Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has announced the return of Josh Lane as a partner in its Corporate practice based in Nashville, Tennessee. Lane, who previously served as a corporate partner at K&L Gates, rejoins the firm after several years in an in-house leadership role, bringing with him a wealth of transactional and strategic experience that bolsters the firm’s business law capabilities in the Southeast.

A Strategic Return to a Familiar Firm

Lane’s move marks a homecoming of sorts. Before taking on his recent executive position, he was a partner in K&L Gates’ Irvine, California, office, where he advised clients on mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, corporate governance, and emerging company matters. Now, he returns to the firm with an expanded skill set honed through his time as Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Prolific, a consulting and capital investment firm.

During his tenure at Prolific, Lane provided strategic legal counsel on corporate transactions, investment structuring, regulatory compliance, and business growth initiatives. His dual experience—both in private practice and as an in-house executive—positions him uniquely to serve clients across a wide range of industries, combining technical legal acumen with practical business insight.

Expanding the Firm’s Presence in Nashville

K&L Gates’ decision to reintroduce Lane to its ranks comes amid a period of expansion for its Nashville office, which has seen steady growth in transactional and corporate advisory work. As one of the firm’s key offices in the Southeast, Nashville plays a pivotal role in serving clients across industries such as healthcare, technology, finance, and real estate, all of which have seen increasing levels of deal activity and capital investment in recent years.

Lane’s arrival enhances K&L Gates’ corporate offerings in the region, further aligning with the firm’s strategic goal of strengthening its footprint in growing business hubs. His experience in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, and securities law complements the firm’s existing transactional teams and adds depth to its client service capabilities.

A Strong Track Record in Complex Transactions

Throughout his career, Lane has represented clients in a variety of high-value transactions, ranging from private equity and venture capital investments to public securities offerings and strategic acquisitions. His work has spanned several sectors, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, fintech, and health technology—industries that have been driving significant legal demand across the U.S. market.

Lane’s clients have included public and private companies, family offices, institutional investors, and emerging growth enterprises. His multidisciplinary background allows him to navigate the complex regulatory and transactional issues that often accompany cross-border deals, capital markets activity, and business growth strategies.

In addition to his transactional work, Lane has advised clients on matters of corporate governance, compliance, and risk management, areas that have become increasingly critical as companies adapt to evolving regulatory standards and heightened investor expectations.

Reinforcing K&L Gates’ National Corporate Platform

K&L Gates’ corporate practice is one of the largest within the firm’s international network, spanning offices across the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm’s attorneys advise on all aspects of business law, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, venture financing, and capital markets transactions.

The addition of Lane to the Nashville office underscores K&L Gates’ ongoing investment in expanding its national transactional footprint. It also highlights the firm’s commitment to developing local talent and leadership in regional markets that are experiencing significant economic and legal growth.

With Nashville emerging as a hub for healthcare, tech innovation, and financial services, K&L Gates’ enhanced corporate presence positions the firm to capture new opportunities and provide tailored counsel to a diverse client base.

Lane’s Perspective on His Return

While K&L Gates has not released an official statement from Lane, his return reflects a growing trend of lawyers rejoining firms where they previously built their careers. Many attorneys are finding renewed alignment with large firms’ resources and collaborative structures, especially after gaining valuable in-house experience.

Professionals like Lane often find that returning to private practice allows them to leverage their business insight to better anticipate client needs, particularly in fast-moving sectors like technology and healthcare.

His decision to rejoin K&L Gates underscores the firm’s appeal as a platform that offers both global reach and local strength—an essential combination for today’s corporate advisors.

Looking Ahead: Strengthening the Firm’s Corporate Capabilities

As law firms continue to compete for top talent in key practice areas, strategic additions like Lane’s return help reinforce K&L Gates’ standing as a major player in the corporate law space. His Nashville-based practice will likely serve as a cornerstone for further expansion in the region, supporting clients ranging from startups and investors to established multinational companies.

