Mid-Market Law Firms Gain as Clients Trim Costs in Recessionary Climate

May 6 2009. With businesses eager to conserve costs wherever they can during this long-lasting recession, legal expenses continue to come in sharp focus, according to a May 1, 2009 report by the American Lawyer. In an article entitled "The Big Squeeze," the magazine reported, however, that as clients continue to put pressure on their law firms to cut costs, they are often reaching out to smaller firms with more attractive billing rates than their large firm counterparts. The article specifically cited the increasing appeal of Morrison Cohen, which has a sophisticated full service practice and under 100 lawyers. Mary Flynn, Co-Chair of Litigation at Morrison Cohen, said: "Clients are asking us to do more pitches than ever. They are getting increasingly uncomfortable with paying $800-$1,000 an hour for lead counsel on a case." Morrison Cohen's substantially lower rates", Ms. Flynn said, has made "huge differences" to these clients.