DC Legal Market 2025

The DC Legal Market is in Flux

State of the DC Legal Market

While demand is down, the economic situation for D.C. law firms is quite healthy. While the DC legal market is not growing as much as other geographic markets; firms are able to thrive due to rising billing rates and more aggressive management of expenses.

At the same time, lateral partner movement in D.C. is rising. There were close to 600 moves reported in the first six months of 2025, with a key component the nearly 200 government hires made in the first six months. Modest headcount growth has not stopped top firms from considering Washington, D.C. as a priority market.

All this comes at a time in which the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders aimed at various law firms are concerning to senior leadership of all firms. What is the impact of the EOs? How should firms react to them?

Hot Practice Areas

There are a number of “hot” D.C. practice areas including international trade, antitrust, and healthcare. Additionally, firms are receiving many inquiries related to the Trump Administrations’ actions affecting clients.

Talent has been upended in the dynamic, evolving DC market.

Recruiting is difficult in the DC market. Associate recruiting is down. Outside of government hiring, lateral hiring of individuals and groups is flat.
Training partners and associates is a priority; along with integrating laterals, both partners and associates.

Real Estate Market Dynamics: space design, working differently, moving vs. staying in place

AI: How are firms using generative AI? Collaborating with clients? Deploying AI in back office management?

All-Star Faculty of Law Firm Partners, Advisors

Brian Blaho

Global Director of Library Services,

Innovation, Reed Smith,

New York

David W. Bowker

Partner-in-Charge, Washington, D.C. Office,

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP,

Washington D.C.

Bob Bratt

DLA Piper LLP (US),

Senior Advisor to the Global Managing partner,

Reston, VA

John P Carlin

Partner,

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP,

Washington, D.C.

Lou Christopher

Vice Chairman, CBRE, Washington, D.C.

Matt Galvin

Partner, Steptoe LLP, Washington, D.C.

Conan Hines

Director of Practice Innovation,

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP,

New York

Darrin A. Hostetler

Chief Compliance Officer,

Vice President, Global Compliance,

Boeing, New Alexandria, Virginia

Ann M. Kappler

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer,

Prudential Financial, Inc.,

Newark, NJ

David C. Lashway

Partner,

Sidley Austin LLP,

Washington, D.C.

Ed Macnamara

Chief Innovation Officer,

ArentFox Schiff,

Washington, D.C.

David Mortlock

Managing Partner,

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP,

Washington, D.C.

Stephen Nelson

Executive Principal,

The McCormick Group,

Arlington, VA

William J. Perlstein

Senior Managing Director, Vice Chair of Client Services, FTI Consulting,

Washington, D.C.

Eli Peterson

Head of Global Regulatory Affairs,

JPMorgan Chase & Co.,

Washington, D.C.

Gwendolyn Prothro Renigar

Chair, Steptoe LLP,

Washington, D.C.

Anna Sanders

Senior Director, VOYlegal LLC,

Washington, D.C.

Brian P. Waldman

Firmwide Managing Partner,

ARENTFOX SCHIFF LLP,

Washington, D.C.

F. Joseph Warin

Partner,

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP,

Washington, D.C.

Joel A. Wirchin

Senior Director, Sales Strategy,

Williams Lea by RRD Global Outsourcing,

New York

—PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS—

9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. EDT

State of the DC Legal Market

The market is not growing like other legal markets. Demand is down.
New government regulatory and enforcement work has slowed down
DC economy may be slipping into recession.
Hiring and recruiting have slowed; yet lateral hiring is ahead of last year.
Finding recession proof strategies

Talent

Recruiting challenges at law schools
Lateral hiring strategies for associates and partners
Training and development for associates and partners
Hot practice areas: international trade; tariffs; IP and data privacy, healthcare

Real Estate and Working Differently 2025

Moving vs. staying in place: examples of both strategies
Working differently in 2025

What Clients Want—And Expect: How to Collaborate Effectively with Them

Client expectations vs. law firm reality
Interacting with firm legal and business teams
Understanding the Trump Administrations regulatory complexities
AI strategy, policies for corporate law departments, and for financial institutions
Examples of collaboration with companies/clients including using AI to collaborate

AI and Firm Strategy; Delivering Results

How AI is changing the delivery of legal services in law firms
AI tools
- Rolling out applications
- How are tools more efficient and productive?
Structuring data to use in large language models
Budgeting
- Predictive analysis and the budget process
- Firm attorney and matter budgets
New ways for firms to take advantage of AI for research and to improve forecasting and increase efficiency.
Training partners, associates, and staff
Business and enterprise risk
Use Cases