K&L Gates’ focus on building cross-office collaboration also means Lane’s work will extend beyond Tennessee, connecting with the firm’s broader national and international corporate network.

A Growing Legal Hub with a Promising Future

Nashville has quickly evolved into one of the Southeast’s most dynamic legal and business markets. With a booming healthcare sector, expanding venture capital activity, and increasing demand for transactional counsel, the city has become a magnet for both law firms and corporate professionals.

K&L Gates’ investment in its Nashville operations—and the return of experienced partners like Josh Lane—demonstrates its long-term commitment to supporting that growth and delivering high-caliber legal service to clients throughout the region.

Stay ahead in your legal career with exclusive updates on law firm moves, trends, and job opportunities. Visit LawCrossing.com to explore the latest openings at top firms like K&L Gates and take your next step toward success.

The post K and L Gates Welcomes Back Corporate Partner Josh Lane in Nashville first appeared on JDJournal Blog.

Foley & Lardner’s Growth Strategy

In its ongoing effort to expand its footprint, Foley & Lardner, a firm with a 2023 gross revenue of $1.17 billion, has announced the opening of a new office in Raleigh, North Carolina. This move positions the firm at No. 45 on the Am Law 100 list. The Raleigh office is strategically opened after acquiring a team of life sciences and health care lawyers from K&L Gates, which is ranked No. 40 on the same list.

Key Hires from K&L Gates

The new Raleigh office will be spearheaded by partners Joshua Skora, Andrea Cunha, and Leah D’Aurora Richardson. This team, which includes three associates with plans to expand further, brings a wealth of expertise in life sciences and health care. The decision to open in Raleigh aligns with Foley & Lardner’s long-term strategy to establish a strong presence in the region.

Want to know if you’re earning what you deserve? Find out with LawCrossing’s salary surveys.

Strategic Market Entry

Daljit Doogal, Foley & Lardner’s chairman and CEO, highlighted the importance of entering the Raleigh market. He emphasized that the firm had been eyeing this market for some time but was waiting for the right opportunity to establish a substantial presence. The new team’s focus aligns with the firm’s goals of growing its health care, corporate, and private equity practices in North Carolina.

Building a Local Presence

Doogal mentioned the firm’s intention to grow its headcount in Raleigh significantly. He stressed the importance of hiring local talent and immersing the firm in the local community. “There’s a lot of talented lawyers in that market, where we want to grow it and grow smartly with the right people,” he said. “But when we enter a market, we want to immerse ourselves in the market, we want to service clients in that market, we want to hire locally for that, we want to immerse ourselves in the community. That takes an office of critical mass.”

Whether you’re a recent law school grad or an experienced attorney, BCG Attorney Search has the job for you.

Future Prospects

The new Raleigh office marks a significant step in Foley & Lardner’s expansion plans. By bringing in a specialized team from K&L Gates, the firm aims to strengthen its position in the competitive legal landscape of North Carolina. Best of luck to Foley & Lardner as they continue to grow and make their mark in the Raleigh market.

Don’t be a silent ninja! Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

The post Biglaw Firm Expansion: Foley & Lardner Opens New Office in Raleigh first appeared on JDJournal Blog.

As generative AI technology continues to revolutionize the legal profession, prominent law firms like K&L Gates, Dechert, and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe are incorporating AI training into their summer associate programs. This initiative is aimed at equipping new legal professionals with essential skills to leverage AI tools effectively in their practice.

Preparing for the Future with AI

K&L Gates, Dechert, and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe are integrating training on generative AI for their summer associates, providing hands-on experience with research and chatbot tools currently in use at these firms. This training reflects the firms’ belief that future lawyers must harness AI to succeed, rather than being replaced by it. Brendan McDonnell, a partner at K&L Gates and a member of the firm’s AI solutions group, emphasizes the importance of understanding how to interact with AI to extract useful information for clients.

Want to know if you’re earning what you deserve? Find out with LawCrossing’s salary surveys.

