Law firm attorneys move firms constantly, but does anyone tell the client first?

Early data from the Lateral Lift Survey, conducted by Poston Communications, LawVision and JDSupra, suggests many in-house counsel are left in the dark when their key relationship partner departs. When asked how likely they are to proactively ask a prospective law firm about attorney turnover or merger plans, over half of in-house respondents said they are “not likely” to raise the issue at all and only a small fraction have made it a standard part of their evaluation process, such as including it in RFPs.

That silence has consequences. Among in-house counsel who have experienced a partner departure or firm merger, a significant share reported real disruption: loss of institutional knowledge, reduced responsiveness, service disruption and billing complications all showed up as tangible negative outcomes. Yet when a partner does leave, in-house counsel are near-unanimous on what they actually want to know: continuity plans for their ongoing matters, full stop. That single data point outranked every other piece of information firms might offer.

Attorney and partner stability also weighs meaningfully in how in-house counsel select and retain outside counsel, with the large majority calling it important to critical. Still, most clients admit they rarely request specific attorneys by name when directing work to a preferred firm, raising the question of how much influence GCs are actually exercising over who serves their matters.

If you manage outside counsel relationships, this survey is your opportunity to shape how firms communicate lateral moves, mergers and departures going forward. It takes about eight minutes, responses are confidential and reported in aggregate only, and it closes soon.

Tell us what you actually need to know when your law firm changes. Take the Lateral Lift Survey now.

Beth Huffman, a managing director at Poston Communications, has more than 40 years of experience in communications, media and marketing. She has spent the last two decades helping major law firms, legal organizations and their global clients create strategic narratives that elevate their reputations and work.

Adrian Lürssen is co-founder and VP of strategic development at JD Supra. Connect with him on LinkedIn here.