leverage our experience
creating a market for your practice
The lateral partner candidate should have but one objective: to create a market in which multiple firms extend competing offers simultaneously.
Lateral Lawyer® recruiters create such markets.
A typical lateral candidate will have moved only once before in his or her career; Lateral Lawyer recruiters facilitate lateral moves every day. Our deep experience, expertise, and network provide lateral candidates with unsurpassed service — knowledgeable, informative, and responsive.
If you are a law firm partner/shareholder amenable to considering opportunities at other firms, a conversation with a Lateral Lawyer recruiter could open up a world of possibilities for you and your practice.
common Questions
Partners have valid concerns about switching firms. Common questions include:
- What are the upsides/downsides of speaking with other firms?
- How do I keep my search confidential?
- Will my clients follow me?
- How long will this take?
A brief conversation with a Lateral Lawyer recruiter could furnish informative answers.
Steps
The Lateral Lawyer® Process
Consultation
Develop compelling story and business plan
- Articulate why you are amenable to a lateral move
- Examine practice metrics
- Create/refine business plan
Exploration
Examine likely market
- Research firms
- Develop list of firms to approach
- Assess firms’ interest
Evaluation
Firms perform due diligence
- Complete Lateral Partner Questionnaires (LPQs)
- Meet (and impress) firm reps
- Furnish references
Negotiation
Orchestrate market for candidate among competing firms
- Negotiate offer letters
- Ask firms the “tough” questions
- Choose among competing offers
About Us
We Wrote the Book on lateral moves
Lateral Lawyer® Group is a boutique recruiting firm specializing in the placement of partner-level attorneys with major national, international, and regional firms worldwide.
We offer a discreet, bespoke service for law firm partners who may be amenable to contemplating a change of venue for their practices, and for the law firm leaders desirous of meeting them.
With rare exception, our recruiters work only with law firm partners/shareholders — proven, acknowledged legal talent — so the professional concerns of senior practitioners are our focus.
Our CEO and principal partner recruiter, Adam S. Weiss, literally wrote the book on partner-level lateral moves: The Lateral Lawyer®: Opportunities and Pitfalls for the Law Firm Partner Switching Firms is a standard reference in the legal recruiting field.
A thoughtful consideration of your options starts with a simple conversation. Let’s have one.
What Others Say
Testimonials
"Adam is extremely talented, articulate, creative and entrepreneurial. He brings fresh ideas and energy to tough problems, and he's not afraid to ask challenging questions. In addition, he has a good sense for business opportunity. He understands what it takes to create value, and he is willing to take measured risks to succeed."
“Articulate . . . creative . . . not afraid to ask challenging questions”
Adam is the consummate matchmaker. He nails down what a partner offers in terms of practice and skills, and finds those firms that will cherish that package. Adam’s advice to law firm partners is economically spot-on: the only way to determine the real value of your practice is to create an actual market for it. As an executive coach who has shared clients with Adam, I see why he is so highly regarded by the people he has placed: he takes the time to listen and then puts what he has heard into play on their behalf. Our mutual clients consistently tell me, “Adam is the best” “He brought me opportunities I wouldn’t have seen myself”. Not only has he placed “big-book” partners; he also succeeds in identifying win-win niche opportunities. Equal parts dealmaker and confidante, he combines a powerful intellect, perceptiveness and marketing savvy. Adam is a cool, high-touch communicator and very efficient—characteristics prized by high-level executives and attorneys alike. Adam’s experience at Weil and as a corporate attorney, plus his naturally laid back demeanor make him a polished and convincing advocate for his clients. Whether you’re in California, New York, Texas, London, Brazil or Asia, Adam is the go-to recruiter for partners considering changing firms for higher compensation, a better fit, or both.
“Consumate matchmaker . . . dealmaker . . . confidante . . . cool . . . polished advocate”
"Adam is one of the most authentic and caring people that I have had the pleasure to work with. Besides his amazing intellect and impressive experience, his empathy and communication abilities allow him to create rapport with people, find out what is important to them, and then if appropriate help them achieve their full potential."
“Authentic . . . caring . . . empathy . . . communication”
"As legal recruiters go, Adam Weiss is unique in important respects. Above all, he focuses keenly on what is best for you, not him. That is, he is tireless and unconditionally dedicated to whatever will maximize your chances of a positive, dynamic and fruitful professional change, the hallmark of his client service style. Similarly, he is a great listener. He pays attention so he can identify the most effective and efficient ways to assist you. His knowledge of the legal industry, appreciation of the nuances of the recruiting process and overall professionalism make him, in my estimation, among the best partner-level recruiters out there. He is also upbeat and persistent and will never lose faith or avoid any challenges, no matter how daunting. He wants you to succeed. I recommend Adam to anyone who is even merely curious about changing firms, as he is generous with his time and advice."
“Tireless . . . upbeat . . . persistent . . . generous”
"Adam helped place me at my current firm. In that process he demonstrated (a) tremendous knowledge of the partner-level recruiting process; (b) effectiveness at finding a good match between me and my current firm (where my practice has thrived); and (c) overall professionalism/discretion/sensitivity to my concerns and the needs of my practice."
“Knowledge . . . effectiveness . . . professionalism”
"Adam was terrific in helping me move law firms after being at one firm for many, many years. His knowledge and experience were invaluable in making a move and he is very patient. This is not someone who is just trying to get a person placed as quickly as possible whether it is a good fit or not. He is great to work with."
“Terrific . . . invaluable . . . patient . . . great to work with”
"Adam's advice and experience are invaluable, particularly for more senior candidates who wish to balance the right professional fit with whatever personal goals they may have. Adam understands the profession from both supply and demand sides and shows maturity and a light touch in his approach. I'm grateful for his counsel."
“Invaluable . . . maturity . . . a light tough . . . I’m grateful”
"Adam is a tenacious recruiter who's on top of his game and a real people's person. His background in law practice and business consulting make him uniquely qualified for placing professionals in the kind of environments in which they can thrive."
“Tenacious . . . people person . . . uniquely qualified”