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Munger Tolles tops The American Lawyer's A-List, first L.A. firm to do so

By Jason Siegel

Munger Tolles took the top spot on The American Lawyer magazine's 6th annual A-List of the nation's elite law firms, the first Los Angeles-based firm to do so.

For the past four years New York-based firm Debevoise & Plimpton had ranked #1 on the list.

Am Law ranks firms based on revenue per lawyer, pro bono hours, associate satisfaction and diversity representation - with revenue per lawyer and pro bono scores counting double.

According to the Am Law:

"Revenue from such clients as Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., Abbott Laboratories, Verizon Communications Inc., and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. pushed the firm to a tenth-place showing in the revenue per lawyer ranks. Munger ranked thirteenth in associate satisfaction and fourteenth in diversity in 2007, both down from last year but only slightly; the big jump in the firm's pro bono rating offset those declines. With 1,103 points overall, Munger's record was in line with that of Debevoise's in 2007 (though down from Debevoise's scores in 2005 and 2006). More importantly, Munger, Tolles should remain a contender for top A-List honors in the coming years. In tough times, firms with a strong identity, loyal clients, and happy lawyers usually continue to succeed. Munger has all of those-in abundance."

Munger Tolles lawyers worked a total of 15,941 pro bono hours in 2007, about a 25% increase from the previous year. Attorneys averaged 88.6 pro bono hours per attorney in 2007, with over half putting in over 20 pro bono hours.

"THE A-LIST: A Firm of Equals," The American Lawyer
"Three law firms secured a spot on this year's roster," The American Lawyer
"L.A. law firm Munger, Tolles  &   Olson judged No. 1 in nation," Los Angeles Times

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on July 08, 2008 (boomark / email).