Who are the rainmakers in the legal profession? What traits do they embody? A recent study labelled the “Rainmaker Genome Project” sought to answer these questions. The project, helmed by Intapp and DCM Insights, surveyed approximately 1,800 partners hailing from 23 leading professional services firms. Their findings were classified into five categories: ‘activator’, ‘expert’, ‘confidant’, ‘debater’, and ‘realist’. Speaking to Law.com’s Patrick Smith, Matt Dixon, founding partner of DCM, pinpoints “activators” as the effective business developers, given their strategic traits of proactive, consistent networking.
In the light of our changing times, an increasing number of law clerks are making unconventional career decisions. Rather than opt for the traditionally coveted government positions or notable law firm roles, many are getting involved in the emerging industry of litigation finance. Law.com’s Jimmy Hoover brings to light the shift, explaining that such opportunities in litigation finance didn’t even exist two to three decades ago.
On a different note, Boston Market along with other defendants have been served an employment class-action lawsuit issued by attorneys Alexander Hood and Brianne Power on October 20. The defendants are accused of failing to pay lawful wages and partaking in deceptive trade practices. More about this case can be found on Law.com Radar.
Moving on to law firm strategy, an interesting transformation is being noticed with global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Over the years, the firm has been on an aggressive expansion spree in the U.S., a manoeuvre, which, as insiders and others close to the firm reveal to Law.com International’s Charlotte Johnstone, hinges on the consolidation of power in key regions – New York and Silicon Valley.
In another slice of legal industry insight, Abbey Kaplan of Kluger Kaplan’s alternative dispute resolution practice explains the increasing preference for resolving cases before trial. This trend, he argues, is causing the future of big-time trials to look rather limited for younger lawyers.