The American Lawyer February 2013
Cover Story
A Nothing-in-Moderation Guy
In demand ex-prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald chooses Skadden—but insists on a few conditions.
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Contents
Features
Playing Not to Lose
A dozen years of data shows that it's hard to boost profits with lateral hiring. For firms, the real payoff is just being able to stay in the game.
All-Star Laterals
The Am Law 200's most high-profile lateral moves of 2012.
Building a Better Lateral
Firms have spent years perfecting their lateral hiring processes. But why are the results so disappointing?
Escape Routes
Fueled by the Dewey diaspora, lateral activity among Am Law 200 firms reached a three-year high in 2012.
Little Theodor's Big Troubles
The U.S. and France accuse a controversial African politician of money laundering. Should they go after his lawyers, too?
Bar Talk
Shifting Sands
Women gain the right to practice law in Saudi Arabia, but barriers for them and their firms remain.
Spying on Ourselves
The state of the law isn't keeping pace with privacy concerns raised by the fact that more than 30,000 drones could be in American airspace someday.
Whistling While They Work
The fear of government tipsters is driving demand for white-collar expertise.
Trading Places
The 2012 election has caused some lawyers to leave their government positions and move to Am Law 100 firms.
Holding the Line
How a Debevoise partner's pro bono case kept the U.S.'s antiterrorism law from being watered down.
Stepping Down, But Not Out
Some managing partners at Am Law firms are eschewing retirement for active practice.
The Work
Big Suits
Loschiavo et al. v. Fidelity Management Trust Co. et al.; Laumann et al. v. NHL et al.; Allen et al. v. Dairy Farmers of America et al.; USA v. Caronia; In re Aetna UCR Litigation
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Deals in Brief/IPOs
Banco Santander S.A.'s sale of a 25 percent stake in its Mexican subsidiary led a fall flurry of IPOs.
Big Deals
Freeport-McMoRan/Plains Exploration & Production Company/McMoRan Exploration; Equity Residential and AvalonBay/Archstone; Conagra/Ralcorp
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Columns
Am Law Tech
Surface Appeal
While flawed, Microsoft's tablet has a lot to offer lawyers—starting with a full-featured Office suite.
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Arguments
Storm Warning
In a new book, futurist Richard Susskind finds most firms unprepared for the challenges ahead.
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In-House
Why Lateral Hiring Is So Inefficient
At the same time they're wooing expensive lateral talent, many firms are also shedding dozens of lawyers at home every year—their associates. More careful training and management of associates and junior partners would likely help firms avoid the need for so many lateral recruits in the first place.
Dicta
Now, a "Smarter" Business Development Model for the Legal Industry
An ex-GC on how law firms can attract business. Hint: It involves more than canapés.
