At Lexpert, we avoid having two lawyers from the same firm on the cover (despite frequent requests to the contrary). But we can’t keep up with some of you. On the cover of our May issue, for example, we have two lawyers from the same firm, by virtue of a timing accident: a lawyer moved from one firm to another after the photo shoot. (Vanessa Grant left Gowling WLG to join Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, where Brian Daley also practises).
It seems that our inbox is full of notices of lateral moves this year. There are other moves going on as well, including lawyers transitioning to the in-house Bar; and at least one in-house counsel moving to a business role (BMO’s Adrian Lang). We might reasonably write the narrative of these job changes. So too, if someone leaves a large firm to set up a small shop, we intuitively understand that sometimes people just need a change — it’s “as good as a rest” for the spirit.
The lateral moves are arguably more mysterious. Why does a lawyer move from one firm to another of the same size and the same town? Is it to follow clients? Is it for more compensation? If so, on what basis does a firm offer more compensation? Or is it for HR reasons, a desire to be around people one finds more compatible?
We would love to hear some answers from those of you making these transitions. You can send us your response with your move notices.