Patrick Smith

Patrick Smith, based in New York, covers the business of law, including the ways law firms compete for clients and talent, M&A and corporate work, leadership and marketing innovation. Reach him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @nycpatrickd

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September 04, 2020 | The American Lawyer

Jobs Report: US Economy Adds 1.4 Million Jobs, Legal Adds ... Nothing

According to BLS data the legal sector stayed completely flat in July as recent layoffs foreshadow a rocky Fall.

By Patrick Smith

5 minute read

September 03, 2020 | The American Lawyer

Get Comfortable at Home: Big Firms Plan to Allow Remote Work for Rest of Year

Several firms said they expect office attendance to be required sometime in 2021, but others said remote work would continue "indefinitely" or until a coronavirus vaccine is in place.

By Christine Simmons | Patrick Smith | Dylan Jackson | Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

6 minute read

September 02, 2020 | The American Lawyer

Why AZ's 'Legal Paraprofessional' Push Could Lead to Major Shift in Legal Market

While a comparatively small legal market, Arizona's push to allow nonlawyers to practice law could open the door for larger, more influential markets to do the same.

By Patrick Smith

6 minute read

August 31, 2020 | The American Lawyer

Hogan Lovells, Littler Mendelson Join Firms Making Nov. 3 a Paid Day Off

The firms join Mintz, Fenwick & West, Jenner and Orrick as Big Law moves toward making voting easier for their employees.

By Patrick Smith

4 minute read

August 31, 2020 | The American Lawyer

Arrested Development: Younger Associates Are Taking Longer to Develop

Changing workflows, client wants and of course the pandemic have all exacerbated an existing trend of longer ramp up times for new attorneys.

By Patrick Smith

7 minute read

August 28, 2020 | The American Lawyer

What's Behind Some Pushing to Get Back to the Office?

Safety is the primary concern across the board, but within that lies a more disparate set of factors that will impact how and if firms go back to the office, experts and firm leaders say.

By Patrick Smith

6 minute read

August 27, 2020 | The American Lawyer

Is M&A Work Steady When Markets Are Up and the Economy Is Down?

The "winner and losers" dynamic in today's market is reinforcing the need for law firms to have a diversified range of clients.

By Patrick Smith

5 minute read

August 26, 2020 | The American Lawyer

Wilson Sonsini, Cravath, Davis Polk Get Enigmatic Palantir's IPO Work

Three big names in Big Law are set to take the secretive company public, as SEC disclosures show it hasn't turned a profit in its 17-year history, and might not ever.

By Patrick Smith

3 minute read