2021, and they’re investing in targeted growth.
Ben Seal | December 09, 2021
From Kirkland to Cravath to Sidley, firms are making adjustments that could significantly impact their structure going forward.
Ben Seal | October 21, 2021
Flexible in-person work appears to be the new standard, and lawyers are returning to the office at a time when the market still hasn’t caught up, leaving firms with attractive leasing options.
Lizzy McLellan | September 30, 2021
For people who work in law firms, it’s time to prepare for what could be a mentally, emotionally and logistically difficult return to commuting, working in a shared space and meeting with colleagues and clients regularly.
Ben Seal | September 02, 2021
The trust and goodwill firms worked so hard to build with their staff now hangs in the balance, and a slip could have serious ramifications.
Christine Simmons | October 22, 2020
Welcome to our Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom in advance of Legalweek 2021. Each week this newsletter will bring…
Christine Simmons | December 10, 2020
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek(year) 2021, brings you the trends, disruptions and shifts…
Lizzy McLellan | November 19, 2020
Welcome to our Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom in advance of Legalweek 2021. Each week this newsletter will bring…
Christine Simmons | November 05, 2020
Welcome to our Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom in advance of Legalweek 2021. Each week this newsletter will bring…
Stephanie Wilkins | March 09, 2023
As artificial intelligence tools became more advanced, they were initially lauded as a critical tool in leveling the playing field in areas such as hiring.
Heather Nevitt | October 28, 2021
How do you build a culture of wellbeing? For those of us out there talking to legal leaders, the secret sauce is prioritizing DEI in the workplace and allowing workplace flexibility.
Heather Nevitt | August 12, 2021
While diversity and inclusion has increasingly topped the priority lists of corporations, corporate legal departments are calling upon their outside counsel to keep up with their expectations. But progress is a two-way street, and legal departments have their own room to grow.
Christine Simmons | February 04, 2021
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek(year) 2021, brings you the trends, disruptions and shifts…
Christine Simmons | January 07, 2021
Among law firm clients and in corporate boardrooms, a different set of diversity standards is taking shape.
Heather Nevitt | November 03, 2022
There is already significant pressure on legal departments, now add onto that budget season, a looming recession, a continuing challenge around overwhelming workloads and systemic burnout.
Heather Nevitt | May 26, 2022
This emerging area can be challenging to understand, but even more so for general counsel that are tasked with mitigating any type of potential regulatory or enforcement risk to their company.
Heather Nevitt | March 24, 2022
These past two years have certainly brought unforeseen challenges to legal departments on top of a growing list of responsibilities, and it doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon.
Heather Nevitt | September 16, 2021
The onset of the Delta variant is not only altering office return policies, it is also changing the chief legal officer role—again.
Heather Nevitt | June 17, 2021
An increase of workload and responsibilities on in-house counsel is begging the question: Is going in-house no longer a greener pasture?
Heather Nevitt | March 25, 2021
GCs are expected to lead by example and help establish an ethical culture that is deeply embedded and embraced throughout the company.
Heather Nevitt | December 17, 2020
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek(year) 2021, brings you the trends, disruptions and shifts…
Heather Nevitt | November 12, 2020
Welcome to our Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom in advance of Legalweek 2021. Each week this newsletter…
Heather Nevitt | October 15, 2020
Welcome to our new Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom @LegalWeek21. Each week this newsletter will bring you the trends,…
Stephanie Wilkins | September 14, 2023
Despite much talk of deals and investments generally being down in 2023 as compared to 2022, legal tech has seen its fair share of high-profile M&A activity in recent months.
Stephanie Wilkins | May 25, 2023
ChatGPT rarely finds itself in most serious conversations about the use of generative AI in legal, and the focus is instead on the advanced LLMs themselves, such as GPT-4, and how they can best be harnessed to address the needs and concerns of the legal industry.
Rhys Dipshan | March 16, 2023
As large language models (LLMs) begin to power a host of innovations, from ChatGPT to contract lifecycle management tools, law firms are looking to get ahead of what they see as both business opportunity and a market disruption.
Rhys Dipshan | December 15, 2022
While some firms and legal departments are well positioned to tap into the full cost-savings potential technology can bring, others may find it a bridge too far during a recession.