Bridging the Gap Between Technology and Practice

McDonnell highlights that the goal of the training program is to demonstrate how AI will impact daily legal work. While AI is expected to automate many routine tasks, it will also open up new areas of legal practice and allow junior lawyers more time to focus on complex legal issues.

Experimentation and Client Openness

Most law firms are still in the experimental phase with AI tools, and their use depends largely on client receptiveness. Alex Su, chief revenue officer at Latitude Legal, notes that the legal industry is in a transition period, making it difficult to predict the immediate impact on staffing.

Evolving Tech Proficiency for Lawyers

Nora Freeman Engstrom of Stanford Law School underscores that modern lawyers must be proficient with a suite of sophisticated tech-based tools, moving beyond basic familiarity with Word and Westlaw. This proficiency is crucial for delivering top-tier legal services in the 21st century.

Whether you’re a recent law school grad or an experienced attorney, BCG Attorney Search has the job for you.

Marketing and Recruitment Benefits

Integrating AI training into summer associate programs also serves as a marketing strategy for law firms. These programs, akin to paid internships that often lead to full-time job offers, help promote the firm’s brand to law students and build a recruiting pipeline. Alex Su notes that AI training signals a firm’s commitment to embracing new technologies.

Challenges of Training and Substantive Knowledge

Michele DeStefano, a professor at the University of Miami Law, cautions that while AI training is beneficial, it must be paired with substantive legal knowledge. Without this background, new lawyers may struggle to determine the quality of AI-generated answers.

Focus on Prompt Engineering

K&L Gates and Orrick are collaborating with tech learning platform AltaClaro for comprehensive training on “prompt engineering,” the science of interacting with generative AI models. AltaClaro’s CEO, Abdi Shayesteh, mentions that 15 AmLaw200 firms are working with AltaClaro on AI training, though Orrick has been the first to include it in their summer associate program.

Practical Applications and Mentorship

K&L Gates’ summer associates will be trained on using CaseText’s Co-Counsel, a legal AI assistant, and paired with internal AI “power users” for practical experience. Dechert offers one-on-one training between summer associates and attorneys using AI tools, emphasizing that legal capabilities remain the primary assessment criterion.

Ensuring Accuracy and Brand Protection

One major concern with AI adoption is the potential for inaccuracies or “hallucinations” in AI outputs. The legal profession has seen notable incidents, such as two New York lawyers being fined for submitting a brief with fictitious cases generated by ChatGPT. McDonnell stresses the importance of maintaining rigorous vetting processes to protect the firm’s reputation.

Stay up-to-date without the overwhelming noise. Subscribe to JDJournal for a curated selection of the most relevant legal news.

Embracing the Competitive Edge

Despite these challenges, many law firms, historically slow to adopt new technology, are now embracing generative AI. Firms like Dechert, Wilson Sonsini, A&O Shearman, and Paul Weiss are investing in AI tools and startups, recognizing the competitive advantage they offer. AltaClaro’s Shayesteh notes that the legal industry is now moving at a faster pace to integrate these technologies effectively.

By training summer associates in generative AI, law firms are preparing the next generation of lawyers to navigate and leverage cutting-edge tools, ensuring they remain competitive and capable in an evolving legal landscape.

Don’t be a silent ninja! Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

The post Big Law Firms Integrate Generative AI Training for Summer Associates first appeared on JDJournal Blog.

Unveiling the Undercurrents

As 2023 unfolds, the legal landscape is dominated by the resonating news of associate raises and bonuses. However, beneath this facade of prosperity, a less publicized reality looms – the industry is grappling with a surge in cuts and layoffs.

Unveiling K&L Gates Layoffs

In a recent exposé by The American Lawyer and other reputable media outlets, K&L Gates, a global legal powerhouse, is scrutinized for laying off associates in four pivotal offices – Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Washington. The blame is attributed to a decline in work levels. The firm contends personnel decisions hinge on individual performance, client demand, and related reviews. Despite these workforce reductions, K&L Gates maintains its financial health, having also parted ways with professional staff members across various offices.

