For BigLaw firms looking to establish a regional presence in increasingly lucrative emerging sectors, expanding much past a nascent foothold is proving tougher than many expected.
Local difficulties reflect much wider recruitment struggles faced by BigLaw firms seeking new opportunities in several U.S. cities. Invariably, the key challenge is that the talent pool is neither as wide nor as deep as New York, Chicago or Los Angeles, or other major markets where demand nevertheless outweighs supply.
The scarcity of talent becomes significantly accentuated in smaller legal markets, where competition for the best is proportionately greater.
This article examines some of the emerging regions where BigLaw firms are establishing a presence, and assesses the pros and cons of diverse methods for attracting talent to these new offices.