DC Legal Market 2024

Substantial Economic Growth This Year and into 2025

Recent signals from the Fed and other economists are positive with lower interest rates and economic growth now likely through the end of 2024 and into 2025.

However, geo-political uncertainty and looming supply chain disruption may lead to caution and a focus on risk management. DC law firms are especially prone to being affected by geo-political disruption and need to be nimble, especially with the U.S. election looming just a few weeks away.

On balance DC firms are poised to experience a strong 2024.

Strategic Growth Initiatives

Geographic expansion? Growth within key practice areas?

This year global growth has often been replaced by U.S. geographic growth and growth within practice areas. Some targeted practice areas include IP, litigation, regulatory and life sciences. While lateral hiring has slowed down year over year, strategic lateral hiring is alive and well. In addition, many firms are making C-suite hires.

Special Feature: Why AI is Transformative

Firms of all sizes can and are benefitting from AI initiatives. Our panel will explain how AI is changing delivery of legal services through cooperation with clients on AI projects and in firm centric projects like E-discovery. Learn about Generative AI tools, how clients are using AI tools and third party applications. How is AI technology project management helping firms? Learn from compelling use cases.

All-Star Faculty of Law Firm Partners, Advisors

David W. Bowker

Partner

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP,

Partner-in-Charge, Washington DC Office,

Washington, D.C.

Jennifer J. Bruton

Partner, Venable LLP, Washington, D.C.

Lou Christopher

Vice Chairman,

CBRE, Washington, D.C.

Lauren Drake

Partner, Macrae, Inc.,

Washington, D.C.

Chantale Fiebig

Co-Managing Partner,

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP,

Washington, D.C.

Kristin Graham Koehler

Managing Partner, D.C. Office,

Sidley Austin LLP,

Washington, D.C.

Ajay Kuntamukkala

Office Managing Partner,

Global Regulatory,

Hogan Lovells,

Washington, D.C.

Tom J. McCarthy

Partner,

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP,

Washington, D.C.

William J. Perlstein

Senior Managing Director,

Vice Chair of Client Services,

FTI Consulting,

Washington, D.C.

Zach Posner

Managing Partner & Co-Founder,

The LegalTech Fund,

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Amanda P. Reeves

Partner,

Latham & Watkins LLP,

Washington, D.C.

Gwendolyn Prothro Renigar

Chair, Steptoe LLP,

Washington, D.C.

Brian L. Stekloff

Partner,

Wilkinson Stekloff,

Washington, D.C.

F. Joseph Warin

Partner,

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP,

Washington, D.C.

—PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS—

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. EDT

State of the DC Legal Market
- Steady year over year growth. Strategies for strategic growth.
- Changing business models; competition
- Strategic compensation
- Hot practice areas

War for Talent in Full Bloom—Is Practice Better Than Being In-house?
- Mergers
- Laterals
- Retention and recruitment
- Structuring compensation arrangements
- Making diversity, equity and inclusion goals relevant in 2024

Special Feature: AI and Technology
- Using AI to improve efficiency and implement new services
- Evaluating AI use cases
- Client cooperation, client consent
- Negotiating agreements with third party AI service providers
- What clients want from AI applications and generative AI tools
  - Cost pressure continues to undermine client relationships
  - Client AI progress
  - AI technology project management: build or buy?
  - Examples/ use cases
Data analytics, measurement metrics

Real Estate and Working Differently
- State of the Real Estate Market
- Strategies for getting partners and associates back to work in office. Four days? Three days? Everyday?
- Outlook for remote working in 2025. Productivity and efficiency gains in office? Remote?
- What real estate footprint is realistic today?
- Redesigning work space, right sizing offices
- Risk management, conflicts, outside counsel guidelines

CLE Credit has been applied for.

Questions? E-mail: ginarivera@sandpiperpartners.com

Phone: 973.278.8800

ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Sandpiper Partners is an educational firm run by highly successful entrepreneur, Lynn Glasser, who has decades of experience producing educational solutions for law firms, law departments, legal vendors and information providers serving the legal industry. Sandpiper Partners presents seven Legal Market annual conferences in major U.S. legal centers from New York to Chicago to California and London. At Sandpiper Partners, the Glassers designed and implemented the first ever Executive MBA for Law Firm Managers. They founded the “Legal Times” in D.C.