01/12/09
Litigation Boutiques Becoming More Popular
Apparently boutiques have real culture. The boutiques The American Lawyer considered for honors for 2008 ranged in size from 11 to 96. Though considerably smaller than law firms, some litigation boutiques have among the highest-profile cases in the country in both civil and criminal fields. They also have high-class clients. But boutiques differ from big firms and each other in culture. Some boutiques refuse to accept management-side labor work, while another does not bill by the hour. Another firm has a policy to pay staff members five-figure bonuses in good years. Boutiques are growing in popularity as they are enabled to offer more to their clients for less.
Pro Bono Work Sign of Solid Law Firm
Though it might seem a bit paradoxical, big firms are seeing the value of pro bono work. In such a slow climate there may be less work for lawyers to do in a firm. However, firms now understand that is extremely important in such a slow economy to keep associates' morale high. Keeping them busy helps them stay focused and feel useful. Since paying jobs might be running low, pro bono can offer a good solution to the work shortage. Associates can still be given important work and can build experience along with their firms' reputations.
Carolina Firms Merging
The official announcement of the merger of North Carolina firm Sanford Holshouser with South Carolina-based firm Nexsen Pruet will be made today. Leighton Lord III, chairman of Nexsen Pruet, stated that Pruet has needed a Raleigh office for the past three years. With the merger they will gain experienced lawyers from Sanford Holshouser whom they plan to move from Cary to Raleigh. Sanford Holshouser managing partner, Ernie Pearson, commented on the merger, ''Quite frankly, I wrestled with this. [But] I've sort of hit a ceiling on the complexity of work I can do and on the ability to attract large corporate clients. . . . [The merger] gives us an ability to have unprecedented capability in the Carolinas.''
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