In Skittish Market, More Partners Jump Ship Sideways

"Some partners are taking their entire practice groups with them when they move. Last year, when copyright and trademark hotshot Dale Cendali left O'Melveny & Myers, where she was head of the intellectual property practice, she took 10 lawyers with her to Kirkland & Ellis.

'I would not have gone unless I could have brought my core team with me,' says Ms. Cendali, who has famously represented Harry Potter series author J.K. Rowling.

'Kirkland seemed to be a dynamic, entrepreneurial firm on the rise,' Ms. Cendali says, explaining that it was intent on boosting the profile of its copyright and trademark group. 'Had I viewed Kirkland as being in dire financial shape and desperate for my book of business, I might have been hesitant,' she adds. 'But the firm looked like it was doing quite nicely.'"

This article appeared in its entirety in the October 31, 2010 edition of Crain's New York Business.