Only a few decades ago, even the largest, most respected law firms had a relatively small number of lawyers. Baker & McKenzie employed 500 attorneys in 1979. By 1987, that number jumped to 1,000. Today, the firm employs more than 4,100 lawyers. Indeed, many firms have focused their efforts on expansion and have opened offices around the world.
Correspondingly, law firm structure has shifted to accommodate practices’ growing international demand and large staffs. Previously, top firms were a true partnership: all for one and one for all, with a managing partner who was more involved in running the firm. Firms frequently sought out retired military personnel or public accounting professionals to manage the “back office” of the firm. The role was certainly not a strategic one.
