Math Is Not a Strategy
As recently reported in The American Lawyer, B&T’s strategic focus on attracting and retaining top-tier lateral talent for the past several years has delivered strong and consistent results for the firm and our clients.
“Math is not a strategy,” said Firmwide Managing Partner Andy Detherage to The American Lawyer, emphasizing the importance of aligning new hires with the firm’s platform, values, and strategic plan.
Rather than chase size for size’s sake, we invest in high-demand capabilities our clients tell us they want — corporate funds, investment litigation, white-collar defense, IP, health care, and mass torts. We’ve focused on adding lawyers whose practices and industry acumen enhance and expand the services we provide to clients, and we’ve expanded into markets where our clients tell us they’d like us to be.
This deliberate direction resonated with Rebecca Bernhard, a recent lateral partner to our Labor and Employment practice. “I was impressed by the firm’s intentional approach to leadership and growth,” she said. “This is one of the few firms that I’ve seen that understands the difference between strategy and tactics, and that actually works with a strategic plan.”
Since 2023, nearly 60 partners — and more than 100 total attorneys — have chosen to join Barnes & Thornburg, enhancing and diversifying offerings for existing clients and providing a robust platform to grow their client relationships. For Bernhard, the move provided access to a wealth of resources for her clients from day one. “The traditional labor department here has far more breadth and depth than my prior firm, so I have already been able to offer my clients who joined me a bigger bench of strength.” We’ve also opened several new offices and key locations such as Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Salt Lake City — all while preserving our distinctive identity. According to Bernhard, it’s this ability maintain our culture while rapidly growing nationwide that makes Barnes & Thornburg “truly unique.”
With an industry-leading lateral retention rate, we are proud to offer concierge integration service to partners who elect to join us. We prioritize seamlessly shepherding partners through the initial phases of onboarding and into subsequent months of integration — helping them feel supported, aligned, and free to focus on their clients. “I could tell right away that I was talking to a firm that was serious about me. It was clear because they were moving quickly, they were moving deliberately, and they had a defined vision of how I would fit into their strategic goals,” said Partner Lilit Asadourian, recalling her experience joining our Insurance Recovery and Counseling practice. “This alignment was crucial because it showed me that they valued my practice and were committed to supporting my growth.”
As a dynamic, collaborative firm, we welcome new lawyers not only for their legal prowess and industry savvy but for the other talents they bring. In several of our high-demand practices and markets, laterals have not only integrated, but they help lead them – from health care to private funds.
B&T is a special place where we give all our lawyers and business team the tools, the space, and the support to grow as professionals and practitioners. We collaborate across offices, practices, and functions, creating opportunities, generating ideas, and innovating on behalf of our clients. Given our culture, laterals aren’t seen as “lateral hires” for long – they quickly are integrated and part of the B&T team!
With our inclusive approach and established momentum, Barnes & Thornburg is positioned to continue an upward trajectory in 2025 and beyond — without compromising our values, culture, or strategic discipline.