Rhys Dipshan | October 27, 2022
While necessary, integrating one’s technology products is no easy feat, and comes with significant risks.
Rhys Dipshan | September 08, 2022
It’s time for a reality check: the extent to which Web3 will transform the legal market has been greatly exaggerated—at least, for the foreseeable future.
Zach Warren | May 12, 2022
Gone are the days when law firms could say "I have this e-discovery tool" or even "we're using AI" and have that be enough for clients. Embracing technology is table-stakes for many firms today, which means that to truly be innovative, something more is required.
Rhys Dipshan | March 31, 2022
While more necessary than ever, technological competency has also never been so challenging. As the legal market becomes more welcoming to innovation, it’s boldly moving into emerging technology areas faster than ever before.
Rhys Dipshan | January 06, 2022
What worked last year may now not be enough to ward off infection as cyber scams become harder to detect and more sophisticated.
Zach Warren | November 04, 2021
The most successful organizations are finding that cross-functional teams are the way to handle tech decisions, with multiple (and even non-technical) viewpoints represented in the room.
Rhys Dipshan | September 23, 2021
Despite a fertile climate for tech adoption and modernization, age-old problems are still holding the industry back from a broader transformation.
Zach Warren | August 19, 2021
There have long been calls for law school curriculums to be more "practical." But the pandemic may have been just the push for legal educators and their students' future employers to get on the same page.
Rhys Dipshan | July 29, 2021
Over a year after what was likely the fastest legal market transformation in history, the writing on the wall is clear: Going remote was the easy part. Learning to live with it is another story.
Zach Warren | July 01, 2021
Far from the promise of artificial intelligence-laden solutions, today's law firm tech budgets in reality look very, well, practical.
Rhys Dipshan | June 03, 2021
The rising demand for legal technologists speaks to just how much the legal ecosystem has shifted over the past year—and the possible directions it’s heading in the future.
Zach Warren | May 07, 2021
Corporate legal departments want results, not differentiation.
Rhys Dipshan | April 08, 2021
While the legal industry has embraced automation in the past, it’s never done so at the pace or scale we’re seeing today.
Zach Warren | March 11, 2021
The upcoming patchwork will be a difficult one to navigate. So it's a good thing you have a privacy expert on tap to sort through all of this. Wait, don't you?
Zach Warren | February 11, 2021
Amidst this new rush to measure diversity, it's also worth asking the question: What data should the legal industry actually be measuring?
Zach Warren | January 14, 2021
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek(year) 2021, brings you the trends, disruptions and shifts…
Zach Warren | December 03, 2020
Today's law firms that are trying to marry law and technology through alternative legal services are finding it's important to not choose one or the other.
Heather Nevitt | September 15, 2022
When you talk to in-house counsel around their current challenges, acquiring and retaining talent is still at the top of the list. However, in the tech world there seems to be a significantly different tone.
Heather Nevitt | July 15, 2021
Corporate culture is the shared beliefs, norms, traditions and values of the members of an organization. Simply put, it is “how we do things around here.” But getting to that point requires implementation, leadership and buy-in.
Heather Nevitt | May 20, 2021
Real digital transformation means the use of digital technology in every aspect of the department, not just “going paperless.”
Heather Nevitt | April 22, 2021
To say that this past year has created a lot of “challenges” is a bit of an understatement for those in the trenches. The truth is that the challenges this past year presented have been immense, particularly on corporate attorneys' mental health.
Heather Nevitt | February 25, 2021
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek(year) 2021, brings you the trends, disruptions and shifts…
Heather Nevitt | January 28, 2021
When the pandemic began to shut down much of the U.S. in March, it forced many legal departments to transform their operations—and do so very quickly. Who did they call on to lead this effort? Legal ops.
Christine Simmons | February 03, 2022
How will large law firms respond in the event deal volume significantly slows, clients cut back demand and the cost of doing business rises? Will large pay packages for partners and associates become a big liability? For some, 2022 is a gamble of sorts.
Heather Nevitt | December 16, 2021
because of all the challenges many faced due to the pandemic, another thing is certain: skills that were maybe once thought of as "soft" or "nice to have" are now required and highly valuable for both personal and professional success.
Lizzy McLellan | November 11, 2021
Frenzy and even paranoia are dominating the atmosphere of the legal talent market.
