Michael LeBrun

The Legal Billable Hour Index has been tracking small firm hourly rates since Clio first published its Legal Trends Report in 2016. (Up, they’re going up.) How does your practice compare? Here’s the rundown on the latest 2024 hourly rate data.

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I am very intrigued by the technology of SuperLegal aiming to replace lawyers or legal talent with SAAS services...Naturally, this technology raises many questions to include -- liability to malpractice, state law compliance and the need of actual lawyers to monitor the performance of the software...we shall follow tup o see where this AI tidbit takes us....

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🔍 Within the legal industry, legal ops professionals have been the fastest adopters of AI, with 31% of executives reporting that they’ve already dedicated budget to generative AI in 2024, and 90% expect to increase that investment over the next five years. Ready to discover how generative AI is reshaping the landscape and empowering legal teams to achieve more with less? In this guide, explore how legal operations professionals navigate AI adoption and spearhead transformative initiatives by: 🌟 Increasing efficiency and productivity 🌟 Reducing costs and improving quality 🌟 Empowering strategic decision-making Unlock the full potential of AI in your legal operations. Get the guide here: https://lnkd.in/gS-_Yfgr #LegalTech #AI #GenAI #LegalOperations #LegalOps

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For in-house attorneys, having a business-focused mindset is essential to succeeding in the role – especially when negotiating and drafting contracts. Thanks to Amy Duvanich for sharing insights on how to navigate like a business strategist. Download the Scale LLP In-House Bootcamp Playbook, Think Outside the Ink: Negotiating Commercial Contracts – the second in a playbook series where Scale provides access to tips and strategies essential to navigating the in-house role. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gf26s-7Z #ScaleFirm #InHouse #Lawpreneur

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A deluge of passed and pending legislation in the United States, AI compliance is a given. Senior Attorney Kassi Burns shares what attorneys can do now so they are better prepared to advise clients on these issues. https://bit.ly/4dMS7Yt #genai #compliance #regulations #lawyers #legaltech

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ATTORNEYS - The FLEXIBILITY, NEUTRALITY & PROFESSIONALISM of our meeting rooms contribute to effective and efficient depositions. In addition to our "Huddle Room" we also have rooms that seat up to 12 or up to 16 (if necessary) .... all providing your depositions with: 🔸 NEUTRAL GROUND: Being off-site our rooms are less intimidating or seemingly biased than holding the deposition at one party's law firm or office. 🔸 CONVENIENCE: Attorneys love the many conveniences of our location that minimize travel for all participants & overall cost: - Easy Direct Walk-In Access from our attractive courtyard ( ADA compliant) - High-Speed Internet Access, Whiteboard, Projector - Parking Garage next to our building plus up to 2 hour free street parking - Close-By Access to/from major freeways - One Block North of LAX - 20 minute walk 🔸 PROFESSIONAL SETTING: Perfectly suitable for formal legal proceedings with all the necessary amenities of high-speed internet, audio-visual equipment, and comfortable seating. plus on-site management and anything you may need in terms of copies, office supplies, mailing, etc. within a 5 minute walk from our location - Staples, UPS, and more! 🔸 PRIVACY: Will some sensitive discussions be taking place? Holding your deposition off-site helps to ensure that the deposition remains private. 🔸 DISTRACTION-FREE ENVIRONMENT: Our attractive meeting rooms with no windows contribute to maintaining focus and keeping the deposition going forward smoothly. 🔸 AFFORDABILITY: Rental by the hour, at $35.00 per hour for The Huddle Room! See the details for the Huddle Room and all our rooms here: https://lnkd.in/g-JTC_AK #meetingrooms #conferencerooms #hourlyrental #attorneydepositions #deposition #lawyers #offsitemeetings #meetingroomrental #lax #courtreporting

