Financial Times Innovative Lawyers report for North America 2022
The FT Innovative Lawyers report for North America was published on 6 December 2022.
RSGI’s research highlights a challenging year for the North American legal sector as 2021’s bumper financial results were tempered in the face of inflation and the rising cost of living, war in Europe, climate change and global trade tensions. This year’s report features a brand new index of law firms, measuring success not only in financial success or the innovation scores we traditionally publish, but also examining how firms are performing in their management of people, social responsibility and digital transformation. See the results here.
Kirkland & Ellis was the big winner at the FT Innovative Lawyers awards, taking home the overall prize for Most Innovative Law Firm in North America. As Reena SenGupta, executive director of RSGI, writes in her analysis, Kirkland’s success is the result of a ten year strategy to invest in data and new ways of practising law.
One of many radical shifts seen in the US legal sector is the rise of non-New York firms. Kirkland is a Chicago firm and Latham & Watkins, another high performer this year, grew out of the West Coast.
A successful modern law firm is one that can adapt to instability and change. This is the heart of where digital innovation delivers value, as the law firms in our index have found. Orrick was the winner of the “Reinventing Legal Practice” award for its transformation in M&A practice, using technology to change the experience for clients and lawyers practising in the firm.
Innovation in Dispute Resolution: Sidley Austin
Innovation in Enabling Business Resilience for Clients: Orrick
Innovation in ESG Practices: Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Innovation in Market Firsts for Clients: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Innovation in Client Delivery: BakerHostetler
Innovation in Digitising Legal Services: Debevoise & Plimpton
Innovation in New Services: Borden Ladner Gervais
Innovation in People and Skills Management: White & Case
Innovation in Reinventing Legal Practice: Orrick
Innovation in Using Data: Kirkland & Ellis
Innovation in Sustainability for Clients: Shearman & Sterling & Ropes & Gray
Innovation in Responsible Business: Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
Innovation in Equity and Racial Justice: Sidley Austin
Most Innovative Law Firm: Kirkland & Ellis
Most Innovative Practitioner: Lisa Ellman, partner, Hogan Lovells
Read her profile here
Most Innovative Intrapreneur: Katherine Lowry, chief information officer, BakerHostetler
Read her profile here
Most Innovative Leader: Richard Trobman, chair and managing partner, Latham & Watkins
Read his profile here
In-House Legal Team: Innovation in Commercial and Strategic Advice:
Canadian Pacific
In-House Legal Team: Innovation in Use of Technology and Data:
Salesforce
In-House Legal Team: Innovation in Operations and People Management:
American Red Cross
In-House Legal Team: Innovation in Sustainability and Responsible Business:
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Most innovative In-House Legal Team:
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Read more about this trend in Mary Ormerod’s article for the Financial Times, available here.