2018 outlook: Litigation spending up, law firm rosters down
In a legal market that continues to ask firms to do more with less, there is a bright spot expected to bring about a possible business increase in 2018: litigation.
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Law firm mergers ‘white hot’ in 2017, hit record of 102
After a bit of a slowdown in 2016, the pace of mergers and acquisitions among U.S. law firms accelerated again in 2017 to a record 102, according to Altman Weil MergerLine.
Law firm outlook for 2018 focuses on strengths, retaining talent
Major Lindsey & Africa, a recruitment and consulting firm for the legal industry, has released its 2018 Industry Outlook report outlining what law firms can expect in the new year. In short, law firms will remain under increasing pressure to keep costs low and productivity high, so firms are expected to focus on core strengths and retaining key personnel.
Hershman to leave Senate for position with Barnes
Indiana Sen. Brandt Hershman has announced he is resigning his position as Senate majority floor leader to take a position with Barnes & Thornburg, LLP.
Southern District’s Lawrence to take senior status in 2018
Judge William T. Lawrence for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, has announced his decision to take senior status July 1, 2018, creating another opening in the Southern District that already has one judicial vacancy and is still recovering from the loss of two colleagues.
Report: Attorneys lose 6 hours daily to non-billable work
A recent analysis of how attorneys spend their workdays showed that only 2.3 hours are devoted to billable tasks. The rest of the time is spent on administrative or business development work, according to Clio’s 2017 Legal Trends Report.
Raines’ return to Bingham as COO like homecoming
When Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP announced Oct. 17 that C.W. Raines III had been named the firm’s new chief operating officer, his new role was something of a homecoming. Raines previously worked in the firm’s Indianapolis office as an associate from 2004 to 2006, where his practice focused on corporate services including mergers and acquisitions, startups, and lending transactions.
Departing Pence Hensel partners become highly prized lateral hires
The friendship attorneys Linda Pence and David Hensel started in 1990 continues, but the high-profile criminal-defense firm they began in 2010 has closed, sending the founding partners to growing firms in Indianapolis where they will each start practice groups for white-collar crime.
Dissolution of Pence Hensel spreads expertise to other firms
High-profile criminal defense attorneys Linda Pence and David Hensel have dissolved their Indianapolis firm, Pence Hensel LLC, and all three primary lawyers have moved their practices to other local law firms.
Pence Hensel dissolves, partners join other firms
The high-profile criminal defense firm of Pence Hensel LLC is closing after partners Linda Pence and David Hensel agreed to discontinue the Indianapolis practice, according to an announcement today from Pence.
ABA president launches initiative to study why women leave law
Women, particularly those in their 40s and 50s, leave the legal profession at a much higher rate than their male counterparts. ABA President Hilarie Bass has launched an initiative to explore the reasons and improve prospects for long-term careers for women in the law.
Baldwin: LPM — no technology required (but it helps)
One of today’s popular innovation initiatives — legal project management (LPM) —grows out of old-school roots of delivering high-quality legal services.
Can we talk? Chat boxes give potential clients 24/7 access
More and more, chat boxes are popping up on law firm websites. The services can lead to client connections or may simply help clients and attorneys find out what their best options may be.
Career coaching program provides instant feedback to associates
A cultural shift is happening in the practice of law. As more millennials join law firms, their way of thinking, working and learning is slowly becoming the norm as older attorneys and their customs retire from the profession.
Survey: 41 percent of lawyers to boost cybersecurity budgets
Four in 10 lawyers plan to boost spending on cybersecurity next year, with average budget increases of 13 percent, according to a study released Thursday by a national legal consulting and staffing firm.
Diversifying the pipeline for law firm leadership
A new initiative known as the “Mansfield Rule” uses a data-driven approach to ensure participating firms actively consider women and minorities for open positions when making hiring decisions, including making selections for promotions, lateral hires and law firm governance positions.
Bose McKinney announces merger as law firm M&A increase nationwide
In the midst of an increase in the number of law firm mergers and acquisitions across the nation this year, two Indianapolis-area firms have announced that they have joined forces.
Krieg DeVault seeks private emails of ex-partners who sued for owed compensation
The Indianapolis law firm of Krieg DeVault LLP has asked a court for the private emails of former partners who are owed compensation the firm refused to pay when they left more than two years ago.
Wheeler led Civil Rights Division at DOJ during, after turbulent transition
Thomas Wheeler II, a partner at Frost Brown Todd LLC in Indianapolis, served as acting assistant attorney general for the division after President Donald Trump was sworn in Jan. 20. He recently returned to private practice.
Black lawyers who rose through ranks of larger firms see vast changes
African-American partners with decades in practice said their experiences helped open opportunities for younger lawyers and increase discussions about diversity in general, but they acknowledge challenges persist.