Evolution of the Partnership Vote: Streamlining The Process for Competitive Advantage

In a Law.com article published on July 17, Margie Grossberg, founder and CEO of Benchmark Legal Search Partners, shared her perspective on how global law firms are adapting their lateral hiring strategies to meet business demands.

The article highlights Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer – the new global firm formed by the merger of Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin – which recently eliminated the requirement for a partner-wide vote on certain U.S. lateral hires. The shift reflects a broader trend across the legal industry: accelerating the hiring process to compete more effectively in key markets.

“Time kills all deals,” Margie told Law.com. “Having a situation where the candidate feels embraced and responded to and is done in a way that’s efficient with great communication is really advantageous to the firm.”

Margie noted that eliminating barriers to hiring can create a competitive edge. “If they have a short circuit – a workaround to build more scale – that is something that’s an advantage. It offers speed and agility in U.S. lateral hiring,” she said.

Still, Margie emphasized that firm culture remains critical. “People spend more time at work and doing work than they do on anything else,” she said. “Culture remains, in my opinion, a very important factor.”

Read the full article in Law.com’s “The Law Firm Disrupted” column by ALM Business of Law editor Dan Packel here.