Want to know if you’re earning what you deserve? Find out with LawCrossing’s salary surveys.

Divergent Responses Across Firms

Brett Durham, managing partner of K&L Gates’ Charlotte office, underscores the firm’s commitment to aligning employees with roles that enhance client service and efficiency. However, media inquiries are promptly redirected to the firm’s media and public relations team, signaling a broader reluctance within the industry to discuss layoffs’ challenges openly.

Other significant players in the legal arena, including Brooks Pierce, Womble Bond Dickinson, Moore & Van Allen, Ogletree Deakins, Smith Anderson, McGuireWoods, and MaynardNexsen, maintain a conspicuous silence, contributing to an industry-wide hesitancy to address the issue head-on.

Stay up-to-date without the overwhelming noise. Subscribe to JDJournal for a curated selection of the most relevant legal news.

The Imperative of Preparedness for Lawyers

As speculations about the certainty of law firm layoffs abound, a sense of proactive preparedness becomes paramount. Josh Van Kampen, founder of an employment law firm in Charlotte, warns that hard work and loyalty may no longer guarantee job security. Seasoned employees are advised to be ready to transition their practice to a new platform if necessary, highlighting the necessity for adaptability in a shifting legal landscape.

Strategic Measures for Protection

In this climate of uncertainty, lawyers are urged to take charge of their professional destinies. Regular self-assessment, maintaining client relationships, and understanding one’s value in the marketplace emerge as crucial strategies for safeguarding positions. Jonathan Crotty, a partner with Parker Poe, underscores the significance of a broad skill set and excellence in performance evaluations to mitigate the risk of layoffs.

Anticipating and Mitigating Layoffs

The Inevitability of Layoffs

Predictions about inevitable layoffs cast a shadow, as suggested by polls, including one conducted by law.com. The landscape has shifted, and outstanding employees are not immune to job cuts. Documentation of positive performance and astute observation of peer performance becomes a survival toolkit in navigating these uncertain waters.

Protective Measures for Firms

While individuals strive to secure their professional futures, firms face legal risks associated with layoffs. Jonathan Crotty advises against arbitrary decision-making and emphasizes the importance of establishing clear criteria before making selections. Offering severance packages and seeking a release of claims emerges as a strategic move to mitigate legal risks associated with downsizing.

In a climate of uncertainty, lawyers and firms are urged to adopt proactive measures to navigate the challenges posed by layoffs in the legal industry. The road ahead demands adaptability, strategic planning, and a keen awareness of the evolving dynamics within law firms.

Don’t be a silent ninja! Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

The post Navigating Uncertainty in the Legal Industry: Layoffs Amidst the Echo of Raises and Bonuses first appeared on JDJournal Blog.

Recent Staff Reductions Across Four Cities

K&L Gates has implemented workforce reductions affecting associates in at least four major cities. Despite a reported surge in revenue, the firm has not been immune to the recent trend of law firms downsizing.

Unprecedented Layoffs

The staff cuts occurred in Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh. This development was unexpected as K&L Gates continues to experience a notable increase in overall revenue.

Firm’s Response

K&L Gates has refrained from providing explicit comments on the reported staff reductions. Instead, the firm released a statement to Law.com, explaining that its annual workforce management practices are grounded in personnel performance, client demand, and related reviews.

Want to know if you’re earning what you deserve? Find out with LawCrossing’s salary surveys.

“This year was no exception,” the firm asserted, subtly addressing the ongoing workforce adjustments. K&L Gates emphasized its strong overall performance, with year-to-date revenue significantly surpassing last year’s record figures.

Industry-Wide Trends

Performance evaluations as a criterion for downsizing appear to be a growing trend within the legal industry. Other firms such as Ropes & Gray, Goodwin Procter, and Kirkland & Ellis have cited similar reasons for recent staff reductions.

