Press

Over the years, we’ve been asked for our take on the California & Seattle markets. See what we’ve had to say below.

WHY BIGLAW IS GUTTING MIDSIZE FIRMS’ TRANSACTION PRACTICES, Law 360, May 2024: Transactional work is seeing a recent uptick and larger firms appear eager to grow their corporate teams. In this pursuit, as observed by Law 360 - a trend is emerging where larger firms are recruiting a significant number of corporate attorneys from within a firm, in lieu of acquiring these small and midsized firms in full. And these departing partners and associates are ready and willing to make the leap, seeing the career benefits in the jump. Jenny Swan Meyer speaks with Aebra Coe about the increase in corporate partner moves in 2024 (+32% from last year) and wagers the reasons why these offers may be so inciting.

BEHIND BENESCH’S STRATEGY TO ADD AND KEEP BIGLAW LATERALS, Law 360, February 2024: AmLaw 200 firm Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aranoff LLP has leveraged hiring BigLaw talent to successfully expand into primary markets like San Francisco and New York. Senior Recruiter Carla Khalifa weighs in on the draws that brought in these BigLaw partners, and where others can take note - from the firm’s entrepreneurial approach, to maintaining a truly collegial culture within its offices and teams.

WHAT DROVE BIGLAW TO FLOCK TO THESE 3 REGIONS IN 2023, Law 360, December 2023: California has long been established as a primary market for BigLaw. But the state’s secondary markets - namely Orange County and San Diego, enjoyed new presence from BigLaw in 2023, driven by client-focused presence and general geographic expansion. Jenny Swan Meyer spoke with Law 360 about the motivations for new firm moves to California this year.  

TOP PERFORMERS ‘LIKELY’ TO RAISE ASSOCIATE PAY AFTER MILBANK, BUT BROAD HESITANCY LINGERS, Law.com, November 2023: At the end of 2023, Milbank announced its salary raises for 2024. Cravath soon followed suit, even surpassing Milbank with its raises. At the time of Milbank’s announcement, Zsaleh Harivandi spoke with Jessie Yount at Law.com about the likelihood of other firms following suit, and the statement a raise like this makes about the health of a firm.

‘THE VIBE IS CHANGING’: FLEXIBLE FIRMS STRUGGLE TO GET ATTORNEYS ON THE SAME PAGE, Law.com, August 2023: Back-to-work mandates continue to be an ongoing discussion in the legal hiring world. Lorraine Connally speaks with Jessie Yount about associates’ varying opinions on remote, hybrid, and in-office work.

CALIF. POWERHOUSES THRIVE DESPITE DEALS DIP, OFFICE RETURN, Law 360, August 2023: Andrea Hartwell speaks with Jack Karp of Law360 about the shifting trends in California’s legal hiring market across practice areas, returning to the office, and seizing talent during firm layoffs.

MID-LAW SEES OPPORTUNITY IN CYBERSECURITY AND PRIVACY, Law 360, July 2023: Carla Khalifé speaks with Emma Cueto about the growing demand for cybersecurity lawyers in California, as a number of the state’s midsized firms have begun establishing practices dedicated to it. “California has emerged as an epicenter for privacy, as the first state to pass data and privacy laws and set up a breach notification system.”

CALIFORNIA’S LARGEST LAW FIRMS CONTINUED TO EXPAND IN 2022, The Recorder, July 2023: California remained the No. 2 locale among the nation’s largest firms in 2022, as large and midsize firms continue to gain lawyers in the state. Jenny Swan Meyer spoke with The Recorder about how the collective focus on growth in California has continued into 2023, and - despite slowdowns within practices like corporate - remains resilient for attorneys across all disciplines.

SMALL LAW, BIG PAY: SMALL FIRMS LURE TALENT WITH HEFTY RAISES, Law 360, May 2023: Recent data shows a narrowing pay gap between small firms and BigLaw, as these firms stay competitive by increasing their base pay. Carla Khalifé speaks with Law360 about the potential implications small firm pay raises may have on the firm’s associates.

SMALLER FIRMS SCORE TALENT AS BIGLAW DOWNSIZES, Law 360, April 2023: As the nation's largest law firms conduct layoffs and scale back hiring, small and midsize firms are taking advantage of the moment to add big firm lawyers in increasing numbers. Jenny Swan Meyer speaks with Aebra Coe about the appealing alternative these firms now offer BigLaw attorneys affected by recent layoffs. 

3 WAYS ASSOCIATES CAN REBOUND AFTER A LAYOFF, Law 360, April 2023: Slowdowns in corporate work for law firms have led to a series of layoffs in the legal industry in recent months, leaving a number of associates out of jobs. Lorraine Connally offers Law360 her advice to associates who find themselves between opportunities.

WHY LAW FIRM M&A MAY REBOUND IN 2023, Law 360, January 2023: An increase in law firm mergers and acquisitions was seen nationwide throughout 2022, with many speculating the trend continuing into 2023. Jenny Swan Meyer speaks to Aebra Coe about the benefits firms are gaining in these combinations, including geographic expansion and strengthening practice areas.

