Corporate Counsel Name Most Arrogant Firms

By Pete Brush

Law360, New York (November 13, 2009) -- They are said to look down their noses at litigation deemed too simple, charge steep fees and give off an aura of haughtiness in court. Eight firms were mentioned most by Fortune 1000 corporate counsel when asked which law firms are most arrogant, according to a new report.

And one law firm stands alone at the top, according to the report by the BTI Consulting Group Inc. (Wellesley, Mass.).

The firm most frequently cited by corporate counsel for what the strategic research provider characterized as arrogant behavior was Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP, the international legal titan that consistently ranks atop yearly measures for partner profits and other measures of success.

“Some of the better-performing firms occasionally will come across as arrogant,” said Michael Rynowecer, president of BTI Consulting, which interviewed corporate counsel from some 120 firms in the Fortune 1000 for its latest report.

A Skadden spokesman declined comment.

Seven firms — Baker & McKenzie LLP, Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP, King & Spalding LLP, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Vinson & Elkins LLP — came in below Skadden, landing on a second tier for arrogance.

Spokespeople for these firms either did not immediately return calls or declined to comment Friday.

Forty-two firms came in on a third tier for the most mentions in the report, published amid what BTI Consulting characterized as a "new dawn" for law firms driven by economic factors that have corporate counsel re-evaluating relationships and "looking for firms offering the deepest understanding of their business" and the best value.

The BTI Consulting report noted that some aspects of superior client service “can be perceived as arrogance.” For example, Skadden also ranked high among BTI Consulting's categories for understanding client business, commitment to help, pooling national resources and providing a quality product.

Two of the other eight firms cited most for their arrogance — Cravath Swaine and Kirkland & Ellis — received very high marks in the report's commitment to help category, which Rynowecer characterized as a willingness by the firms to “take a bullet” for their clients.

In fact, BTI Consulting's arrogant eight are mentioned throughout the 157-page report as standouts in various aspects of client services.

“If you're a large firm — at some point you're likely to come across as inflexible or too direct,” Rynowecer said.

The so-called arrogant firms “have very strong opinions,” Rynowecer said, adding: “There is a segment of the market that doesn't want those strong opinions.” Rynowecer estimated that segment at 15 percent of the participants in the report.

The “gestalt of arrogance,” as one legal industry veteran put it, is not necessarily a bad thing.

Gary Klein, founder and president of attorney recruiting firm Klein Landau & Romm Inc., took a philosophical view toward the concept, conceiving of scenarios where a certain reputation for assertiveness or imperiousness could be viewed as a positive.

“This conversation brings to mind the aphorism that 'It ain't bragging if you can do it,'” Klein said. “One client's view of arrogance is another client's view that 'The firm just saved me $100 million.'”

While such impressions probably don't do any damage in isolation, Rynowecer said, too many instances of arrogance can hurt.

“At some point you're likely to piss somebody off,” he said. “Too many cases of being arrogant are going to hurt you — because word spreads very quickly. The client is the ultimate judge.”