Attorneys in Pittsburgh have never had more places to choose from, as homegrown firms continue to grow outside the region and out-of-town firms continue to set up shop here. In fact, three firms, of very different size, have established offices within the past six months — Philadelphia-based Cozen O’Connor; Columbus, Ohio-based Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP; and Weirton, W.Va.-based Recht Law Offices.
And established lawyers are increasingly willing to move their practices. Lateral flight occurred rarely into the mid-1990s, and when veteran attorneys left, it was almost always to start a firm of their own or to lead the Pittsburgh office of an outsider. But that’s changed. Several established lawyers at the partner level have changed firms this year after a decade or more at their previous firm.
“This is the first wave we’re seeing of lawyers who have grown up in the time when partners are moving,” said Lori Carpenter, CEO of Carpenter Legal Search, a recruitment firm focused on attorneys. “This is the group that’s comfortable with it. As their practices continue to grow and morph, they may feel the need to find a firm that makes sense for them in the next stage of their career.”
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Veteran attorneys increasingly switching firms - by Patty Tascarella, Pittsburgh Business Times