8/16/04
Baker Donelson merges with New Orleans firm, opens new office
Memphis-based Baker Donelson Caldwell & Berkowitz continued its torrid growth rate of recent years by adding an office and bolstering another last week. The New Orleans satellite, founded in February of this year, is going to be strengthened by the arrival of four new attorneys, all of whom will come via a merger with small local firm Shaw Norton Degan. The office now has 28 attorneys. Additionally, the merger will bring five attorneys into the fold in the Southern Louisiana city of Mandeville, where the firm will establish a new office. Shaw Norton Degan offered clients a wide variety of legal services, so the firm's addition will benefit many of Baker Donelson's practice areas. Firm Press Release, 8/10/04
Proskauer Rose looks to advise law firms with new practice
New York-based Proskauer Rose announced last week that the firm was establishing a new practice area designed to aid other law firms in their hours of need. The "Law Firm Advisory Practice Group" will be co-chaired by Steven Krane, a partner, and David Ellenhorn, a counsel, and will include a "substantial number of lawyers" from various firm departments, including labor, corporate, and litigation. The new practice will take on everything from risk management issues to partnership disputes and malpractice defense. In a press release announcing the new practice, Proskauer chair Alan Jaffe cited the firm's experience in handling cases of this nature as a reason why the practice area was already well equipped to handle the needs of law firms. Firm Press Release, 8/10/04
Reed Smith announces novel program with top business school
Pennsylvania-based Reed Smith has announced that it has devised a program that will take advantage of its state's most prestigious educational institution, the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Business School. In conjunction with Wharton School, Reed Smith will put its attorneys and staff through an educational training program called Reed Smith University, which will provide attorneys and students access to Wharton facilities and faculty. The main focus of the training will be on leadership, but it will also have schools devoted to business development, technology, professional support, and law. Each school will be lead by deans, all of whom are partners from the firm. Firm Press Release, 8/11/04
New hire gives Weil Gotshal new practice in DC
Weil Gotshal & Manges has hired Alexander Hadjis from the large IP boutique of Fish & Richardson to grow a patent litigation practice for the firm's Washington, DC, office. Before Hadjis' was added to the ranks, Weil Gotshal did not have any patent litigators in Washington, DC, but had more than 100 in the national practice. According to a press release announcing the hire, the firm was looking for someone to head this new DC venture for a while and was pleased to be able to get someone as accomplished as Hadjis. The firm expects to add to the practice very quickly. Firm Press Release, 8/12/04
Bingham makes major hire in Boston
Boston-based Bingham McCutchen took on one of its local rival's main pieces last week when Jordan Hershman joined the firm from Testa Hurwitz & Thibeault. Hershman formerly served as the co-chairman of Testa Hurwitz's securities litigation group. At Bingham, he will take on a senior role in the securities litigation practice group and look to broaden his client base by representing more organizations in the accounting and investment sectors. Hershman cited the firm's growth and excellent management team as reasons for his decision to leave the firm where he has spent the last 12 years. Bingham cites this move as another coup for its plan to build up its broker-dealer/securities litigation areas, to which the firm has made many recent additions. Firm Press Release, 8/10/04
Epstein Becker & Green expands national ADA practice
With the firm foreseeing many changes in the way companies will have to handle Americans with Disabilities Act compliance issues, Epstein Becker & Green is ramping up its ADA practice to meet the needs of this area. A subsection of its larger labor & employment practice, the ADA practice is based out of the firm's Washington, DC, and New York offices. Frank Morris, already a partner with the firm, and Minh Vu, a former Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice, will lead the practice in Washington, while David Simon will head the New York office's practice. Simon, like Vu, has worked in a government role with the civil rights department of the DOJ. The practice will seek to assist companies in making transitions to what will be more stringent ADA-compliance rules expected later this summer. Firm Press Release, 8/16/04
Jones Day, Fulbright & Jaworski to be neighbors in LA
Both Jones Day and Fulbright & Jaworski signed new leases last week to occupy space in the Arco Plaza building in downtown Los Angeles. Jones Day, which currently considers the Gas Company Tower as home to its Los Angeles office, signed a 15-year lease to occupy six floors. Fulbright & Jaworski signed a 12-year lease to occupy two floors and a portion of a third. Both firms cited the moves as reflective of their dedication to the Southern California market, which is not home for either of them, and as necessary to accommodate recent and future growth plans for the offices. Thomas Properties Group Press Releases, 8/9/04
Akin Gump draws two to Houston litigation practice
Two litigators have joined the litigation practice of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Houston. The pair includes one partner, James Wetwiska, and one associate, Leah Thomas Rudnicki, both of whom come to the firm from Fulbright & Jaworski. Wetwiska focuses his practice on product liability and commercial litigation, and has worked in virtually every arena, including state and federal courts and arbitration panels. Rudnicki mainly handles product liability, mass tort and toxic tort litigation. Akin Gump mentioned a growing national mass torts defense practice as part of the reason for the hires. Firm Press Release, 8/11/04
McDermott Will & Emery establish tax practice in Miami
Two attorneys - one partner and one associate - were hired earlier this month to establish a tax practice for McDermott Will & Emery's Miami branch office. Philip Tingle, the partner, focuses his tax practice on the electric and gas industries, while Mead works with large corporations on federal income tax issues. The two will work closely with the tax group in Washington, DC, in getting the new department off the ground. McDermott Will & Emery counts more than 100 tax attorneys among its staff. Firm Press Release, 8/15/04
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published August 16, 2004
By Harrison Barnes, CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search 
About Harrison Barnes
No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.
A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter
Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:
- Immigration law
- Workers’ compensation
- Insurance defense
- Family law
- Trusts & estates
- Municipal law
- And many more...
This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.
Proven Success at All Levels
With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:
- Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
- Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
- Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
- Growing firms in small and rural markets
He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.
Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search
Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.
The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys
Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.
- His articles on BCG Search alone are read by over 150,000 attorneys per month, making his guidance the most sought-after in the legal field. Read his latest insights here.
- He has conducted hundreds of hours of career development webinars, available here: Harrison Barnes Webinar Replays.
- His placement success is unmatched—see examples here: Harrison Barnes' Attorney Placements.
- He has created numerous comprehensive career development courses, including BigLaw Breakthrough, designed to help attorneys land positions at elite law firms.
Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes
If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.
Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.
With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.
A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success
Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.
Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:
- Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
- Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
- Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.
This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.
A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives
Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.
He has worked with:
- Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
- Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
- Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
- Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.
For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.
Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation
If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.
? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.
Alternative Summary
Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.
More about Harrison
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