CALIFORNIA REGIONAL FIRMS EXPECT TO SELL TALENT ON STABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY IN 2023, The Recorder, December 2022: Leaders at Second Hundred and midsize firms in California largely expect to avoid layoffs. Instead, they're in hiring mode. Jenny Swan Meyer speaks to The Recorder about the appeal of regional and midsize firms in today's economy.

POISED TO BECOME WORLD’S 4TH-LARGEST ECONOMY, CALIFORNIA LURES SECOND HUNDRED FIRMS, The Recorder, December 2022: Out-of-town firms once again had a ripple effect on the California legal market in 2022. But whereas last year much of the activity stemmed from elite Wall Street and international firms, this year’s biggest office openings (often coinciding with mergers) were largely dominated by firms outside of the Am Law 50. Jenny Swan Meyer speaks with The Recorder about her predictions of the 2023 California legal market.

WILL BIGLAW FOLLOW BAKER MCKENZIE’S LEAD ON BONUSES?, Law360, November 2022: Baker McKenzie announced year-end associate bonuses on Friday, and as of Tuesday afternoon, there were crickets from the rest of BigLaw on whether they would follow the global giant's lead.

CALIFORNIA POWERHOUSES LEAD HOT LEGAL MARKET FACING SLOWDOWN, Law360, August 2022: Law360's 2022 California Powerhouses have steered multibillion-dollar deals, defended technology and pharmaceutical clients against high-stakes litigation, and secured nine-figure trial wins amid a recently booming Golden State legal market that has abruptly slowed in the face of recession fears, according to experts.

SWAN LEGAL SEARCH NAMED #1 LEGAL RECRUITER IN CALIFORNIA, The Recorder, July 2022: The California industry survey is based on voting by fellow attorneys, in-house counsel, judges and legal departments. Swan Legal Search was ranked #1 Legal Recruiter, and Delia Swan and Jenny Swan Meyer were ranked as the #2 and #3 best Individual Recruiters in California, respectively.

CALIFORNIA POWERHOUSES LEAD HOT LEGAL MARKET ON THE CLIMB, Law360 August, 2021: Law360's 2021 California Powerhouses have steered billions in mergers and acquisitions, represented tech and entertainment giants and shaken up the agricultural industry in a legal market that Delia Swan said was "hot and on fire."

THE RECORDER’S “BEST OF” SURVEY NAMES SWAN LEGAL SEARCH AS TOP LEGAL RECRUITER, The Recorder, June 2021: The California industry survey is based on voting by fellow attorneys, in-house counsel, judges and legal departments. We are proud to be awarded with the #1 Legal Recruiter spot once again.

CALIFORNIA POWERHOUSES LEVERAGE TOP TALENT IN LEGAL GOLDRUSH, Law360 August, 2018: The continuing growth of California's economy has fueled a legal gold rush across practice areas, from class actions targeting tech giants to deals and disputes in the sports and entertainment industries.

CALIFORNIA POWERHOUSES INNOVATE WITH TECH-ORIENTED CLIENTS, Law360 October, 2017: In California, as the world’s most famous innovators blur the lines between sectors like media and tech and create new industries with new legal problems, nimble firms with the ability to be as creative as their clients at solving problems locally and globally rose above the rest.

5 WAYS TO GET ON THE EQUITY PARTNER FAST TRACK, Law360 December, 2015: The path to equity partnership has kept to the traditional route over decades. But aggressive ambition alone will not clinch the position, as an attorney must also be able to work well with colleagues and earn the trust of his or her senior partners and clients.

5 REASONS YOU'LL NEVER MAKE EQUITY PARTNER, Law360 December, 2015: Even the best-laid plans sometimes go awry. Being a skilled, charismatic lawyer with the ability to win clients and dedicated to your firm and practice area are all steps up the ladder, experts say. But during the course of your career, any number of slips can spoil your chances at winning a seat at the partner table..

WHY LA ATTORNEYS ARE SMILING, Law360 August, 2015: Lawyers in Los Angeles are happier at work than their East Coast counterparts, according to a survey conducted by Law360, and experts point to lighter billable hours requirements and greater opportunities for associates to work with clients early on as reasons for the marked difference in job satisfaction.

10 BOUTIQUES GIVING BIGLAW A RUN FOR ITS MONEY, Law360 July, 2015: In a trend that has been developing for years, top boutiques continue to encroach on big firms' territory by blending the same high level of skill and expertise with a lower rate structure and greater client accessibility, analysts say.

HIRING/STAFFING TRENDS IN THE LEGAL MARKET, Law Practice Today September, 2013: We held a discussion with a sampling of recruiting specialists to explore whether the current trends in the legal market will be lasting ones.

AMLAW MIDLEVEL SURVEY IS OUT, Above the Law, August, 2012: The annual Am Law midlevel associate survey came out yesterday, and for the first time in years, satisfaction among third-, fourth-, and fifth-year associates seems to be up across the board.

SALARIES FALL FOR RECENT LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES, AmLaw Daily, July 6, 2011: Lawyers a year out of law school have endured significantly less lucrative job prospects in comparison to those who graduated just a year earlier.