Stay up-to-date without the overwhelming noise. Subscribe to JDJournal for a curated selection of the most relevant legal news.

Layoffs in the Legal Sector

K&L Gates joins a list of law firms that have publicly acknowledged layoffs in legal and non-legal staff throughout the year. Reed Smith, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, and Goodwin Procter are among those who have grappled with the need to recalibrate their workforce despite the broader economic challenges.

Don’t be a silent ninja! Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

The post K&L Gates Implements Workforce Adjustments Amidst Financial Success first appeared on JDJournal Blog.

Amid widespread news about hefty salary hikes and generous bonuses across BigLaw, it’s crucial to recognize that not every major law firm is basking in financial prosperity. Contrary to the prevailing narrative, K&L Gates, a prominent player in the legal arena, is currently making headlines for conducting associate layoffs in several of its key offices.

Layoffs Due to Lack of Billable Hours

Reports from The American Lawyer indicate that K&L Gates is implementing layoffs in at least four of its offices: Chicago, Boston, Washington, and Pittsburgh. The primary factor behind these workforce reductions is a significant shortfall in billable hours. Legal recruiters noted that affected individuals were caught off guard, emphasizing that the explanation was simply a “lack of work.”

Firm’s Response and Financial Health

In response to inquiries about the layoffs, K&L Gates provided a statement emphasizing that the headcount adjustments are a routine part of their annual personnel management. The firm clarified that headcount decisions are influenced by personnel performance, client demand, and related reviews. The statement assures stakeholders that the firm’s overall health remains robust despite these personnel decisions.

Want to know if you’re earning what you deserve? Find out with LawCrossing’s salary surveys.

According to the firm’s representative, “The firm is performing quite well, with year-to-date revenue up strongly over last year, which was itself a record revenue year for the firm.” This suggests that the firm is experiencing financial success while some associates face layoffs.

Uncertainty Surrounding Layoff Scope

Currently, the exact scope of the layoffs at K&L Gates remains uncertain. The legal community is left waiting for more details on the extent of the workforce reductions. The news has sparked discussions within the industry about the potential reasons behind the lack of billable hours and how it might impact other major law firms.

Industry Reflection and Support

The announcement serves as a reminder that challenges persist within the legal industry despite the prevailing positive trends in BigLaw compensation. The fate of affected associates is unknown, and the legal community is expressing solidarity with those suddenly finding themselves out of work.

Stay up-to-date without the overwhelming noise. Subscribe to JDJournal for a curated selection of the most relevant legal news.

Conclusion

As BigLaw continues to witness financial highs and lows, the recent associate layoffs at K&L Gates underscore the importance of staying attuned to the industry’s dynamics. The legal community awaits further details on the scope of these layoffs and remains vigilant amidst the evolving landscape of personnel changes in major law firms.

Don’t be a silent ninja! Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

The post Associate Layoffs Hit K&L Gates Amidst BigLaw’s Compensation Buzz first appeared on JDJournal Blog.

A former partner at the U.S. law firm K&L Gates, Willie Dennis, was sentenced to two years in prison by a Manhattan federal judge on Friday. Dennis was convicted of three counts of cyberstalking in October 2022 after sending harassing and threatening messages to former law partners and colleagues at the firm. The cyberstalking campaign began in 2018 and escalated after he was fired the following year.

According to prosecutors, Dennis’s threatening messages caused one person at the firm to leave New York and move to another state. Another individual had to upgrade his home security system and sleep with a loaded gun beside his bed for fear of the messages. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams expressed relief for the victims, stating, “The sentence imposed today ensures that Dennis’s victims will no longer needlessly endure his attacks.”

The sentencing occurred in the Southern District of New York and was presided over by U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff. Prosecutors sought a four-and-a-half-year sentence for Dennis. However, the defense argued that he should receive credit for time served and be placed on supervised release.

