Buchanan Law’s Post

2023 saw a reserved approach to hiring across the legal market. With various practice areas slowing down across M&A, Finance & Private Equity, this inevitably had an impact on vacancies; with 80% less roles advertised in comparison to 2022. The competition to retain talent continued to be a main concern for law firms. As we see more hiring activity from US firms in 2024, how will this impact Associate headcount across the London firms? With Clifford Chance leading the charge, our data shows the London firms who have increased their Associate headcount over the last quarter.   For further updates on the Associate market, please contact Emily Donnell and Lauren Steff.   #legalmarket #legalrecruitment #legalmarket #lawfirms 

LEVERAGE FINANCE (US / UK law firms) 2023 saw a slower market due to what was probably over-recruitment in 2021 & 2022 and the impact of rising interest rates. However, 2024 shows promising signs of stability. Exciting lateral moves are happening, and speaking to partners, they anticipate a busier second half of the year. I have multiple live opportunities for 2-5 PQE lawyers at UK and US law firms. These roles focus on leverage finance (lender or sponsor side) or encompass lev-fin alongside broader finance areas like infrastructure and fund finance depending on the practice. If you are considering your next career move, let's connect. More roles are expected after the summer. Σ 07515788732 Σ Ryan@sigmalegalsearch.com.

Article on "Big Law" returning to some degree of 'normalcy' in 2024, one I can see reflecting in my world, with hiring patterns and recruitment trends across Legal Marketing returning us to a pre pandemic arena. By and large this means, a more steady pace of roles, with the majority of these being replacement headcount and individuals getting a slightly lower uplift in salaries than people received in 22 & 23. (my guess will be inflation plus a few percent being the norm) An ongoing headache I foresee for hiring managers in 24 and one most firms still need to work out a plan for is recruiting those specialist 3-4 years experience roles. As most firms didn't hire juniors in 20/21, there is a real shortage of qualified individuals at that exact level. (But that's a slightly different conversation) “We’re not seeing the peaks we saw in 2021, which were exciting but we knew they weren’t sustainable. We’re not seeing the valleys we saw in 2022 and 2023, which we knew were temporary, but were disconcerting,” he said. “That pendulum is hopefully returning to middle ground.”

GC's #1 strategy for cost-control in 2024? Efficient processes! The Thomson Reuters 2024 State of the US Legal Market report tells us that before they think about bringing the work in-house, asking for discounts, or moving to a lower-cost firm, they are first looking for efficient processes. Mid-size and boutique firms that are focusing on operations and client experience so they can deliver more efficient processes are likely to keep business that may otherwise be lost either to another firm or to in-house hiring. Partners viewing their firm through an entrepreneurial lens know that contract attorney hiring can be a great tool to deliver niche expertise on-demand without raising overhead. #mlaglobal #hireanesquire #midsizelawfirms

𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 While Goldman Sachs has increased their estimated probability of a recession occurring in the United States to 25% in the next 12 months, law firms remain looking "stronger than ever".   Thomson Reuters recently released the Q2 Law Firm Financial Index report which saw a 2.4% increase in demand for law firms. The top AM Law 100 firms have mostly seen an increased growth in transactional work, while overall in the AM Law 200 rankings there has been a strengthening in demand for litigious expertise.   With appetite for law firms positively trending upwards, interestingly the report details that the recent quarter has sustained a more "robust and multifaceted" growth in demand than the 2020-21 boom.   Despite increase in the probability of a predicted recession, firms continue to move forward with lateral hiring demand given the strength of the industry in the face of general geopolitical uncertainty. https://lnkd.in/gRcAKVka