Lizzy McLellan | July 22, 2021
Robust protection against cyberthreats is a big investment. Like a spare tire or a smoke detector, better to have and not need it, rather than need and not have it. But chances are, you’re going to need it.
Lizzy McLellan | June 24, 2021
The pandemic came with immense challenges, but for businesses that were able to continue their work, it also came with opportunities to reassess how things are done. And last year’s protests brought another opportunity—one to listen and respond meaningfully.
Lizzy McLellan | May 27, 2021
Billable hours are no doubt an effective way to measure how busy a lawyer is, and, if your revenue comes mainly from billing hours, to measure a person’s contribution to the firm’s top line. But some firms are increasingly looking for other ways to quantify the work they do for clients.
Lizzy McLellan | April 29, 2021
Law firms have been inching their way toward a new normal since the Covid vaccine became a when, rather than an if.
Christine Simmons | April 01, 2021
The high churn of deals and focus on short-term profits are creating long-term talent management and retention problems. Big Law has partly responded by throwing money at associates in the form of bonuses.
Christine Simmons | March 04, 2021
By failing to readjust expectations for employees and provide more flexibility, the investments some firms made during the pandemic could be viewed as short-sighted and missing the key target
Ben Seal | March 17, 2022
If you’re looking for the future of the legal industry in the United States, as they say, go West, young man.
Christine Simmons | August 05, 2021
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek New York, brings you the trends, disruptions and…
Christine Simmons | July 08, 2021
So far, corporate legal department reaction to increased associate salaries have been mixed, with some general counsel and in-house observers calling the pay raises “tone-deaf” or wondering if the pay raises will actually lead to billing rate changes.
Christine Simmons | June 10, 2021
Take a closer look at some law firm return announcements, even those that have zeroed in on a specific number of days in the office, and they leave plenty of room for adjustments later on.
Christine Simmons | May 13, 2021
The pandemic has raised a host of questions about the migration of legal industry talent, and how firms are distributed and priced across the country. And it’s just starting to shake out.
Christine Simmons | April 15, 2021
Getting to know a client’s business has become much more than just reviewing their contracts with suppliers. It now means speaking out with them on the most pressing social issues of the day.
Lizzy McLellan | March 18, 2021
Despite the shift to remote work, office openings have continued, one right after the other. Firms of various sizes have been popping up in new cities, and they’re putting down roots.
Christine Simmons | February 18, 2021
This year, firms will be under pressure to keep the same profit margins, despite an expected rise in expenses.
Christine Simmons | January 21, 2021
The need for law firm-client pricing cooperation and innovative billing will only intensify from here.
Heather Nevitt | September 28, 2023
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek brings you the trends, disruptions, and shifts our reporters…
Gina Passarella Cipriani | August 17, 2023
For international law firms that have substantial practices in mainland China, the country’s focus on national security and the broader geopolitical issues has major implications.
Heather Nevitt | July 06, 2023
Companies are already facing regulatory requirements related to the environmental and governance aspects of ESG, and more are on the way.
Rhys Dipshan | June 08, 2023
The extent to which generative AI will impact the legal market and broader economy will come down to not only what it is capable of, but also how and whether it can operate within the legal and regulatory frameworks of the day.
Heather Nevitt | April 13, 2023
There is no denying that in-house counsel are facing growing challenges when it comes to addressing the rapidly changing legal and regulatory environment around the intersection of data and privacy.
Rhys Dipshan | February 02, 2023
At the end of the day, it’s not just the cost of mitigating an incident's impact and salvaging one’s reputation, but also dealing with a growing number of new data privacy laws and active federal and state regulators.
Nate Robson | October 20, 2022
Both the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice have announced steps to enforce recordkeeping rules across various industries, and have been vocal in highlighting their ability to track down evidence that was thought to be deleted or encrypted through tools like WhatsApp and Signal.
Nate Robson | September 22, 2022
General counsel and corporate compliance officers are on notice that the U.S. Department of Justice is putting a premium going forward on how quickly companies report potential misconduct.
Nate Robson | June 23, 2022
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek, brings you the trends, disruptions and shifts our…
Nate Robson | April 14, 2022
A constantly shifting landscape has law firms sending out a flurry of client alerts on the latest updates and what they mean for corporations. And through it all, law firms are helping their clients decide whether to pull their business out of Russia, and to understand the risks if they stay.
