New ABA book provides roadmap for lateral move

Every year, about 5 percent of the partners in law firms nationwide switch firms, typically moving for superior compensation, to avoid client conflicts or for greater autonomy and leadership opportunities in what is usually the most significant decision of their careers. The process of switching firms can be fraught with personal and professional difficulty and risk. But a new book from the American Bar Association, "The Lateral Lawyer: Opportunities & Pitfalls for the Law Firm Partner," reveals how that process actually works in the real world - demystifying just how one goes about switching firms as a partner-level attorney. In the book, lawyer and legal recruiter Adam S. Weiss draws upon his background in the law, management consulting and business development to offer prospective candidates a roadmap on how to switch firms. He tackles some of the key issues a law firm partner should consider and explains the process for an effective transition to a different firm. Based in the New York area, Weiss brings 20 years of experience in the legal industry and more than a decade in legal recruiting. With specific examples, Weiss explains how lawyers can receive the best possible lateral offers by creating the perfect market: One that makes firms compete against each other for the candidate's practice. He tackles, among other areas, how to avoid interview pitfalls and how parties to a lateral move can improve their negotiating positions. The book includes a case study of a typical partner-level lateral move with illustrative samples of the due-diligence disclosure forms that virtually every firm requires prospective candidates to complete. Weiss is the founder and principal of the Lateral Lawyer Group, a boutique partner-focused legal recruiting and consulting firm that places attorneys in national, international and regional firms worldwide. A 1988 graduate of Princeton University and 1992 graduate of Harvard Law School, he is admitted to the bar in New York, New Jersey and Texas. Previously, he practiced in the Houston office of New York-based Weil, Gotshal & Manges, where he served clients with both litigation and transactional needs, particularly with respect to matters relating to Latin America. Published: Mon, Dec 08, 2014