🌟 Good things are happening! 🌟 1. Best of luck to my securities litigation attorney heading into a first round with a nationally recognized securities firm. This role offers bigger cases, growth opportunities, and a salary increase - a perfect match! 2. Wishing my transactional tax attorney success in their second round in-person interview at a highly regarded tax boutique. This position would allow them to leave the AmLaw grind for better billable hours and a transparent partnership track without sacrificing sophisticated work. 3. Sending good luck vibes to our corporate attorney in the final round at an AmLaw100 firm. This attorney is interested in a lateral move to a higher ranked firm for more hands-on experience in large deals and direct client contact. 4. Last but not least, good luck to the finance attorney interviewing with a midsize NYC firm. Hoping to transition from New Jersey for a higher base salary, and more diverse client exposure in the city. I cannot write about all these exciting possibilities without giving a big shout out to my team, as each of the opportunities above are a collaboration with my teammates. Erica V. Cesaro, Esq. Gianne Falvo-Mangiro, Esq. Brianne Kovach Delia McCabe Maria Paparatto, J.D. Always happy to promote the fact that teaming up with an LHH recruiter means you get a team of people working on your behalf! #GoodLuck #Opportunities #CareerGrowth #taxlaw #securitieslitigation #corporatelaw #transactionallaw #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #salarybump #newjob #betterbillables #worklifebalance #hybrid #finance #legaljobs #LHH #lawfirms #attorneys #hitmeupsowecandiscussyourfuture

✳  HIRING: Banking & Finance Associates | Am Law 25 Firm | Atlanta ✳ We’re partnering with the Atlanta office of an Am Law 25 firm to find talented attorneys for their Chambers and Partners nationally-ranked Banking and Finance practice. Interested? Check the comments for a link to the job description and application. Let's connect to discuss this exciting opportunity! Lateral Link #LegalRecruiting #BigLaw #BankingAndFinance #AtlantaLawJobs #LateralLink #legalprofession

I'd love your input, and you're going to benefit from the data we collect in the comments. Hoping for feedback from partners, associates, law firm recruiters and agencies. Obviously, you don't need to name firms and you can message me privately if you don't want to comment publicly. 1) What is the rough percentage of firms you've worked with that offer equity partnership to partners with NO book. 2) Are the firms who offer "junior equity" on Cravath lockstep or ranked top 50 Am Law? 3) Of these firms, is the all-in compensation greater or less than $750k all-in? If you can elaborate on compensation models, even better.

𝟰 𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙈&𝘼 𝙡𝙖𝙬𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙨 - 𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚. 𝘽𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙚: 1. 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 - team occupying unique position in the market for both M&A + PE. Class yeas 2020 + 2021 (or equivalent if coming from overseas). 2. 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 - Private M&A 3-5 pqe UK (or equivalent if coming from overseas). Global elite firm. 3. 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲 - junior M&A 1-2 pqe on a UK scale (or equivalent for international lawyers). Global elite firm. 4. 𝗦𝘆𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆 - 2 years + including Senior Associates - band 1 firm. So much to say about this team, and limited wordcount, but this is a team every international firm wants to recruit out of. Speaks volumes. Contact me or reach out to our local contacts: Australia: Ben Smith or Vijay Bragato London: Alex Russell or Sally Gardner USA: Sophia Arkley or Matt Moody

Its been a while since I've given a general Big Law Market Update: Here's a breakdown of the busiest practice groups: Finance: Opportunities abound across all class levels and locations. M&A/PE: There's a strong focus on midlevels and senior associates, particularly in major markets like NYC, DC, Chicago, and the Bay Area. Funds: Midlevel associates are most sought after, but many firms are also open to junior and senior associates on an opportunistic basis in major markets such as NY, DC, and Boston. Restructuring: There's a steady and continued need for professionals at all levels, especially in major markets like NY, Chicago, DC, and Texas. The market is ripe with opportunities for strong associates. While midlevels may be the most marketable, both junior and senior associates can still find ample opportunities through public postings or opportunistic looks. Remember, this is a general outlook, and specific opportunities will vary based on factors such as your experience, location, class level, and specialty. If you're interested in a more targeted and tailored rundown of the market and available opportunities, don't hesitate to reach out. gh@damatosearch.com | 516-662-8740 #BigLawOpportunities, #LegalCareerGrowth, #MajorMarketMoves, #TopTierFirms