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I hope you all had a wonderful and restful weekend. Figured I'd start this week with some interesting market intel on AmLaw 100 profitability: 🔹 Total Gross Revenue of AmLaw 100 firms is $139,720,251,209 (increased by about 9 billion since 2023) 🔹 Highest Grossing Firm-Kirkland & Ellis 🔹 Firms with the highest increase in PEP were Susman Godfrey, Quinn Emmanuel, Norton Rose, Cravath, & Akin 🔹 Total Number of Lawyers at AmLaw 100-115,043 (1.8% increase since 2022) 🔹 Firm with the highest profit margin is Susman Godfrey, funnily enough this firm also has the fewest lawyers. The average lawyers bills about 2018 hours here. 🔹 Firm with the highest compensation for all partners is Wachtell (approx. $8M)+ and lowest is Gordon Rees (approx. $415K). 🔹 Firms with the highest clocked billable hours are DLA (6.3M ), White & Case (4.5M), Greenberg Traurig (4.3M), Hogan Lovells (3.9M), & Holland & Knight (3.2M). 🔹 The lawyer with the most billable hours was at Cozen O'Connor and billed a whopping 3,792 hours! Wow! Follow: Rhea Bagaria, Esq. for everything law, legal trends, recruiting. Let's connect! #RecruitWithRhea

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Did you catch Alisa McLellan speaking at The Masters Conference Legal? Pro tip, don't just hand all your data over to a consultant and think you are done -- you still have the duty to supervise! #ediscovery #legaltech #ethics

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Frustrated with legal conferences stuck in the past? As a law firm owner, you're not just a lawyer, you're a business leader. The Crisp Game Changers Summit tackles the real challenges facing the modern legal industry: alternative business structures, commoditization, and fierce competition. Get actionable strategies from industry experts to navigate these pitfalls, future-proof your firm, and unlock explosive growth at this invite-only event. Add Yourself to the Waitlist Today: crispsummit.com

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How is your legal department using AI? How is your outside counsel employing AI? I'd love to hear!

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When attorneys first try flat fees, the goal often seems straightforward: offer clients predictability by calculating the average time required for a matter, adding a cushion for edge cases, and setting the rate accordingly. While this approach might seem logical, it only partially steps away from hourly billing. Here’s what tends to happen: 1️⃣ Using a fee based on estimated hours doesn’t fully escape the pitfalls of hourly thinking. It’s not yet true value pricing. 2️⃣ While most cases stay within the padded time, the occasional case that exceeds it can feel like a loss. However, this is often a perception issue—rather than a loss, it’s a slightly lower margin on a few outliers. This shift in perspective is key. To fully benefit from flat fees, it’s essential to move beyond hourly-based calculations and adopt a value-driven model that balances client satisfaction with profitability. Listen here to learn more 👇👇👇 https://hubs.la/Q02W3-LG0

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Critical Analysis: Hearsay Provisions Clarified in R v BOB & Others [2024] EWCA Crim 1494 📄 Georgia-Mae Chung provides an in-depth exploration of the Court of Appeal’s recent judgment in R v BOB, BYY, AEN, and BEK, in which Sophie Evans and Abigail Penny acted for two of the four respondents. This decision refines the application of hearsay provisions under the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Highlights include: • Key insights into the reformulated Riat steps, emphasising disclosure as a fundamental safeguard. • Practical guidance on assessing reliability and dovetailing evidence. • The Court’s critique of prosecutorial failings in disclosure obligations. 🔗 Read the full analysis here: https://lnkd.in/eJSjd54F

