Illapa Search

📢 WilmerHale Announces Closure of Beijing Office After 20 Years In a significant development, U.S. law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr (WilmerHale) announced it will close its Beijing office, ending a two-decade presence in the region. This decision is part of a broader trend among major U.S. law firms reassessing their roles within China’s shifting legal market. "Like many others, WilmerHale has evaluated our global footprint and has made the decision to close our office in Beijing," the firm shared in a statement. WilmerHale joins a growing list of firms adjusting their China strategies. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom recently decided to shut down its Shanghai office, and several others—including Reed Smith, Perkins Coie, Dechert, Morrison & Foerster, and Sidley Austin—have taken similar steps in response to economic challenges, geopolitical tensions, and evolving market dynamics. Despite these closures, WilmerHale remains committed to supporting clients with interests in China and globally, with a continued focus on trade, sanctions and export control, anti-money laundering, and corporate transactions. What are your thoughts on this shifting landscape for U.S. firms in China? #LegalNews #LawFirmUpdates #GlobalMarkets #LegalIndustry #WilmerHale #Geopolitics #CorporateLaw #LegalTrends 

2024's First-Year Associate Classes Are Growing—Here's What the Numbers Say 📈 According to recent data from The American Lawyer via Law.com, first-year associate hiring is on the rise among Am Law 50 firms, with the median class size increasing by 11% compared to last year. Across responding firms, first-year hiring saw an average growth of 14%, going from 83 associates in 2023 to 94 in 2024. Some firms made substantial increases: ◾Paul, Weiss led with a 48% increase, welcoming 182 first-years globally. ◾Davis Polk & Wardwell followed with a 43% rise, bringing in 174 first-years. ◾Jones Day expanded its U.S. associate class by 33%, with 220 new hires. On the other hand, Goodwin Procter and Perkins Coie took a more conservative approach, with class sizes decreasing by 3% and nearly 29%, respectively. Interestingly, while first-year hiring ramped up, offers for 2L summer programs declined by nearly 19% in 2024, signaling a possible hiring slowdown in the coming years. According to NALP executive director Nikia Gray, firms may be anticipating a temporary excess capacity, leading to one of the softest recruiting seasons since the Great Recession. What are your thoughts on this trend? Is it a sign of short-term caution or a long-term shift in associate hiring strategies? #LegalIndustry #AssociateHiring #LawFirmTrends #AmLaw50 #LawFirmHiring #LegalRecruitment #NALP #LawJobs #FirstYearAssociates #LegalNews

Freshfields Expands to Texas and Boston! 🚀 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is expanding its presence in the United States with new offices in Texas and Boston!🌎 This strategic move marks a significant step in their commitment to serving clients in key U.S. markets and reflects their confidence in the growth potential across multiple sectors, from energy to technology and life sciences. The US has been Freshfields’ biggest growth engine in recent years; therefore, these new locations will continue their stateside revenue surge.📈 Texas and Boston are both hubs of innovation, strengthening the firm's ability to provide top-tier legal expertise to both local and global clients. Where do you think Freshfields will expand too next?🌐 #Freshfields #Expansion #LegalInnovation #Texas #Boston #Growth

❗ Our Hot Roles of the Week ❗     Are you considering your next move?     At Illapa Search, we frequently work with various law firms, from small/boutique firms to global, Vault 100 law firms across the U.S. Please see below our top roles of this week!     If you are interested in making a move, please don't hesitate to reach out: aliyah@illapasearch.com. 

🐾 Taking calls and sealing deals, one bark at a time! 🐕💼 Our newest team member is all ears and ready to help this Thursday! Who wouldn’t want a colleague this cute to get through the week? 😄 #WorkPerks #OfficeDog #AlmostFriday  

