Although talks of reconfiguring Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith's governance structure and management personnel had been underway for years, it took the departure of more than 150 lawyers so far this year to serve as an impetus for action.

For years, partners and executives have complained about the firm's opaque leadership, unilateral decision-making and lack of succession planning, sources with knowledge of the firm, some of whom agreed to speak to The American Lawyer on the condition of anonymity, said.