When Ballard Spahr announced last week that it had hired Justin M. Miller, formerly a top lawyer at DuPont, the lateral move was generally seen as one that deepened the well-established relationship between Ballard Spahr and a prominent client.

But observers and analysts also saw a clear strategic benefit for a firm looking to grow its presence both locally and on a national scale.

“I think it may be more nationally-oriented, to say you're drawing on people from Fortune 100 companies,” he said. “I just didn't think of this as a Delaware play,” said Lawrence Hamermesh, professor at Widener University Delaware Law School.