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42 J. Legal Prof. 171 (2017-2018)
Lateral Moves: An Empirical Investigation of Cyclicality, Directional Mobility, and 5-Year Retention Rate by Gender and Age Cohort

handle is hein.journals/jlegpro42 and id is 191 raw text is: LATERAL MOVES: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF CYCLICALITY, DIRECTIONAL MOBILITY, AND 5-YEAR RETENTION RATE BY GENDER AND AGE COHORT P. Cecchi-Dimeglio and H. A. Simons* ABSTRACT The present empirical study examines the movements of lateral partners across Big Law firms in the context of what is known as boundaryless career movements. We provide statistical evidence on the patterns of the lateral moves of 2,353 partners who moved between AmLaw 100 firms between 2010 through 2012. Our research explores the cyclicality and directional mobility (upward versus downward in terms of new firm profit per partner (PPP) rank and absolute level of new firm PPP rank) of partner moves and their relationship to five-year retention rate (5 years from the initial move) from a gender and age cohort perspective. This study aims to deepen our understanding of the dynamics and forces at play for lateral movers both from a gender, age, and firm PPP perspective. Key words: Lateral moves, career mobility, cyclicality, PPP directionality, gender, age cohort, retention, boundaryless career. I. INTRODUCTION Lawyer mobility - the movement of attorneys from one law firm to another - is a way of life at large law firms and often considered the hottest ticket in town.' Indeed, it is recognized as a common characteristic in the practice of law.2 * Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, J.D., LL.M., Ph.D., is a behavioral scientist and chair of the Executive Leadership Research Initiative for Women and Minority Attorneys at the Center on the Legal Profession at Harvard Law School and a senior research fellow at HLS and Harvard Kennedy School. She can be reached at pcecchidimeglio@law.harvard.edu or paola@paolacecchidimeglio.com. This research was partly supported by a Walmart legal department grant awarded to the first author at the Center of the Legal Profession. The first author declared to have no conflict of interest. Hugh A. Simons, M.Phil., M.B.A., Ph.D., is a strategist and veteran professional services firm leader. He is a former senior partner, executive committee member, and chief financial officer at The Boston Consulting Group and the former chief operating officer at Ropes & Gray. He may be reached at hugh@simonsadvisors.org. 171