Running the firm - The Indiana Lawyer

Wilson: Unique challenges facing solo and small firm attorneys

May 11, 2022 | Scott Wilson

One of the great aspects of practicing law is the wide variety of ways to make it happen. Whether you are in-house counsel, legal services, a big firm associate, prosecutor, public defender, government lawyer, judge or a solo practitioner, the ways we as lawyers ensure access to, and the delivery of, justice are myriad. Although there are many common elements to each form of practice, there are challenges and opportunities that are unique to each, and the solo or small firm lawyer holds a special place in this cohort of practice options.

Becker: Challenges in running a small firm during COVID

May 11, 2022 | Carl Becker

When you are a small firm, you become fully familiar with each person in the office, including knowing and caring about each person’s family. As such, the first and most important decisions during COVID were to protect the health of our staff and their families.

Hogue: Finding my ‘Hamburger University’: 5 nuggets I’ve learned

May 11, 2022 | Thakena Hogue

A friend of mine owns a McDonald’s and has told me that McDonald’s requires its franchise owners to complete a training program called “Hamburger University.” He explained that Hamburger University teaches the franchise owner about the “system” of McDonald’s. In some ways, launching my own firm has been like what I imagined about “Hamburger University.”

Keeping the culture: New Lewis Wagner managing partner leads by example

March 30, 2022 | Jordan Morey

Richard Blaiklock has never been one to shy away from hard work. The longtime business litigator will now take that attitude and work ethic into his new, three-year term as managing partner of Lewis Wagner LLP.

Lewis Wagner names Blaiklock as managing partner

March 4, 2022 | IL Staff

A. Richard M. Blaiklock has been named managing partner of Lewis Wagner LLP, where he is credited with helping to create the firm’s business services practice group. In his new role, he will lead the executive committee, which leads the firm’s strategic initiatives.

Hague: Employers: Invest in your employees like you do your clients

February 16, 2022 | Josh Hague

If our goal is to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace, the focus cannot just be on hiring diverse attorneys. Law firms must also make concerted efforts in retaining their diverse attorneys.

New Plews Shadley Racher & Braun managing partner sees opportunities for boutique firm

February 16, 2022 | Marilyn Odendahl

Gregory Gotwald has been named the managing partner at Plews Shadley Racher & Braun. He is taking over when the world is lurching toward normalcy but times are still uncertain. Yet Gotwald said he is sure his firm will weather the changes just fine.

Golden combo: At 2-year anniversary, Dentons Bingham Greenebaum ‘very, very happy’ with Project Golden Spike

January 19, 2022 | Marilyn Odendahl

With Project Golden Spike, Dentons Bingham Greenebaum is outperforming the market in the growth of its lawyer headcount. The firm launched the Golden Spike initiative in January 2020.

Indiana law firm combination market sees activity despite pandemic

January 19, 2022 | Katie Stancombe

Law firms completed 41 mergers in 2021. The total was up slightly from 40 in 2020, but well below the historical average of 55 mergers per year over the previous decade. Despite the slow down, Indiana’s legal community still saw some combinations take place during the pandemic.

Johnson and Hehner: Lessons learned from a law firm merger during a pandemic

January 19, 2022 | Lonnie Johnson and Jim Hehner

When Clendening Johnson & Bohrer merged with Hehner & Associates on March 15, 2020, just days before the lockdown, it was unimaginable how the practice of law would change between then and now.

Grand to step down from leadership at Barnes & Thornburg in fall 2022

November 8, 2021 | Marilyn Odendahl

Robert Grand, who has led Barnes & Thornburg through seven years of consecutive growth including a nearly 40% increase in revenue, has announced he will be stepping down as the firm’s managing partner in November 2022.

IndyBar hosts first legal tech show

October 15, 2021 | Katie Stancombe

Lawyers gathered in Indianapolis on Friday to learn about practical technological solutions and tools to better equip their day-to-day legal practices.

Miller to lead ISBA through implementation of new strategic plan, continued COVID concerns

September 15, 2021 | Olivia Covington

Indianapolis lawyer Clayton Miller will be tasked with helping to implement the Indiana State Bar Association’s new strategic plan as president of the state bar, a position he’ll assume Oct. 15. Miller will also lead the bar through the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he wants to address other big-picture issues impacting Hoosier legal professionals.

Millions in PPP loans gave law firms breathing room

September 15, 2021 | Marilyn Odendahl

Indiana law firms and legal nonprofits received nearly $200 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans, but managing partners said the money had a nuanced impact as the financial boost provided some peace of mind during a very uncertain time and helped keep their firms positioned to meet client demands.

Merger of firms brings together former colleagues

September 1, 2021 | Marilyn Odendahl

A merger of two plaintiffs’ firms in Indianapolis is reuniting two trial lawyers, Joseph Williams and James Piatt, with their mentor, Ron Waicukauski.

Indiana still resistant to nonlawyer firm ownership

July 21, 2021 | Marilyn Odendahl

In June, Florida became the most recent to join a growing list of states moving to cast aside long-held resistance and beginning to open the door to — if not completely welcome —nonlawyers co-owning legal practices. But Indiana is not yet following suit.

Lateral hiring cools during pandemic

July 14, 2021 | IL Staff

Another victim of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be lateral hiring among law firms, which fell more than 30% overall during 2020 after reaching record levels in 2018 and 2019, according to a new report by the National Association of Law Placement.

Littler names McLaughlin as Indianapolis, San Diego office managing shareholder

June 15, 2021 | IL Staff

Littler Mendelson PC has named Alan L. McLaughlin regional office managing shareholder of the firm’s Indianapolis and San Diego offices.

The great return: Law firms, lawyers rethink how they work as country emerges from pandemic

June 9, 2021 | Marilyn Odendahl

Should law firms require their attorneys and staff to return to in-person work? Is a hybrid schedule feasible? Firm leaders in Indiana are grappling with these questions.

McKinzie: Is an in-house counsel position right for you?

May 12, 2021

Let’s examine the differences between working in-house and as an associate/partner in a law firm.

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