Let’s Talk

By Andrew Maloney

CenterPeak's Jeff Lowe reveals the hidden cost behind BigLaw's profit explosion: "The danger of creating this giant cadre of nonequity partners is that it siphons work away from associates and can create an expensive class of working attorneys. That can be a drain on profitability." While firms like White & Case see profits surge 27% and Polsinelli jumps 31.2%, their equity tiers are shrinking. Lowe notes record-high billing rates help firms generate massive revenue gains even when losing business-generating equity partners. The twist? Nonequity ranks are ballooning across AmLaw 100 firms, creating a structural challenge that could ultimately backfire.