TransformingYourCareerTransformingYourself

  Confirmed by what was disclosed in the Epstein files is how much Big Law operates through elite networks. Or, it did. Referrals came through relationships. And that we can size up as one probable reason Kathy Ruemmler got so chummy with the "connector" Jeffrey Epstein when she was a partner at Latham. However, that reliance on relationship-building could be lessening.  In the UK, a survey by the influential legal tabloid RollonFriday found out this: The number-one reason in-house selects a law firm to represent it and will continue to use that service provider is the quality of the answer to a very specific legal question.  As RollonFriday reports that's what differentiates firms. That is, how tailored the response is to the legal matter. No generics. No trotting out the same-old templates. No relying on ChatGPT.  For that, in-house is willing to ignore the web of relationships formed with law firms. It will go with the supplier known to come up with fresh persp...

The retired don't need a survey like the recent one from Schroders  to have confirmed that their financial situation is getting scary. Inflation, medical expenses and fear of a stock market crash have pushed them into fearing they will outlive their money. Only 4% experience being retired as living the dream. Meanwhile, the worried fret there is no "second chance" for shoring up their financial situation. If that is how you feel you might be caught in a doom loop. But, no, you don't have to tumble into that abyss.  There are second chances.  A number of retirees have come to me for coaching about how to re-enter the labor market. Those willing to dumb down their resumes and how to present themselves do land full-time/part-time jobs and gigs. The dumbing down includes: Leaving off job search materials all academic degrees beyond the BA. The exception will be formal education related directly related to job duties. For example, you apply to be an adjunct at the universi...

  The last line on the Bloomberg Law coverage of yet another litigation heavy leaving Paul, Weiss says it all: "The market has been keen for insights into [Scott] Barshay’s impact on the firm’s litigation group." Exiting for Paul Hastings is Roberto Gonzalez. He had been co-chair of Paul Weiss’ economic sanctions and anti-money laundering practice group. In other coverage, that is by Law.com , it's reported that litigation partner Andrew Enrlich is also leaving at the end of this month. He is co-chair of Paul, Weiss' securities and enforcement practice.  The watching creates a looping situation. The more the scrutiny the less probability the turbulence will calm down. As long as it exists the more will be the watching. In itself that can trigger more partner exits and difficulty poaching stars in their practices.  Obviously not cooled down is the upheaval created by multiple hits to the firm's reputation. They include the deal with Trump administration to lift...

  Cultural/branding shifts are happening all the time in this crazy economy driven by political issues, cost-efficiency, AI and offshoring.  ESG (remember that movement) shoe maker Allbirds  became an AI business called New Birds AI. Job search platform LinkedIn is terminating the jobs of more than 600. Aggressive financial player Apollo has taken on the role of reformer of higher education, allegedly on company time (intel via Freedom of Information Act). So, it should seem just more of the same that law firm Paul, Weiss has been mutating from a progressive change-agent with deep litigation roots to a business focused on corporate, that is, transactional practices. Way back in September 2022 journalist David Enrich summed up that evolution in "Servants of the Damned" as the prevailing ethos in Big Law. In the rush to boost the monetary metric of Profits Per Equity Partner large law firms were no longer serving the public interest. The game was all-business. Max those...

 Freedom of Information requests as well as other sources turned up this: Apollo CEO Marc Rowan used the company email account for his political campaign to reform higher education. The Financial Times cites that as wrong because of: " ... company ethics language stating that employees engaged in personal and civic affairs must make clear that their views and actions are their own, not the company's." In addition, Rowan is accused of using Apollo staff to do work on the project. This story exploded yesterday when the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors sent a letter to Apollo's audit committee about these issues.  This matters to the unions because Apollo manages their pension funds. And it should matter to Apollo because if the story has legs there might have to be another attempt at reputation rehab. Many recall that when Leon Black was CEO at Apollo a major scandal broke out after it was discovered that he paid Jef...

  "I am afraid. I don't know if I can get up on two wheels and stay up." That's what an aging client lamented when they heard the delivery gig involves 1) having an e-bike and 2) using only it for handling those packages. More businesses, ranging from Amazon to mom-and-pop eateries, are shifting from the traditional van or auto to some version of e-bikes. In Manhattan, documents The New York Times , this use of e-bikes to deliver cargo started in 2024. In Europe, with its narrow streets and embedded cycling ethos it's been around for much longer than that. The good news for seniors is that there are mass-produced and customized e-tikes. Those have three wheels and are equipped with a large basket in back for parcels. Some also have a basket in front. Amazon lists them, starting at about $700. In Sierra Vista, Arizona M & M Cycling are among the growing number of shops which will customize an e-trike. That includes setting the miles-per-hour to be in complianc...