The Decline of Litigation?: Part 1
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about litigation. It’s been one of the two major locomotives driving revenue and profit for BigLaw for the past 50 years or so–the other being transactional or corporate...
View ArticleThe Decline of Litigation? Part 2
We haven’t talked yet about realization. Shall we? The first time I saw this chart, it hit me between the eyes; your reaction may be similar. In a nutshell: Even if litigation “demand” is more or...
View ArticleFiscal Equinox (Observed)
With thanks to our friends at Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute. You spend from January 1 to April 23 devoting your revenue to paying taxes; After April 23 (we’re talking averages here)...
View ArticleAdam Smith, Esq. in “Dinero”
In its latest issue, Dinero, Colombia’s most important business magazine, published an interview with our Bogotá-based Director, Antonio Leal Holguín. The interview is part of a special edition on law...
View ArticleQuestion of the Month #3–Best Measure of Law Firm Performance: Report &...
Question of the Month #3 was, “What is the best measure of law firm performance?” This column is by Janet Stanton, Partner, Adam Smith, Esq. This question is gaining currency in our industry, with it...
View ArticleQuestion of the Month #4: Non-lawyer Ownership?
Our fourth question of the month. At this point, you know what to do. As always, please use the comments box to add thoughts, glosses, and, well, commentary.
View ArticleThe Decline of Litigation? Part 3
At the outset of this series, I explicitly said that I am not implying that disputes in the world were declining, just that revenue to law firms from the litigation practice would decline. But it...
View ArticleLetter from Toronto
Most readers are familiar with our habit of writing a “letter from…” when we have spent some time in a particular market. We spent last week in Toronto among other things delivering the keynote and...
View ArticlePolls about to Close on September’s “Question of the Month”
Today is September 29th and voting is about to close on this month’s Question: Is the prohibition against non-lawyers having an ownership interest in a law firm still a good idea? Cast your vote here....
View ArticleQuestion of the Month #5: De-equitizing Partners?
We intend October’s “Question of the Month” to squarely address an issue laden with financial and emotional repercussions. But we have surpassing confidence that Adam Smith, Esq.’s intrepid readers...
View ArticleAn Iron Fist in the Velvet Glove of Associate Pay?
Across the pond from New York our friend Alex Novarese, editor in chief of Legal Business, just published his commentary Associate pay smoke screen: it’s fooling no-one, which notes “the emergence over...
View ArticleWhat Do the AmLaw Numbers Really Show?
With the kind permission of Thomson Reuters, I republish the following article which appears in the most recent edition of their Forum magazine. What are we to make of the recently released 2016 AmLaw...
View ArticleQuestion of the Month #4: Ban on non-lawyer ownership still a good idea?...
This column is by Janet Stanton, Partner, Adam Smith, Esq. Let’s start at the source. Here is the most salient part of Rule 5.4 “Professional Independence of a Lawyer” regarding law firm ownership for...
View ArticleJoin Ralph Baxter in NYC this Wednesday Evening
Stop by the Princeton Club and join me and Ralph Baxter, the former head of Orrick, for a cocktail reception. It would be great to see you there and, if we haven’t met, we could have a chance to chat...
View ArticleDo Open Legal Markets Spur Innovation?
The following article is reprinted by kind permission of Thomson Reuters, where it first appeared in their Forum magazine. It was written by Antonio Leal Holguin, Director, Adam Smith, Esq. The...
View ArticleAdam Smith, Esq./Leopard Solutions 3-Part Webinar Series on Using Data to...
Learn how using data can improve your outcomes. Whether you are bringing on laterals, generating business, or even contemplating a combination – do you have the information you need to make better...
View ArticleLitigation Boutiques Have Issues, Too
Over the past year or two, we’ve been working with what struck us as a high number of litigation boutiques, and we decided to pause and gather our thoughts for, we can always hope, the benefit of a...
View ArticleTenerife
Forty years ago last March what remains the greatest disaster in aviation history occurred at Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Human error was the primary cause. 583 people were killed (61 survived, or...
View ArticleMy Podcast with ABA’s “Legal Rebels”
This was recorded somewhat earlier this year. It’s always nerve-wracking to wonder how one is going to sound, but my opinion is not the one that matters. Yours is.
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