12/05/08
 In an exclusive interview with The Am Law Daily about the firm's reorganization, Verrier said, ''The day of the brick and mortar approach to building a global law firm is over.''
Since first beginning the long and arduous process of growing a global law firm 50 years ago, the offices of White & Case have long operated with little direction from superiors on business strategy and operations. With so many lawyers spread across the land, 2,500 to be exact, and competition from other growing global law firms, a review session was determined to be needed, Verrier also said in the interview.
The consultants from McKinsey & Co. interviewed 250 partners and took a close look at the firm's books. From April to July of this year, more than half the partnership had their face time with the hired consultants.
Verrier says the suggestions by McKinsey & Co. were issued in August but declined to discuss the details with The Am Law Daily. The fundamental suggestion to restructure is apparent though.
The new structure will have each White & Case lawyer join one of the newly formed 14 regional groups as well as different practice groups. Each will have a section head serving for a one or two-year term. The regional heads will have the responsibility of managing their respective region as a business and will each produce their own profit and loss reports. They will maintain their law practices too.
''Accountability is at the core of this,'' Verrier told The Am Law Reporter.
In the past few months, White & Case closed its offices in Dresden, Milan, and Bangkok. Just three weeks ago, it announced the layoffs of 70 associates and 90 staff.
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