There has never been a more challenging time to be an independent law firm. The continued globalization of the legal industry has made the independent firm—by which I mean those with practices that are largely or entirely situated in a single office or market—an increasingly rare breed. This is particularly true for those targeting high-end work in developed markets, where firms that have eschewed international expansion are swimming against a strengthening tide of consolidation.
Later this month, a group of these stubborn holdouts is set to meet in London to discuss how to remain competitive in a fast-changing market. The event, hosted by The American Lawyer and its U.K. sibling, Legal Week, will see law firm partners, general counsel and industry experts chew the fat on a wide range of subjects, from tackling emerging jurisdictions to adopting new technology and retaining talent.
