Legislation Companies
Second quarter was ‘unnaturally calm’ for legislation companies amid ‘tumultuous’ backdrop, new report says
Shopper preferences could also be shifting to extra specialised or cost-effective authorized options, in line with Thomson Reuters’ Legislation Agency Monetary Index. (Picture from Shutterstock)
Shopper preferences could also be shifting to extra specialised or cost-effective authorized options, in line with Thomson Reuters’ Legislation Agency Monetary Index.
The report launched Monday discovered that the nation’s 100 top-grossing legislation companies, the Am Legislation 100, skilled a 0.6% lower in demand for authorized companies. The numbers had been higher for lesser-grossing companies.
Demand for companies elevated 2.6% for Second Hundred companies and three.5% for midsize companies, report Legislation.com and Reuters.
General, companies had a superb second quarter, boosting the Legislation Agency Monetary Index rating to 55, a rise of 4 factors from the primary quarter. Demand elevated 1.6%, and labored charges—the worth paid for authorized companies after negotiations—had been up 7.4%.
The index is a composite rating based mostly on components comparable to agency charges, demand, productiveness and bills amongst 195 giant and midsize companies. The report is obtainable with this abstract, in line with a Aug. 11 press launch.
Robust demand is spurring progress in head rely, however that might translate to overcapacity if the monetary numbers slip, the report warns. Companies are additionally investing in expertise, a crucial expense to remain aggressive, the report mentioned.
Expertise spending elevated by 8.6% on a rolling 12-month common, whereas spending on data administration was up 11.2%.
“Regardless of a tumultuous geopolitical and financial backdrop, legislation companies discovered the second quarter of 2025 to be unnaturally calm—and unexpectedly affluent,” the report mentioned. “Whether or not this second represents the beginning of a extra steady period or merely displays the attention of the hurricane with harsher winds to come back, stays to be seen.”
The report mentioned beneath the graceful floor, variations emerged in apply space efficiency. Mergers and acquisitions elevated by solely 0.3%, bested by litigation (up 2%), actual property (up 1.7%), tax (up 1.5%), company (up 1.3%) and labor and employment (up 1.3%).
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