Survey: Firm Leaders Admit Downturn's Permanent Impact

Most law firm leaders admit that recession-driven responses to their pricing practices and their clients' expectations that work be done efficiently are likely here to stay, according to a survey released Tuesday of 238 firms. At the same time, most respondents to the Altman Weil survey acknowledge that they have been slow to alter their long-term strategies to address those changes.

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Twitter: A Sleeping Discovery Giant?

Steve Fletcher on BYOD

Are Social Media Sites Discoverable?

Appeal Filed by Lawyers Sanctioned Over Porn Lawsuits

The National Law Journal

Lawyers under sanction for fraudulently filing dozens of copyright infringement suits against people accused of downloading pornographic films have filed an appeal, as the attorneys who represented them before the sanctioning judge have disappeared from the case. Prenda Law argues that the judge, who "dropped an anvil on Prenda Law's interests across the country," exceeded his authority and deprived the firm of its due process rights.

Judge: Fla. Location False but Not Defamatory

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New York Law Journal

A British ad mogul did not defame a Manhattan firm by, among other things, erroneously telling a journalist the firm was based in Florida, not New York, a judge has determined. "There is nothing defamatory about the statement that a law firm is located in Florida as many respected law firms are located in Florida and the statement does not reflect poorly on plaintiffs' character or abilities as lawyers and a law firm," the judge said.

Your Company's Been Hacked -- What Comes Next?

Corporate Counsel

As cyberattacks against U.S. companies continue to rise, the government is asking private industry to share information about incursions. So what can and should companies expect when they ring up the government and report a problem?

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Law.com Blog Network

Lateral Moves in The Am Law 200

The Am Law Daily (paid-access) | May 17, 2013

Andrews Kurth heads to London; Bingham McCutchen grabs seven lawyers in Tokyo; and a Munger, Tolles & Olson partner plans a move to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

• Inmate Sues Taco Bell Over Doritos Locos Tacos
  Legal Blog Watch | by Laurel Newby
• Evidence Raises New Questions in Chandra Levy Case
  The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times | by Zoe Tillman
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  The Careerist | by Vivia Chen
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• "Cloture filed on Srinivasan (DC Circuit Court)"
  How Appealing

 

More Stories From the Web

All the key financial metrics for The Am Law 100 rose by single digits last year: gross revenue, revenue per lawyer and profits per partner. Eighty-three firms posted revenue gains, 25 more than in the prior year. Firms reversed course and added to their head count. Even equity partners grew their ranks on average after two years of flat or negative growth. But as a rule, income inequality continued to plague the rankings.

The Haves and the Haves Less

 

Gross Revenue: Vereins Top List

Am Law 100 Interactive Chart

25 Years of The Am Law 100

After three years of flat to negative growth, 2011 was when the nation's 250 largest law firms started getting bigger again. Headcount among NLJ 250 firms was up a collective 2,132 lawyers, for a growth rate of 1.7 percent -- in line with the average increase during the past 10 years, but well below the 4 to 5 percent growth of 2005-2008. Growth was far from universal in 2011; while 118 firms on the list added lawyers, 109 shrank and eight were flat.

A Time to Grow, Once Again

Full NLJ 250 Survey Results

Newcomers to the NLJ 250

NLJ 250 Regional Report

In a year when The Am Law 100 posted tepid year-over-year financial gains, Second Hundred firms bested their bigger rivals on most counts but still fell short on the bottom line. And while the two groups had comparable profit margins, the Second Hundred had less success turning top-line growth into profits. The culprits? Steep expenses and a sharp drop in leverage.

Overview: Expense Report

Striking the Right Balance (interactive chart)

Gross Revenue

Revenue per Lawyer

The Firms, A to Z

The economy began to rebound in 2011, but that wasn't enough to get firms to rev up associate hiring. We rank the top 50 law schools by percentage of 2011 J.D. grads who took jobs at NLJ 250 firms. We also identify the schools where NLJ 250 firms recruited the most graduates and the law schools that saw the most alumni promoted to partner in 2011.

It's Tough Out There

The Go-To Law Schools

Firm Favorites of 2011

Associates Promoted to Partner

Biggest Bang for the Buck?

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