🌟 Clifford Chance Expands in New York! 🌟 Clifford Chance has announced the addition of two partners from O'Melveny & Myers, further enhancing their presence in the competitive U.S. legal market. David Schultz joins Clifford Chance after 17 years at O'Melveny, bringing over 20 years of experience representing private equity clients in complex business transactions. His expertise, along with Matthew Hinker’s focus on complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, will significantly enhance the firm’s capabilities in private equity and restructuring. This strategic move aligns with Clifford Chance's ongoing efforts to expand its footprint in the U.S. market, reflecting a trend seen across many firms. With recent partner hires, including restructuring specialists Brian J. Lohan and Maja Zerjal Fink from Arnold & Porter, as well as other key additions in Houston, the firm is clearly positioning itself for growth. In a rapidly changing legal landscape, it's compelling to see firms take bold steps to enhance their teams and adapt their services to meet clients' evolving needs. Exciting times are ahead! #LegalExpansion #CliffordChance #PartnerNews #PrivateEquity #Bankruptcy #Restructuring

Return-to-office resistance in Big Law: Who holds the cards? 🎯 Despite ongoing pushback, law firm management continues to hold the upper hand when it comes to office attendance mandates. Some firm leaders are even contemplating reducing draws or limiting bonuses for partners who haven't returned to the office in the coming months. According to several recruiters who regularly work with Big Law firms, management may be willing to let even high performers walk if necessary. Interestingly, while growing corporate demand and an active lateral market have given partners and associates more leverage, many firms remain cautious about talent retention. Leaders in the Am Law 200 know that top partners are commanding high premiums, and the fear of poaching is real. Most firms still operate on a flexible three-day office policy, but some are tightening up. Latham & Watkins recently announced a four-day office mandate for New York lawyers starting next year, joining others like Weil, Gotshal & Manges; Ropes & Gray; and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. It will be interesting to see how these policies evolve and impact the legal landscape in 2024. What are your thoughts on this shift? Does the balance of power lie with management, or are we seeing a long-term change in favor of attorneys? 💬 #BigLaw #ReturnToOffice #LegalIndustry #LawFirmLeadership #LegalTrends #OfficePolicy #HybridWork #LawFirmCulture #PartnerCompensation #TalentRetention  

AI in the legal industry ⚖      The integration of Artificial Intelligence in law isn't just a future trend—it's happening now! From speeding up document reviews to predicting case outcomes, AI tools are revolutionizing how legal professional's work. 💫     Some BigLaw firms that are currently infiltrating AI include A&O Shearman & Wilson Sonsini who believe that generative AI will be (and in some cases, already is) a great aid to increased productivity for lawyers. 📈     In a profession that values precision, AI empowers lawyers to focus on strategy and client relationships while technology handles the heavy lifting. The future of law isn't about replacing lawyers—it's about making the profession more innovative and client-focused. 🤝        #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #LegalInnovation 

❗ Our Hot Roles of the Week ❗    Are you considering your next move?     At Illapa Search, we frequently work with various law firms, from small/boutique firms to global, Vault 100 law firms across the U.S. Please see below our top roles of this week!     If you are interested in making a move, please don't hesitate to reach out: aliyah@illapasearch.com. 

⚖️ The Legal Recruiting Timeline: What to Expect Legal recruiting isn’t always a quick process—it can sometimes take months to go from application to starting a new role. Here’s a more realistic breakdown to help you plan ahead: 📥 Application to First Contact: 2-4 weeks Legal roles involve thorough reviews of resumes, so expect about 2-4 weeks before hearing from a recruiter or hiring manager. Don’t worry if it takes a bit longer—law firms are usually juggling multiple openings. 🗣️ Interview Process: 1-3 months Interviews in the legal field often happen in several rounds, and can involve multiple stakeholders, including partners, associates, and clients. Coordinating everyone’s schedule can take time—this phase could last anywhere from 1 to 3 months. 💼 Offer Stage: 2-4 weeks After all the interviews, expect 2-4 weeks for firms to make their final decision. Law firms are meticulous, so they may take extra time to get all the feedback and approval needed before making an offer. 📅 Start Date: 1-2 months Once the offer is accepted, the start date might be another 1-2 months away, allowing time for onboarding, notice periods at your current firm, and other logistics. ⏲️ Total Timeline: It’s not uncommon for the process to take 3-6 months from application to your first day, depending on the role and firm. Patience is key, but it’ll be worth it when you land the right fit! Legal recruiting takes time, but understanding the process can help you manage expectations. If you have any questions about timelines or need advice, feel free to reach out—we're here to help! #LegalRecruiting #AttorneyCareers #LawJobs #LegalProfession #JobSearchTips #CareerJourney