Women made up 50.3% of U.S. associates last year, new National Association for Law Placement figures show, marking the first time women outnumbered men. However, another report found that attorneys with disabilities remain vastly underrepresented, totaling just 1.4% of law firm lawyers.
Overall, the U.S. legal services sector is projected to break its record high employment level, but firms will need to adjust staffing and billing approaches to thrive in what has become a buyer’s market. A report, produced by Georgetown Law’s Center on Ethics and the Legal Profession and the Thomson Reuters Institute, said that lackluster demand, efforts by clients to reduce spending, and the rise of AI will create intertwining challenges for law firms this year.
More from the legal industry …
Cravath registered as a foreign agent, disclosing to the DOJ that it met with U.S. officials eight years ago on behalf of Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma … Davis Polk faces a trial in a lawsuit over a former corporate lawyer’s claims of alleged racial discrimination and retaliation … A moonlighting former Crowell & Moring partner was suspended from practicing law … The Senate confirmed Texas’ John Kazen as the first new federal judge of 2024 … Two of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees withdrew from consideration … 4th Circuit Judge James Wynn will step down from active service, opening a fourth seat for Biden to fill on the court … Stanford Law School appointed its third dean in four months … A rare sexual harassment trial involving the U.S. federal judiciary came to a close … A Rutgers law student sued the university and several law school administrators, alleging they discriminated and retaliated against him for raising concerns over antisemitism on campus … And, halfway through the fall 2024 admissions cycle, the law school applicant pool is the most diverse ever.
Moves:
- In New York …
O’Melveny added former federal prosecutor David Kelley to its white collar practice … Morrison Foerster hired Tammy Davies as a partner in its finance group from Paul Hastings … Boies Schiller Flexner added securities and corporate governance litigator Renee Zaytsev from Thompson Hine … Proskauer added partner Craig Whitney to its IP practice from Frankfurt Kurnit Klein + Selz … David Selden joined Cooley’s fund formation practice from PricewaterhouseCoopers.
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In Washington, D.C. …
Thompson Coburn hired white collar defense partner Kenyen Brown from Hughes Hubbard & Reed … Anna Chauvet Finnegan rejoined Finnegan to lead its copyright practice.
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In Los Angeles …
Jenner & Block added former federal prosecutor Carolyn Small to its investigations, compliance and defense practice … McGuireWoods brought on corporate insurance policyholder lawyer Mikaela Whitman from Pasich.
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In New Orleans …
Former Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards joined Fishman Haygood when he left office on Jan. 8.
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In Delaware …
Quinn Emanuel opened an office in Wilmington.
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In Dallas …
Employee benefits, labor and employment partner Traci Clements joined Fox Rothschild from McGinnis Lochridge.
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In Boston …
Allen & Overy added Nicole Daley to its corporate and life sciences teams from Goodwin Procter.
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In Orange County …
Haynes Boone hired corporate partner Paul Tobin from Buchalter.
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In Georgia …
David Dove, the executive counsel to Governor Brian Kemp, will join Troutman Pepper on Feb. 1 … Moore & Van Allen hired entertainment finance attorney Brett Moskowitz from Mayer Brown.
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In Portland …
Littler added Lisa Shevlin as a shareholder from Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith.
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In Mexico City …
DLA Piper hiredAlvaro Sarmiento Lapiedra as a partner in the firm’s finance practice.
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In Paris …
White & Case hired two dispute partners from Quinn Emanuel.
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