Dennis’s lawyer, David Cohen, stated in a court filing that Dennis was remorseful for his actions resulting from a difficult personal period and mounting frustration over his treatment at the firm. Dennis is Black and sued K&L Gates for racial discrimination and retaliation in November 2020, claiming that he was wrongly fired for raising concerns about alleged race and gender bias at the firm. K&L Gates has denied these allegations both publicly and in court.

The discrimination lawsuit was put on hold pending the outcome of arbitration proceedings between Dennis and the firm. The arbitration proceedings were also put on hold due to the criminal case.

It is not uncommon for individuals to feel frustrated and upset after losing their job, but it is essential to handle these emotions healthily and legally. Threatening messages and cyberstalking are illegal and can result in severe consequences. This case serves as a warning to individuals that such actions will not be tolerated and highlights the importance of seeking help for emotional distress and managing emotions healthily and legally.

REFERENCES:

Ex-K&L Gates partner gets two-year prison term for cyberstalking

The post Former K&L Gates Attorney Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Cyberstalking first appeared on JDJournal Blog.

Summary: The victim of revenge porn and a law student in California received the second highest judgment in a non-celebrity revenge porn case.

A former California law student won a $6.45 million judgment against a former boyfriend who posted her intimate photos online when they broke up. According to the ABA Journal, the woman referred to as “Jane Doe” in court documents won the judgment in a case of revenge porn.

The woman won $3 million in compensatory damages, $3 million in punitive damages and $450,000 for copyright infringement, according to CNN. U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez of Los Angeles entered the judgment by signing a proposed default judgment against David K. Elam II, the defendant.

Elam posted the sexually explicit photographs and videos of his ex-girlfriend on the internet, sending links to the image to her mother and a classmate at her law school. He then impersonated her on porn and dating websites, which resulted in her receiving unwanted text messages from strange men who thought she was interested “in indiscriminate sexual relations.”

She was able to obtain a restraining order against Elam but he continued his destructive actions. The order required him to remove the content from the internet and stop impersonating her on the websites. Gutierrez also ordered him, as part of the judgment, to destroy all of the photos and videos.

Elam gained access to the images originally when he moved across the country and asked the woman for them. He was living in Virginia and she was still in California. After she had given the images to Elam, she went and registered the material for their copyrights with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The woman had claimed not only infringement but also infliction of emotional distress, cyberstalking, and online impersonation with the intent to cause harm.

K&L Gates took the woman’s case pro bono, as part of their Cyber Civil Rights Legal Project. In the project, pro bono lawyers take on cases involving “revenge porn” victims. The award she received is the second-largest in a pro bono case not involving a celebrity, according to K&L Gates. The law firm was also able to help the victim with the highest award of $8.9 million.

Elam had been facing criminal charges but federal prosecutors dropped those charges two years ago. K&L Gates partner Seth Gold explained to CNN that this civil case did not rely on the outcome of the criminal case.

Do you think the judgment is excessive or fair for revenge porn? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

To learn more about revenge porn, read these articles:

• Revenge Porn Lawsuit May Open “Floodgate” of Lawsuits against Social Media Websites
• Big Law Firm is First to Fight Revenge Porn
• Will Rob Kardashian Be Charged with Releasing Revenge Porn?

Photo: twoeggz.com

The post Revenge Porn Victim Awarded $6.45 Million first appeared on JDJournal Blog.

Summary: After a year of many changes within K&L Gates, their latest change is coming in the form of less people working in their offices across the world.

In an effort to cut costs, K&L Gates has reduced their number of secretaries and other staff. The layoffs are listed as “substantial,” although an official number is not known.

A K&L Gates spokesman said, “The firm works to assure the right employees are performing the right jobs in order to maximize client service and efficiency. As is the case with any global professional services organization, we periodically review our staffing needs and make adjustments for the good of the firm and its clients.”

