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All The Attorneys We Lost In 2018... To Other Law Firms

Much needed trimming or a sign of trouble?

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One of the best parts of any awards show is the annual “In Memoriam” multimedia extravaganza where an industry honors those it’s lost over the last year. The human highlight reel of accomplishments demonstrates just how much of a debt the present owes to the individuals who’ve departed.

Similarly, there are more than a few law firms looking around their offices wondering whatever happened to the star talent that once populated the halls. Law360 took stock of the firms most ravaged by attrition — mostly lateral attrition — over the last year. Consider this an “In Memoriam” for these firms watching their human capital move on.

LeClair Ryan: Attorney headcount down 18.2 percent. Partner headcount down 14.2 percent.

If those numbers look bad, know that the equity partner numbers look worse. Law360 reports that LeClair Ryan’s equity ranks have dropped by 60 percent. Still, the firm just opened a Dallas office and seems committed to turning this crisis into an opportunity for a leaner practice. Time will tell whether or not that works out for them.

Winstead: Attorney headcount down 10.9 percent. Partner headcount down 1.9 percent.

For Winstead, the mantra might be that less is more. Even though the firm shed a number of attorneys in the ongoing assault of large national firms luring talent away from established Texas firms, Winstead posted its second-highest profits ever last year.

Knobbe Martens: Attorney headcount down 10.8 percent. Partner headcount down 7.2 percent.

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Intellectual property law in America may be a mess overall, but one of its successes over the last few years is the advent of the PTAB process to streamline patent disputes. Unfortunately, this does put a dent in the need for armies of patent attorneys.

Lathrop Gage: Attorney headcount down 9.5 percent. Partner headcount down 11.4 percent.

Don’t let the numbers fool you, this firm is in growth mode, having expanded in Boston and Los Angeles and having added a Dallas office this year. It just happens to be that the losses have outpaced the growth over the last four years. Still, with revenue up, Lathrop might be getting the better end of the flow.

Jenner & Block: Attorney headcount down 9.1 percent. Partner headcount down 13.8 percent.

From Jenner’s perspective, 2018 was the exception that proves the rule. Beyond the snapshot of last year, the firm’s been growing and even expanded internationally in 2018 — something not captured by the U.S. headcount numbers.

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You can check out more analysis over at Law360.

The Firms That Lost The Most Attorneys In 2018 [Law360]

HeadshotJoe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.

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