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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

HELP WANTED (OK, NEEDED) - Job postings for business professionals in law firms are at an all-time high, industry experts tell Law.com's Patrick Smith. Large and midsize law firms are experiencing significant staffing shortages now, partly a result of firms needing to hire more support when their attorney ranks expanded or went remote. But filling those roles isn't exactly going to be easy given that, as Smith explains, these firms aren't just competing with each other for talent. They're also up against the software company, the consulting firm and the life sciences conglomerate, all of whom are prepared to offer competitive pay, advancement opportunities and perhaps a culture where the business professional feels more valued. Firms also face a shifting tide in how and where people work. What does all this mean? Competitive compensation is but one part of an increasingly complicated calculation for firms that want to compete. "Looking across the street at the law firm next door isn't going to get it done," Jennifer Johnson, CEO and founder of law firm executive recruitment firm Calibrate Legal, said. "Take the best practices of other industries and use them. Firms think that once they have hired the best people, they are done. But business professionals, like attorneys, need constant motivation, engagement and encouragement."

MOVING UNITS - When it comes to lateral moves, there continues to be strength in numbers. Industry analysts say lateral group moves are picking up steam in 2022 amid remote work and a relative decline in law firm merger activity, according to Law.com's Andrew Maloney.  And the Windy City will remain a point of emphasis due to its rate structure, private capital and emerging presence on the tech scene. Big firms have already made a splash this year with large lateral groups: Paul Hastings had a 43-attorney hire; Norton Rose Fulbright added an 11-lawyer litigation team; Parker Poe announced a 16-attorney group hire; and Fennemore Craig picked up 24 lawyers at once. DLA Piper became the latest last Thursday when it said it added a 27-lawyer private equity lawyer addition in Chicago from Michigan-based Honigman. In general, according to Susan Mendelsohn, a Chicago-based legal recruiter who helped on the DLA move, the growth of remote work has helped lawyers entertain lateral opportunities they may not have had before and a decline in completed law firm mergers has potentially contributed to more large-group laterals. "Maybe the firms that need to merge aren't merging, so larger, profitable groups are finding new homes within a larger platform that are more beneficial to their practice. Because if you're at a smaller firm, there is a ceiling to your growth, for sure," she said.

BIG TECH BEDFELLOWS? - Google, parent company Alphabet, Apple and both companies' chief executives were hit with an antitrust lawsuit Friday in California Northern District Court. The suit alleges that Apple and Google struck an anti-competitive pact whereby Apple agreed not to compete with Google in the search business and Google agreed to pay Apple billions of dollars to be the default search engine on Apple devices. The suit, brought on behalf of more than 25 individuals, is backed by the Alioto Law Firm, Bonsignore Trial Lawyers, the Veen Firm, and other plaintiffs firms. Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendants. The case is 3:22-cv-02499, Arcell et al v. Google LLC et al. Stay up on the latest deals and litigation with the new Law.com .   

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