Big Law’s ‘Era of the Storm’ Gives Powerful a Chance to Strike

Welcome back to the Big Law Business column. I’m Roy Strom, and today we look at what’s causing a period of severe instability among major law firms. Sign up to receive this column in your Inbox on Thursday mornings.

Big Law is wrenching its way through a period of disruption.

Distressed law firms are in merger talks. Firms that out-performed others during the pandemic boom are laying off lawyers and delaying start times for new associates. A handful of aggressive firms are making splash hires from rivals, rocking competitors.

The tricky part is finding what ties it all together. ...