How important is it for large firms to have a national and international presence?
The profession is becoming an increasingly national and international one as opposed to regional. For a century in this country, maybe two centuries, lawyers relied on referrals from other attorneys in other parts of the country to help build their practice, and that’s how you got introduced to great clients as well as, of course, various business development opportunities in your own market. Today most of the firms that matter are increasingly fully national, meaning a significant New York presence to complement offices in D.C. and a presence in several other major metropolitan areas. Those who have not chosen to do that are either failing firms, I would suggest, or firms that have identified a niche practice in which they will compete or are struggling mightily to achieve those other things. The jury will be out for awhile and maybe indefinitely on just how international an American firm needs to be to be a successful long-term survivor. The U.S. is so key. There is a vast amount of
