Philadelphia's Am Law 100 firms may be headed toward another banner year at the close of 2021, although uncertainties around in-person gatherings, travel and policy changes under the Biden administration make it difficult to budget for 2022.

"It's hard to predict what 2022 is going to be like," law firm consultant Brad Hildebrandt said. "It could be another great year or we could see more of a balancing out of costs and expenses."

Many expected to see an increase in expenses associated with travel and events by the second quarter of 2021, Hildebrandt and firm leaders said. But delays to office reopenings and in-person events due to the COVID-19 delta variant landed firm leaders with another unexpected cash windfall.