Benesch’s Strategy to Recruit and Retain BigLaw Lateral Talent Featured in Law360

“Mid-sized Ohio-based firm Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP has become an attractive destination for a certain type of BigLaw lateral partner, attracting a notable number over the past six months.”

Following a trend of BigLaw talent joining the firm, Benesch was recently featured in a Law360 article discussing the phenomenon, “Behind Benesch’s Strategy to Add and Keep BigLaw Laterals.”

Benesch has successfully implemented a lateral-driven growth strategy, attracting 45 BigLaw attorneys to the firm in 2023 alone. This approach has further strengthened the firm’s bench and facilitated its expansion in key markets such as Chicago, New York and San Francisco. High-quality lateral partners from prestigious firms like Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Nixon Peabody LLP and Jenner & Block LLP point to Benesch’s entrepreneurial pitch and forward-looking vision as part of the attraction to them joining the firm.

Besides attracting top talent, Benesch is proud to maintain industry-leading retention rates, which further add to the firm’s appeal. Benesch saw a 90% retention rate for equity partners and 89.5% for salaried partners in 2023, and 98% for equity partners and 89% for salaried partners in 2022. The firm emphasizes a careful selection process for lateral hires, ensuring they are the right fit before bringing them on, which lends itself to such impressive retention rates that exceed industry norms.

As noted in Law360’s article, two of Benesch’s recent BigLaw lateral hires, Douglas DiMedio, who came from Kirkland this January, and Stephanie Sheridan, who joined from Steptoe & Johnson a year ago and serves as Partner-in-Charge of the firm’s San Francisco office, said that they were drawn to Benesch in part because of its entrepreneurial approach and the opportunity to be part of a growing organization, as well as the firm’s impressive retention statistics.

The article also highlights Benesch’s “entrepreneurial and less bureaucratic” culture as a major draw for BigLaw lateral partners, along with the positive impressions made by the firm’s management, specifically mentioning Managing Partner Gregg Eisenberg’s leadership and vision.

“Attracting BigLaw talent is a significant part of the firm’s current strategy,” said Managing Partner Gregg Eisenberg. “We love attracting BigLaw talent and BigLaw lawyers that are very sophisticated and do what we do, but most importantly, those who match our culture. We’re very excited about the future of this law firm. We think this is going to be a very busy year for us.”

To read the full Law360 article, please click here.