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Unique Partner Opportunities
The Esquire Client

Litigation Partner Opportunities | Transactional Partner Opportunities
Labor & Employment Partner Opportunities

Esquire’s search portfolio for partners and practice groups is extremely robust and growing. The influx of several national firms opening offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Silicon Valley and Orange County has created a plethora of intriguing ground floor opportunities. In addition, our more established clients continue to look for people in key strategic areas. While the leaders of the firms we work with are certainly keeping a watchful eye on the economy and down markets, none have readjusted their long-term bullish growth objectives in California. It’s fair to say that working with law firms who have significant financial wherewithal certainly makes our job easier.

Esquire has been retained by many of these firms, working closely with the chairmen and key decision-makers in formulating growth strategies, search priorities and partner recruitment programs. We have also been retained to find core partners for new offices and strategic hires for others. Our successful representation of McDermott Will & Emery I.P. co-chair Mark Wine to manage Orrick Herrington’s I.P. practice in Orange County was a recent example of a strategic hire. Our recent placement of Tim Scott, litigation chair at Sidley & Austin (S.F) to King & Spalding, was an example of capturing an "impact player" to help build KS’s new San Francisco and Silicon Valley offices in a core practice areas

In many cases, we help identify compelling cross-selling and business development opportunities and evaluate the growth potential of the firm’s client roster in California. In short, the influx of national firms coupled with the growth objectives of other well-established California firms has created one of the busiest lateral markets in recent memories. We are in the "hub" of the wheel and few search firms have such an inside track on the best partner opportunities.

Retained Search
Most Esquire clients (law firms and corporations) either formally retain us on an exclusive non-contingency basis or limit their search to us and perhaps one other prominent search firm. The fact that many top law firms select us over other fine organizations – especially on high priority searches suggests that:

The way we see it, the issue these days is not what law firms are looking for outstanding revenue-producing partners, since most are. The real issue is moving to the right one – and certainly a well-managed law firm with a superior strategic vision, effective execution, a strong balance sheet, solid clients in stable and growth industries and those that offer outstanding growth opportunities. "Platform" is an over-used phrase, but at the end of the day, a firm’s platform, support and strategic vision are key. The dissolution of Heller Ehrman was a dramatic example of leadership missteps, a failure to execute a strong game plan and inability to adjust to changing times in an increasingly competitive market. What we see is the best firms continue to get stronger, and attract the best people – and the second tier firms continue to fall further behind. We obviously focus on the former.

Importance of People, Not Just R. P. L.
Our clients are certainly very profitable – but also place a premium on people – not just partner profits or revenue per lawyer at the exclusion of everything else. We work with leaders at a very select group of law firms that have successfully established that rare equilibrium between people, profits, culture and opportunity. Clearly, most partners will only move if the opportunity is compelling – makes sense financially and is a fit with the right people.

Partner Opportunities
We are actively looking for partners in both Southern and Northern California. We have positions in all key areas: Los Angeles, Century City, Santa Monica, Dan Diego, Orange County, Silicon Valley, San Francisco and Sacramento.

Regulatory: environmental and compliance; FDA/healthcare; telecommunications, etc.

In-House Opportunities
As law firms increasingly emphasize billable hour requirements and business generation, more lawyers evaluate in-house opportunities. In addition, some attorneys opt for the business and decision-making climate of the corporation. The in-house lawyer has essentially one client, versus several when he or she is in private practice. Many in-house positions offer a collegial work environment, 9 - 5 schedule, interaction with executives in various departments and greater input in strategies, business decisions and growth. For some, the satisfaction, work environment, benefits and stability far outweigh the usual decrease in compensation. However, there is a potential downside.

With the increase of corporate mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, as well as personnel downsizings, many in-house attorneys find themselves unemployed, after a management shake-up or corporate upheaval. In-House lawyers with partner-level seniority find it extremely difficult to re-enter private practice without a book of business. In addition, the hours that many in-house lawyers work has, in some instances, come to resemble those in private practice. In short, while in-house positions have a definite allure, there may be quicksand along the way. Particular attention should be paid to the firm's merger and acquisition objectives, financial condition, management stability and promotion avenues.

In the late 1980's and early 1990's, we placed almost one hundred attorneys in-house. In fact, Esquire spun off of one of the leading executive search firms in California with a wide corporate client base which we tapped into. The recession of the early to mid-90's had a negative impact on in-house opportunities throughout California. The in-house market has temporarily slowed down.  We have completed most of our in-house searches.  However, the need remains particularly strong for lawyers with Intellectual Property backgrounds.  Our in-house clients are focusing on strong technical background in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or advanced degrees in the Life Sciences.

Copyright© October, 2008