Foley and Lardner

Snatching up key partners, buying out firms, and coaxing new clients allows them to navigate the shallows while others founder.

The Secret of Foley & Lardner's Continuing Success

The unprecedented boom of the late 1990's was met with the recession in late 2001. Some firms went through a period of dramatic hiring on all levels during 1999-2000 to compensate for a perceived or actual increase in workflow coming from the booming technology and dot-com industries. A number of these firms found themselves overstaffed as the economy turned downward and as their dot-com clients stumbled and fell. Every firm tells a different story about surviving the recent recession. Foley & Lardner's success story stands in sharp relief against the cutbacks and disappointments at other firms, and their unique growth strategy may explain this phenomenon.
Foley & Lardner is an international law firm with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Detroit, Michigan; Denver, Colorado; Washington, D.C., Jacksonville, Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa and West Palm Beach, Florida; Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco, California; Chicago, Illinois; and Brussels, Belgium. Considering its prominence nationwide, Foley & Lardner's profile is unusual: being based in the mid-west, with offices in both major legal markets and smaller markets across the country, with the notable exclusion of New York.

Foley & Lardner's expansion beginning in 2000 up through today has positioned the firm as one of the nation's most prominent, and has secured Foley & Lardner's success and profitability even during the recession. With critical acquisitions across a range of practice areas, and in virtually every city in which they are located, Foley & Lardner expanded without overreaching.

In the first quarter of 2001, Foley & Lardner acquired Hopkins & Sutter, a Chicago firm, which nearly doubled the size of the firm's Chicago office and added several lawyers in Washington, D.C. The Hopkins & Sutter acquisition made Foley & Lardner a much more significant presence in the Chicago market, where the firm continues to thrive. The acquisition also made Foley & Lardner the most significant presence in terms of quanitity of attorneys located in the mid-west. This was arguably the largest single acquisition for Foley & Lardner, but certainly not the only one.

At the same time, Foley & Lardner opened their Detroit office, laterally hiring nearly 20 attorneys in a short time. With these acquisitions, Foley & Lardner was able to capture important clients in the automotive industry. Foley also added 10 attorneys in San Francisco, which was followed by a major partner acquisition in Los Angeles that enriched their corporate and securities capabilities on the West Coast. In Washington, D.C., the acquisition of Freedman, Levy, Kroll & Simonds rounded out that office's corporate practice, and was a welcome addition to the litigation and intellectual property powerhouse. Single partner hiring in various offices throughout the United States, designed to expand or develop niche practice areas, supplemented these bold strokes.

Standing alone, any one of these acquisitions might be termed fairly modest, especially in an era of the 'mega-merger.' However, conservative and carefully executed expansion enabled Foley & Lardner to develop in exactly the markets and practice areas they wanted, which has had the effect of an overall increase in the firm's capability, presence, and prestige. Since that time, Foley & Lardner has won substantial kudos in the areas of associate satisfaction, including ranking first among Chicago and Milwaukee summer associate classes. The firm is recognized for its representation of biotech industries in patent law. Individual partners have been awarded in their individual cities, and one partner was recently recognized as one of the Orlando Business Journal's Women Who Mean Business.

All indicators point to Foley & Lardner's continued success. And, through a conservative and focused acquisition strategy, Foley & Lardner emerges from the recession stronger than ever. They offer an impressive and constructive case study for the growth of national and international law firms that may ultimately be more 'recession proof' than those of their larger competitors.


About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations-from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

• Immigration Law
• Workers Compensation
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• Family Law
• Trust and Estate
• Municipal law
• And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

• Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
• Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
• Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
• Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success - The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm's unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison's legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

• His articles on BCG Search alone are read by over 150,000 attorneys per month, making his guidance the most sought-after in the legal field. Read his latest insights here.
• He has conducted hundreds of hours of career development webinars, available here: Harrison Barnes Webinar Replays.
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• He has created numerous comprehensive career development courses, including BigLaw Breakthrough, designed to help attorneys land positions at elite law firms.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials-he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison's work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

• Finds and creates job openings that aren't publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
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This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney-no matter their background, law school, or previous experience-has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

• Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
• Senior attorneys who believed they were "too experienced" to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
• Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options-only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
• Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist-often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today - Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison's expertise will help you take control of your future.

Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Harrison's reach, experience, and proven results make him the best legal recruiter in the industry. Don't settle for an average recruiter-work with the one who has changed the careers of thousands of attorneys and can do the same for you.

About BCG Attorney Search

BCG Attorney Search matches attorneys and law firms with unparalleled expertise and drive, while achieving results. Known globally for its success in locating and placing attorneys in law firms of all sizes, BCG Attorney Search has placed thousands of attorneys in law firms in thousands of different law firms around the country. Unlike other legal placement firms, BCG Attorney Search brings massive resources of over 150 employees to its placement efforts locating positions and opportunities its competitors simply cannot. Every legal recruiter at BCG Attorney Search is a former successful attorney who attended a top law school, worked in top law firms and brought massive drive and commitment to their work. BCG Attorney Search legal recruiters take your legal career seriously and understand attorneys. For more information, please visit www.BCGSearch.com.