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🚀 Big Law’s Game-Changing Strategies: Clawbacks & Make-Whole Agreements 🚀 Did you know that some lateral partners are entering new firms with compensation packages exceeding $20 million? As competition for top talent heats up, Big Law firms are using advanced strategies like clawback provisions and make-whole agreements to secure and retain their most valuable rainmakers. Here's what you need to know to stay ahead: 🔍 Clawback Provisions: With competition intensifying, firms like Kirkland & Ellis are now using clawback clauses that reclaim compensation if partners leave within a set timeframe. A move that can deter lateral movement, this tactic aims to protect firms’ investments. But for partners, it adds complexity when considering a lateral transition. How can you navigate these new hurdles? 💡 Make-Whole Agreements: On the flip side, many firms are sweetening the deal for incoming lateral partners. Make-whole agreements ensure that new partners don't lose out on deferred compensation or equity left behind at their previous firms. These agreements can include: Sign-On Bonuses: Immediate financial incentives. Guaranteed Compensation: Assurances of a steady income. Deferred Compensation Coverage: Bridging the financial gap from prior firms. 📈 The Stakes Are Rising: As highlighted in a recent Law.com article, "Comp Offers for Lateral Partners Now Show Big Law’s Buying Power" (September 2024), firms are offering packages that soar up to $20 million. This is a clear signal that compensation structures are becoming more complex—and more lucrative. 🔍 What Does This Mean for You? For Partners: If you’re considering a lateral move, it’s more important than ever to understand how clawbacks or make-whole agreements will affect your compensation. For Firms: Are your offers competitive enough to attract high-value lateral partners? These agreements can make or break your hiring strategy. 📞 Let’s Talk: Have you encountered these provisions? Are you looking to optimize your next career move? Reach out to me for a strategy session on navigating these evolving trends. #LegalRecruiting #BigLaw #LateralHiring #PartnerCompensation #ClawbackProvisions #MakeWholeAgreements #PrivateEquityLaw #M&ALaw #LegalTrends #LawFirmStrategy #TalentAcquisition #Lawyers #LawFirmLeaders #LateralPartners

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ATTORNEYS - The FLEXIBILITY, NEUTRALITY & PROFESSIONALISM of our meeting rooms contribute to effective and efficient depositions. In addition to the shown "Huddle Room" we also have rooms that seat up to 12 or up to 16 (if necessary) .... all providing your depositions with: 🔸 NEUTRAL GROUND: Being off-site our rooms are less intimidating or seemingly biased than holding the deposition at one party's law firm or office. 🔸 CONVENIENCE: Attorneys love the many conveniences of our location that minimize travel for all participants & overall cost: - Easy Direct Walk-In Access from our attractive courtyard ( ADA compliant) - High-Speed Internet Access, Whiteboard, Projector - Parking Garage next to our building plus up to 2 hour free street parking - Close-By Access to/from major freeways - One Block North of LAX - 20 minute walk 🔸 PROFESSIONAL SETTING: Perfectly suitable for formal legal proceedings with all the necessary amenities of high-speed internet, audio-visual equipment, and comfortable seating. plus on-site management and anything you may need in terms of copies, office supplies, mailing, etc. within a 5 minute walk from our location - Staples, UPS, and more! 🔸 PRIVACY: Will some sensitive discussions be taking place? Holding your deposition off-site helps to ensure that the deposition remains private. 🔸 DISTRACTION-FREE ENVIRONMENT: Our attractive meeting rooms with no windows contribute to maintaining focus and keeping the deposition going forward smoothly. 🔸 AFFORDABILITY: Rental by the hour, at $35.00 per hour for The Huddle Room! See the details for the Huddle Room and all our rooms here: https://lnkd.in/g-JTC_AK Esquire Deposition Solutions, LLC Solutions LLC Compex Legal Services  U.S. Legal Support TrialQuest Lexitas Legal Talent Outsourcing Horton Law Firm, APC Sommerhauser Reporting Services McNamara & Drass, LLP JetSigner Notary Huseby Global Litigation Global Litigatio Compex Legal Services Veritext Legal Solutions Coalition Court Reporters Steno U.S. Legal Support Esquire Deposition Solutions, LLC Good Mood Legal Attorney Boot Camp #meetingrooms #conferencerooms #hourlyrental #attorneydepositions #deposition #lawyers #offsitemeetings #meetingroomrental #lax #courtreporting

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