IN VALLEY, ASSOCIATES ARE ONCE AGAIN IN DEMAND, The Recorder, April 29, 2011: Demand for Associates in Silicon Valley has grown tremendously particularly in corporate departments.

RECRUITER SEES INCREASED DEMAND, The Recorder, July 13, 2010: Law firms across California seem to be ratcheting up their associate hiring.

PILLSBURY POACHES FROM NIXON IN N.Y., The Daily Journal Corporation, June 21, 2010: San Francisco based Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman has an eye on expansion evidenced Friday by the addition of at least 14 corporate and finance attorneys from Nixon Peabody in New York.

HIRING LAW FIRMS OFFER ‘REVERSE SIGNING BONUS, American Bar Association, May 13, 2010: The most profitable law firms increased their lateral hiring of partners last year.

CHANGING EXPECTATIONS AND INCENTIVES, The National Law Journal, May 11, 2010: Potential lateral partners take heart: Firms are still on the hunt for a few good men and women -- as long as they come with a hefty book of business that will goose the bottom line.

HALF OF FOLGER LEVIN TO JOIN CROWELL & MORING, The Recorder, October 26, 2009: Three years after Folger Levin and Kahn transferred management to a new generation of partners the San Francisco firm is splintering.

IF YOU BUILD IT, Daily Journal, February 25, 2009: For the past year and a half Erwin Chemerinsky has been building his own field of dreams.

LAID OFF LAWYERS OFTEN SUBJECTED TO SPIN CYCLE, Los Angeles Business Journal, December 15, 2008: Large law firms are experiencing a slowdown amid the souring economy and they are sending their associates packing – some openly-others quietly.

SLOWED ECONOMY, Los Angeles Daily Journal, December 10, 2008: In the slowed economy - young lawyers are giving small firms a second look.

RECRUITERS ADJUST AS LAW FIRMS' HIRING SLOWS, Los Angeles Daily Journal, November 12, 2008: Gone are high-volume associate placements but the right partners are still looking.

THE REALITY OF ASSOCIATE SALARIES, The Recorder , September 10, 2008: The relationship between firms and their recruits continues to quietly evolve.

IT'S A BUYER'S MARKET, The Recorder, May 30, 2008: According to California legal recruiters firms are spending more time now filling fewer open associate positions.

LAW FIRMS THIN STUDENT STAFFING AS BUSINESS SLOWS, Los Angeles Business Journal, April 28, 2008: The economic downturn means that law firms are seeing less business.

MIDSIZE FIRM OVERHAULS SALARY SYSTEM, The Recorder, January 14, 2008: A midsize California firm is carving its own path.

WILL LATHAM TRIGGER FAMILY LEAVE ACTS? The Recorder, December 14, 2007: Latham and Watkins announced a new parental leave policy for associates this week.

ALL IS TOO QUIET ON BONUS FRONT, The Recorder, November 30, 2007: Weeks after top New York firms started announcing lavish special bonuses on top of the usual year-end handouts; firms in California have made no moves.

OUT OF THE POCKET, Cal Law, October 17, 2007: When associates tell recruiter Delia Swan that they want some breathing room from big firm but still want to practice with top credentialed attorneys she lets them in on a little secret.

MEET THIS YEAR'S BONUS BABIES, Cal Law, October 1, 2007: The party may be over for big-law associates.

OLD SCHOOL RULES, Los Angeles Business Journal, August 7, 2006: The progressive reputation of LA belies its no-nonsense reality.

LAW FIRMS MAKE A CASE FOR RAISING NEW LAWYERS' PAY, San Francisco Business Journal, February 13, 2006: New associates seeing first raise in five years.

TAKING THE CALL, California Lawyer Magazine, August 1, 2004: If you are not looking for a job should you take a call from a recruiter?

WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME, Daily Journal Extra, December 15, 2003: Orange County is still a small business community giving young lawyers the opportunity to build a practice more easily.

HAVING IT ALL, Daily Journal Extra, October 20, 2003: Firms and their employees need to work together to make the lifestyle of a modern lawyer compatible with the lifestyle of a modern parent.

TOWNSEND PLANS SAN DIEGO OFFICE, Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 19, 2003: Swan Legal Search assists in opening San Diego office of Townsend and Townsend and Crew.

CAREER MOVES, California Law Business, August 13, 2001: When contemplating a change consider using a headhunter to get the most from your job search.

HUNTING SEASON, California Law Business, February 26, 2001: Will the legal recruiting industry ever rein in the maverick headhunters with whom it has a love-hate relationship?

LIVING IT UP, California Law Business, March 27, 2000: Legal recruiters are rolling in new-found dough due to skyrocketing salaries for associates at major California firms. But some ask - will these good times last?

HOPPING THE TRACK, Los Angeles Daily Journal, September 27, 1999: Many associates just do not care if they make partner - study says.

SOUL SEARCHING, Los Angeles Daily Journal, September 13, 1999: Many attorneys find legal recruiting a professional and personal fit.