Firm Profiles
IN-DEPTH RESEARCH REPORT
on Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.
- - Financial Information
- - Compensation
- - Billing Rates
- - Lateral Partner Moves
- - Pro bono
- - Key Contacts
Shook, Hardy & Bacon
- Designation: Kansas City, Missouri
- Head Count: 438
- Gross Revenues: $317,000,000
- Revenue Per Lawyer: $725,000
- Profits Per Partner: $900,000
- Year Over Year Change: 14
Shook, Hardy & Bacon made its name defending lawsuits for Big Tobacco (ultimately representing five of the industry’s “Big Six” manufacturers). But the firm did more than win cases; it built on the success, and momentum, of its tobacco victories to build one of the nation’s premier product liability practices, a department that even today is the firm’s bread and butter.
Indeed, Shook has been the go–to defense firm for a wide range of manufacturers facing consumer challenges—from pharmaceutical companies to medical device developers to automobile makers. Its client list includes heavyweights like Eli Lilly and Co., Ford Motor Company, and Pfizer Inc. Philip Morris remains a key client, and Shook’s recent victories on behalf of the tobacco giant—achieving multiple defense verdicts in Florida—was a key factor in the firm’s selection as The American Lawyer’s Product Liability Litigation Department of the Year in 2012 (the firm won the same category in 2008 and was a finalist in 2010). What also sets Shook apart is its lean staffing: It’s not uncommon for some of its tobacco trials to be defended by a single attorney.
Shook, which has seven offices throughout the United States (but the bulk of its lawyers in Kansas City) and two international offices in Geneva and London, was also one of the more fortunate firms during the economic downturn. While gross revenue remained steady between 2008 and 2010 (just north of $330 million), net income and profits per partner rose steadily. For a firm that started out small in the heartland, it’s become a national player in high–stakes litigation.
—Updated as of 1/1/12
Firm Rankings
| Survey | Rank | Year Over Year Change | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Am Law 100 | 96 | 14 | Gross revenue |
| Am Law 200 | 96 | 14 | Gross revenue |
| NLJ 250 | 87 | 8 | Lawyer head count |
| The A-List | NR | N/A | Overall excellence |
| Pro Bono Scorecard | 103 | no change | Pro-bono commitment |
| Diversity Scorecard | 80 | 5 | Minority head count |
| Midlevel Associates Survey | 56 | 39 | Job satisfaction |
| Summer Associates Survey | 52 | N/A | Summer programs |
In the News
The 2013 Am Law 100
: The American Lawyer : April 25, 2013
In fiscal 2012, The Am Law 100—which has a new leader in gross revenue this year—posted modest gains on all our key metrics. Read the complete package.
Bayer IUD Litigation Consolidated in New York
Amanda Bronstad : The National Law Journal : April 22, 2013
Approximately 40 lawsuits filed over problems associated with the Mirena intrauterine contraceptive device have been coordinated in multidistrict litigation before a federal judge in New York.
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Steve Plunkett : Daily Business Review : April 22, 2013
Coral Gables attorney J.B. Harris accused a Miami defense attorney of harassment for e-filing documents in the middle of the night.
Litigation Department of the Year
: Daily Business Review : April 17, 2013
Four Seasons Miami1435 Brickell AveMiami, FL 33131
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Alan Cohen : Law Technology News : April 16, 2013
Smartphones now on the market are pocket-size computers, and of course, that's been a boon to both work and play. But as they grow ever more capable, smartphones bring some of the same challenges as computers — namely, how to get the most out of them while avoiding any pitfalls.
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John Pacenti : Daily Business Review : March 25, 2013
The Lewis Tein firm once represented the likes of the Miccosukee tribe and troubled entrepreneur Nevin Shapiro. It still spends a lot of time in high-stakes court battles — only now as a defendant.
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: Daily Business Review : March 21, 2013
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Greenberg Traurig's powerhouse litigation team in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties is the Litigation Department of the Year in the large-firm category by the Daily Business Review. The mid-size firm category was won by Berger Singerman's litigation group, while Podhurst Orseck took the small-firm category.
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