The layoffs have been reported to affect office in Chicago, Dallas, Melbourne and Seattle. Those affected include the IT training team, Q/A team, Tier 2 Support, and one project manager. The individuals laid off receive two weeks per year of severance, benefits through the end of the month, and one month of career placement.

K&L Gates has experienced a lot of changes this past year so it is no surprise that more changes were to come. Chairman Peter Kalis stated in September that he was not seeking re-election. Michael Caccese will take over as chairman with James Segerdahl stepping in as the global managing partner. Chief information officer Scott Angelo also left recently to join Fragomen.

The firm has also seen large groups of partners leaving over the past year. John Casey, a commercial disputes partner, left the Portland office to join Stoel Rives. Jeff Randall, co-leader of the firm’s IP practice, left in January because the firm was “moving in a new and difference direction.” John Pierce left after being with the firm for only a few months to form his own firm with a former colleague. A bigger hit was when a 32-lawyer consumer lending regulatory group left the Washington D.C. office to join Mayer Brown nearly a year ago.

• To learn more about what other big law firms are experiencing, read these articles:
• Akerman Takes on Big Expansion in Chicago
• 22 Schiff Hardin Partners Exiting for Boutique Law Firm
• Eversheds Officially Mergers with Sutherland

Photo: brandsoftheworld.com

The post K&L Gates Uses Layoffs to Reduce Costs first appeared on JDJournal Blog.

Summary: Which law firms promoted the most female partners in 2016?

It is common knowledge that there is a lack of women and diversity in law firms, but many major firms have been quick to point out the efforts they have been making to change that. However, how much is really improving? Recently, Stephanie Russell-Kraft published a study of the AmLaw 100 Partner Promotions in 2016; and she found that last year, only 36.7% of those firms’ partner promotions went to women.

“Unfortunately, after looking at 100 firm announcements, I found the messages sent to Big Law Business didn’t hold up with the national average,” Russell-Kraft said. “In 2016, 36.7 percent of all partner promotions in the AmLaw 100 went to women, according to my analysis. To put that into some context, that figure is slightly below the percentage of women promoted to partner in the 2016 Diversity and Flexibility Alliance survey, which looked at promotions between Oct. 1 2015 and Sept. 30, 2016. That survey, as McDermott pointed out, found 37.1 percent of attorneys promoted in the AmLaw 100 were women.”

Russell-Kraft looked at all of the partner promotions of AmLaw 100 firms between January 1, 2016 and Dec. 31, 2016 to compile her report. However, Williams & Connolly and Haynes & Boone did not make announcements for partner promotions last year so their announcements from early January of 2017 were included instead. Kaye Scholer was excluded from the listing because they merged with Arnold & Porter late in 2016.

According to the report, 21 firms had female partner classes of 50% or more in 2016; and Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Schulte Roth and Pepper Hamilton notably had all female partner classes. While those three firms’ promotions was notable, Russell-Kraft described them as “outliers.”

“But the women from those all-female classes make up only eight of the 1,557 total AmLaw 100 partners promoted in 2016, making those firms outliers,” Russell-Kraft said.

The eighteen other firms which had 50% or more female partner promotions last year include the following: Paul Hastings, Ogletree Deakins, Pillsbury, Williams & Connolly, Blank Rome, Wachtell, Faegre Baker, Lewis Brisbois, Nixon Peabody, K&L Gates, Haynes and Boone, Orrick, Dorsey, Locke Lord, Mintz Levin, O’Melveny, Perkins Coie and Steptoe.

“Empowering female lawyers is obviously something we’re making a priority as we move into 2017,” Matt Hyams of Pillsbury said in an email last year.

Source: Bloomberg Big Law Business 

• Related: Schiff Hardin Elects First Ever Female Managing Partner
• Related: Survey Finds 44% Pay Pay Between Male and Female Law Firm Partners
• Related: Non-Equity Partner Compensation at Top Firms

What do you think law firms can do to increase their number of female partners? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Law Firms with the Most Female Partner Promotions in 2016 first appeared on JDJournal Blog.