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Cordially Invites You to Attend

the Invitation Only

 

20th Annual

NEW YORK LEGAL MARKET

CONFERENCE 2026:

The Number 1 Growth Market in the U.S.

 

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

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

Paul, Weiss Conference Center

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York City

“Surprising Demand Surge in Q1”*

While there is economic uncertainty, rising energy prices and inflation in the U.S., demand and revenue growth continued to expand in the first quarter of 2026.  Billing rates also continue to rise, according to Wells Fargo Legal Specialty Group. **

​

“2025 Was a Stand-Out Year for Most of the New York”**Firms.

Has 2026 Continued to Show that Same High Level of Growth?

 

This year’s conference will emphasize hot topics in the continuing successful expansion of the number 1 growth market in the U.S.--New York.

 

Almost halfway through the 2026 year, the most pressing issues for law firm leaders to confront include: continuing demand growth; revenue and profit expansion, billing rate increases, segmentation, and a decline in lateral hiring. 

 

Revenue and Profits Per Equity Partner (PPE) both expanded well in 2025. Sixteen of the top firms grew gross revenue 10-15% or more in 2025.**  Many other top 100 law firms grew revenue for New York offices in double digits too. 

 

Has 2026 continued to show the same high level of growth in other key areas where benchmark data is collected? 

 

These numbers tell a story we will unravel at the conference. Also, there are new twists to add to the mix such as non-equity partner plans which expanded by 20% or more at a sizable number of firms.

​

Lateral hiring appears to be down about 10% Jan-March 2026***

While there are still many laterals and some groups moving firms, the decrease is significant and affects the New York market.  Lateral partner expansion from past four years in some cases are 20% of partner numbers. Do these numbers stand up to scrutiny?

 

What is the Effect of AI Usage in 2026?

Investment in AI including data governance is another variable distinguishing some firms as many firms implement AI plans and partners use AI in practice and to collaborate with clients.  Also in 2026 AI enhances efficiency and productivity and leads to process improvements for both client facing and internal business operations. 

 

* Law.com, April 29, 2026

** Law.com, April 23, 2026

*** TMG-dc, April 29, 2026

All-Star Faculty Includes Chairs, and Managing Partners,

Corporate Counsel, Legal Leaders, Advisors

Frank Aquila

Partner,

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York

 

Paul L. Bonewitz

Global Vice Chair, Finance Department,

Latham & Watkins LLP, New York

 

Michael Bosworth

Partner, Deputy General Counsel,

Goldman Sachs, New York

 

Ira J. Coleman

Chairman,

McDermott Will & Schulte LLP,

Miami, FL

 

Adam Hakki

Partner, Co-Chair Executive Committee/Board and U.S. Chair, A&O Shearman,

New York

 

Richard Hans

Managing Partner, Verticals,

DLA Piper, New York

 

Laura Hildner

Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel,

BlackRock, New York

 

Robert Houck

Partner, Clifford Chance, New York

 

Dodie C. Kent

Office Managing Partner,

Eversheds Sutherland LLP, New York

 

Brent McGoldrick

Senior Managing Director,

FTI Consulting, Washington, D.C.

 

Stella Mendes

Deputy Segment Leader and Financial Services Leader, FTI Consulting, New York

 

Nicole Levin Mesard

Deputy Presiding Partner,

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York

Seamus M. Morley

Chief Legal Officer, Head of Corporate Legal,

Prudential Financial, Inc.,

Newark, NJ

 

Ijeoma Okoli

Senior Fellow, Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government,

Harvard Kennedy School,

Boston

 

William Perlstein

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

Washington, D.C.

 

Ryan Samii

Head of Product Innovation, Harvey, New York

 

Michael J. Schmidtberger

Chairman, Norm Law, LLP, New York

 

Lawrence S. Spiegel

Partner and General Counsel,

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP,

New York

 

Gregory Starner

Office Executive Partner,

White & Case, New York

 

Andrew Sussman

Vice Chairman, CBRE, Inc., New York

 

Margaret E. Tahyar

Partner,

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York

 

F. Joseph Warin

Partner,

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP,

Washington, D.C.

 

Joel A. Wirchin

Senior Director, Legal Strategy,

Williams Lea, New York

—Program Highlights—

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

 

Panel 1: State of the Market:  Law Firm Leaders Outlook

  • Outlook for second half of 2026, takeaways from Q1, 2026

  • Impact of geopolitical, economic and transaction uncertainties and disruptions on law firm economics and activity

  • Segmentation and differentiation

    • Continued strategic alignment of top laterals and groups. How is the level of movement among the top firms affecting planning and firm management?

    • Top 200 law firms. Mergers?  Consolidation? P/E infusion?

  • Critical Challenges Facing Law Firm Leaders

    • Is the billable hour losing its grip on billing?  AFAs and value pricing

    • Non-equity partner tier: How to Retain this Talent?

    • How is the impact of AI affecting training, hiring and recruiting?

    • How is senior management best utilizing nonlawyer senior professionals?

    • Expenses are exploding.  Are collections running behind 2025?

​

Panel 2:  What Clients Want

  • Client pressure on law firms to provide value

  • Value pricing/AFAs

  • Anticipated/budgeted corporate spend on legal department. Shifting demand.  Net spend anticipation. Discounting.

  • It’s All About AI

  • Best practices: what clients would like to see from their most valued providers.  Targeting client profiles.

​

Panel 3:  Talent: Laterals, Groups, Mergers and Training

  • Market Differentiation and Segmentation including Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)

  • Scale; market share.  What talent do you need in the future?  How are talent needs changing?  Fewer paralegals? Add Data scientists?

  • Talent: Lateral and group hiring, recruitment

    • Investment in groups

    • Compensation for partners and lateral partners; rising expenses for talent

    • Consolidation and growth

    • Targeting client relationships

  • Impact of mergers, laterals on real estate needs

  • Mergers and acquisitions recent examples: What is impact of mergers like McDermott Will & Schulte; HSF Kramer; Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader on competitors?

  • Training and development

    • Culture

    • AI specific training

      • Partner training

      • Lateral and lateral group training

​

Panel 4:  AI: Adoption, Data Governance, Usage, Pricing

  • Strategy: How are different firms positioning themselves?

  • Working with clients: how to manage a “win-win” with clients?

  • Data Governance and policies

  • Optimizing partner interaction with AI: how to discuss AI with skeptics?

  • Firm uses for AI solutions

  • Training partners and associates

  • Pricing for AI; billable hour

CLE credit has been applied for.

 

Questions? Email: ginarivera@sandpiperpartners.com OR Call 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.

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© 2024 by Sandpiper Partners, LLC​

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