By now, every managing partner has heard the warning: Law firms and their clients' sensitive information are a treasure trove for hackers.

But the ransomware attack Tuesday on DLA Piper sounded a different type of alarm for Big Law. The world's biggest firms are just as prone to ransomware attacks as any other company, and the potential ramifications of a network-crippling malware infection are wide-ranging for a service industry that holds the legal fate of corporations in its palm.

Consider litigators unable to access motions on a deadline. Trial lawyers preparing for arguments without key documents. Transactional lawyers unable to communicate with clients attempting to close multibillion-dollar deals.