#legal-industry

#legal-industry

For the first time in three years, more law firms are planning to expand their office footprint, rather than contract, according to a new report from commercial real estate brokerage CBRE.

Kicking off a shooting war in the Middle East undeniably impacts lawyers. That's newsworthy within the industry. We covered it here at Above the Law, for example discussing the evacuation plans Biglaw firms activated when missiles started flying across the Middle East.

Kathryn Ruemmler's legal career is noteworthy by any measure. The former White House counsel under President Barack Obama, she was a partner at Latham & Watkins and co-chair of its white-collar defense group. In 2020 Ruemmler left Biglaw for the in-house world at Goldman Sachs, where she currently serves as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel. But her relationship with Epstein has put quite the spotlight on her.

* Another former partner sues Kasowitz alleging unpaid compensation. [ NY Law Journal] * The Post Office will no longer postmark mail on the day it's sent. The goal is to prevent mail-in voting, but... so long mailbox rule![ Brookings] * Alex Spiro writes California governor warning him that his clients will leave California if the state attempts to make them actually pay taxes. [ Yahoo] * Jeffrey Toobin profiles Tom Goldstein's predicament. Key takeaway... it seems as though he might not have been quite as good at poker as he thought. [ New York Times Magazine]

Leaders need to make themselves vulnerable when it comes to AI. As Rajan observed, there is power in saying I don't know. Of admitting that I don't know what the future will hold or what the best AI use cases will be. That's a hard pill for most lawyers to swallow and for managing partners of a firm full of aggressive lawyers to admit.

We thank the Australian firm for the years of teamwork and partnership. We sincerely appreciate the long-term support and trust shown by our clients. We will continue to put clients first while striving for excellence in everything we do. We remain committed to our international strategy and will continue to expand our geographic coverage through both organic growth and collaboration with other leading firms globally.

Trump takes a chainsaw to a bunch of federal unions. [ Bloomberg Law] Bar exam scores are sky high. [ Reuters] More petty Trumpian retribution: Kamala Harris's Secret Service detail nixed. [ Huffington Post] The legal fight over the abortion pill is ramping up in disturbing ways. [ Slate] Trump's approval rating is down, as it turns out Americans aren't a fan of military takeovers. [ The Hill]

The legal industry experienced an unexpected increase in demand, primarily driven by litigation practices, while corporate practices in the Am Law 100 faced declines.

In the first half of 2025, there were only nine partner moves for New York private equity partners—less than 50% of the 2024 total, indicating cautious hiring.

A lawyer's referral can sometimes lead to misunderstandings about the level of effort required for matters that have little monetary value, potentially burdening the receiving attorney.

"Milbank's response to Trump's order underscores the legal community's ongoing resistance to executive overreach, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining checks and balances in governance."

Nearly 73% of lawyers say jerks are tolerated in some form at their firms, highlighting a pervasive issue that persists within the legal industry.

Giuffra isn't an outsider lawyer; he leads one of the most powerful law firms in America, weighing in on how the president's priorities affect the legal industry.

"Today we embark on an exciting new chapter. Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer unites two firms with complementary strengths, shared values, and a bold vision for the future."

The term 'Magic Circle' is now criticized as 'lazy journalism,' reflecting the diminishing charm of once-elite London law firms.