Feeling the Squeeze: How Mid-Sized Law Firms Adapt and Compete

Mid-sized law firms are facing pressure from every direction. Associates are poached with six-figure pay bumps, partners are stretched thin between billing and management, and specialty practices vanish without succession plans. At the same time, clients expect broader reach and deeper benches than many firms can deliver.

In this episode, host Chris Batz shares what he’s hearing directly from managing partners and executive committee members across the country. He outlines the squeeze mid-sized firms are feeling - lagging organic growth, talent retention challenges, leadership burnout - and the difficult choices leaders are weighing: scale up, go lean, or join a larger platform.

Chris also looks at the emerging role of private equity in law firm ownership and the ripple effects it could have on culture, compensation, and competition. Along the way, he points out steps firms can take now: sharpen strategic vision, invest in leadership and succession, strengthen recruiting systems, and pursue growth through the right mergers or acquisitions.

At its heart, this episode asks a question every firm should confront: how do you stay competitive without exhausting the people who make your firm strong?

Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Why Mid-Sized Law Firms Are Struggling
03:30 Why Talent Keeps Leaving Mid-Sized Firms
04:28 The Leadership Burnout Crisis in Law Firms
07:37 Scenario 1: Losing Lead Counsel Work to Bigger Firms
11:31 Scenario 2: Rainmakers With No Succession Plan
14:04 Billing vs. Leading — Can Firm Leaders Do Both?
18:19 Growth Choices: Lateral Hires, Acquisitions, or Mergers
24:01 Should Mid-Sized Firms Join Larger Platforms?
26:09 The Hidden Cost of Burnout in Firm Leadership
32:17 How Private Equity Is Changing Law Firms
34:18 Strategies for Mid-Sized Firms to Compete
43:48 Key Lessons for Law Firm Leaders

Connect with Chris Batz:
LinkedIn profile:   / chrisbatz  
LinkedIn company page:   / columbus-street  
Columbus Street website: https://www.columbus-street.com/

Listen and learn from Chris Batz and Howard Rosenberg’s bi-weekly podcast, The Future is Bright.

Enjoy a front-row seat as Chris and Howard speak with thought-provoking C-Suite executives and leaders from corporations, both public and private, professional service firms, and of course, the legal industry from around the United States.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm