Lowenstein Sandler, perennially the highest-earning law firm rooted in New Jersey, increased its gross revenue in 2020, driven by core practices that the firm's managing partner said performed "shockingly well given what was going on in the world."

Crediting work for technology, investment and life sciences clients, managing partner Gary Wingens said, "I never would've predicted in March and April, even May, that we'd end the year up" in revenue. He called the situation "one of the great surprises of my career."

Early in 2020, "we were doing cash flow models, 'what if we're down 20%? What if we're down 50%?'" Wingens added. "If you had asked me in April, I would've said down 5% would be a win."