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Embarking on the transition from a law firm to an in-house counsel position represents a significant career milestone for many legal professionals. This shift, while promising, can often be laden with unique challenges and opportunities. Its growing popularity is reflected in broader industry data: according to the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), the number of in-house counsel in the U.S. has increased by nearly 90% over the past decade and a half, underscoring that the move in-house is not a niche path but a sustained and expanding career destination.

In the complex and nuanced world of offer discussions, legal recruiters are invaluable assets to law firms and companies. Their expertise in navigating intricate negotiations transforms a potentially challenging process into a strategic and smoothly conducted operation.

Choosing the right legal practice area can feel complex, especially when considering a switch. The transition between practice areas is not always a seamless journey; it requires careful consideration, adaptability, and strategic positioning. This is particularly important in a legal job market that is projected to grow steadily rather than dramatically. Industry data shows that overall lawyer employment in the U.S. is expected to grow by about 5% from 2023 to 2033, underscoring the importance of making thoughtful, strategic practice-area decisions rather than relying on broad market expansion alone.

But the good news? You don’t have to traverse this path alone. Legal recruiters specialize in providing insight and guidance tailored to your unique aspirations, ensuring you’re not just making a change, but making the right change.

In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, career opportunities can come calling from any corner of the globe. Whether it’s a once-in-a-lifetime position in a bustling metropolis or an appealing role in a quaint, peaceful town, many professionals encounter the chance to make a lateral move to another city. But is it worth it?

Congratulations Massey & Gail LLP on this tremendous hire. It was truly our pleasure to work with the exceptionally talented @kylieckim. We are proud to continue our streak of extraordinary attorneys placed at this elite litigation boutique.

Navigating the legal landscape is an intricate endeavor; complexities multiply when you introduce the concept of mobility across state lines. The practice of law is often tethered to the jurisdiction where a lawyer is licensed, making a transition to a different state a significant undertaking. 

The legal industry is abuzz with a flurry of recent law firm merger activities. The most notable among these mergers, with Chicago implications, include Armstrong Teasdale with Novack & Macey, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe with Buckley LLP, and Freeborn & Peters with Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP. This whirlwind of activity has made it impossible not to speculate, “who’s next?”, and more importantly, “how am I situated if my firm merges?” These questions carry a significant amount of weight and importance, sparking a sense of urgency for everyone involved. In such scenarios, it’s vital to start formulating a game plan as soon as possible.

We followed an exceptional 2021 with another strong year for our clients. In 2022 we placed 15 attorneys with salaries totaling nearly $4 million. We placed 3 partners, 1 senior counsel, and 11 associates. 47 percent of our placements were at large firms and 53 percent were at mid-sized and boutique firms. Woman attorneys accounted for 47 percent of our placements and attorneys of color represented 33 percent. Litigation placements outpaced transactional placements nearly 4 to 1. 67 percent of our placed attorneys earned their law degrees from top 20 law schools and 73 percent of our litigators had clerkships. Highlights from 2022 included the placement of 6 relocating attorneys, 4 new law firm placements and the donation of $16,000 to charities from our referral program which we will continue in 2023.

We are optimistic that our business model of quality over quantity will produce another outstanding year as firms look to add elite talent situationally. To that end, we enter 2023 with several litigation and transactional positions to fill, primarily with our boutique law firm clients.

Atticus Recruiting would like to congratulate Fox Swibel and Brian Smith for joining the firm as a partner in the Corporate & Securities Group.

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Every year, Benchmark Litigation, the definitive guide to the world’s leading litigation firms and lawyers, sets out to identify the best and brightest litigators across the US and Canada.  The 2022 “40 & Under” list is now public.  Congratulations to Atticus Recruiting alums Brian Borchard of Goodsmith Gregg & Unruth, Rachel Morse of Massey & Gail, and Caitlin Kovacs of Massey & Gail for their selection to this elite list of litigation attorneys.

Read the full article here.