What Works (and What Doesn’t) in Lateral Partner Integration

An accomplished attorney doesn’t just join a new firm - they bet their career on it.

That is why Erika Steinberg and I teamed up to interview 40 partners who recently made a lateral move to learn what worked (and what didn’t) in their integration—directly from the source.

Key findings:

 🔑 Most firms impress newcomers on day one, but few engage in meaningful discussion about what success will look like months down the road.

 🔑 Laterals who described genuinely supportive onboarding had one advantage: a single professional accountable for integration, armed with a checklist and timeline.

 🔑 Group hires treated as a "collective asset" miss the opportunity to tap into each lawyer's unique strengths--and loyalty.

The bottom line? The real work of integration continues long after the headlines about your laterals’ move fade--it's personal, structured and intentional. Firms that embrace this approach will enjoy stronger retention, higher productivity and a strategic competitive advantage.

Law360 published our findings and our 10 key strategies for successful lateral partner integration in an article available here.  The full report, "Survey Report: What Works (and What Doesn’t) in Lateral Partner Integration" is available here.

Drop us a note if you want to talk through our findings.

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