Nate Robson | March 03, 2022
The record seizure of bitcoin and the arrest of a married couple accused of trying to launder the assets created ripples throughout the legal community last month. Of note was that it showed law enforcement’s ability to trace digital assets through the blockchain despite complicated efforts to launder the funds.
Zach Warren | February 17, 2022
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek brings you the trends, disruptions, and shifts our…
Nate Robson | January 20, 2022
The U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission want to revamp their guidelines for reviewing corporate mergers, and they are asking for the public’s feedback.
Nate Robson | November 18, 2021
The Justice Department is making critical policy changes for white-collar enforcement, including reinstating the so-called “Yates Memo” from 2015.
Nate Robson | October 07, 2021
Lawyers are advising clients that M&A work should expect enhanced scrutiny going forward, and that deals already approved could be fair game for the administration to reconsider.
Alaina Lancaster | June 22, 2023
Some attorneys suspect that their opposing counsel insists on remote depositions to gain a tactical advantage. The issue might be a new dividing line between plaintiffs attorneys and defense counsel, who have different incentives to proceed remotely or in-person.
Alaina Lancaster | March 30, 2023
Some legal professionals are considering using ChatGPT technology to assist with certain writing and administrative tasks, but when it comes to making judgments and providing advice, many attorneys agree there’s no replacement for human intelligence.
Alaina Lancaster | February 16, 2023
Attorneys are changing how they prepare for trial, turning to technology and communicating more with judges to adapt to an increasingly packed schedule.
Heather Nevitt | February 09, 2023
Climate change litigation kept the courts hopping in 2022 and shows no signs of slowing down in 2023.
Alaina Lancaster | January 05, 2023
In recent months, the legal community has proposed more permanent rule changes around remote technology, trial readiness and deadlines seeking to address the next emergency that might threaten court operations—or increase access to justice overall.
Alaina Lancaster | November 10, 2022
A California trial court’s decision, and responses from the court reporting industry and lawmakers, could signal how other jurisdictions respond to a scarcity of candidates.
Alaina Lancaster | September 29, 2022
As some judges are demanding more resources to address their overall health after a pandemic piled on more stressors and case backlogs, many younger legal professionals might also meet their call to action with a similar matter-of-fact support.
Alaina Lancaster | July 07, 2022
Most judges and lawyers seem to agree that they expect courts to continue to leverage remote technology in some capacity after the pandemic subsides. When it comes to criminal proceedings, however, that consensus starts to shatter.
Alaina Lancaster | April 07, 2022
As courts attempt to return to full capacity, some litigators and courts report struggling to handle the onslaught of deadlines and new procedures rolled out to expedite cases amid the pandemic.
Alaina Lancaster | March 10, 2022
Attorneys are facing fresh judicial ire for failing to comply with protocols earlier in the pandemic. Meanwhile, some top trial lawyers are warning that court backlogs could create an existential crisis for the profession.
Alaina Lancaster | January 27, 2022
While some members of the legal community are wondering whether continuing to limit court operations is necessary or sustainable, some attorneys are creating new approaches to deal with the long-term uncertainties of the global health crisis.
Alaina Lancaster | December 02, 2021
As courts await relief through traditional channels, the additional pressure to fill vacancies and chip away at case backlogs could spark new mechanisms for administrative efficiency in courts.
Alaina Lancaster | October 14, 2021
Based on preliminary data, pandemic-era jury makeup and attitudes could lead to more defense verdicts or hung juries, but it could also mean jurors are having more extreme responses to cases involving science.
Alaina Lancaster | September 09, 2021
It’s not just law firms and corporate counsel who might have to abide by COVID-19 vaccine mandates to return to their offices. As coronavirus cases explode due to the Delta variant, some courts are requiring that judges, staff, and, in some instances, court goers get inoculated.
Rhys Dipshan | September 07, 2023
What a growing number of law firms have realized is that they can safely allow their lawyers to experiment with the underlying generative AI models—so long as it is through their own proprietary chatbots.
Stephanie Wilkins | January 26, 2023
Experts see both current and future applications for generative AI in legal work. These largely relate to replacing tedious work to boost productivity.
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