Category: News Feeds

Post published in: Business

According to 2019 Biglaw data collected by ALM, after two straight years of revenue declines, what Biglaw firm saw a 10.7 percent increase in revenue and a 6.8 percent growth in revenue per lawyer?

Hint: However, profitability (profits per equity partner) slipped again this year. But the firm’s managing partner characterized the firm’s financial performance as “very strong,” and a “validation” of the firm’s strategy.

See the answer on the next page.

“I’m going to keep on running because a winner don’t quit on themselves.” — Beyoncé

The top issue for Super Tuesday voters this week in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and North Carolina was healthcare. In the legal profession specifically, and in our society generally, we don’t talk about our health issues enough, especially mental health. Yet it remains top of mind for so many of us.

When it comes to healthcare, we are simply failing women of color, particularly black women. And it is fatal. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to catch up with Nickeyea (Nicky) Wilkinson and Ashlee Wisdom. Wilkinson is assistant counsel for a North Carolina health insurer and a Hampton University and North Carolina Central University (NCCU) School of Law alum. Wisdom is Director for Junto Health, Founder of Health In Her HUE, and a Howard University and New York University (NYU) alum. Both are attempting to move the needle when it comes to reducing racial health disparities.

In his book, Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen, Dan Heath highlights the power of swimming upstream to solve problems. By focusing on practical solutions for preventing problems rather than simply reacting to them, Heath provides several examples in our broken healthcare system that can be directly addressed through his “upstream” mental model. Heath also hits upon psychologist and children development expert Richard Trembley’s social determinants of health research regarding criminology. Heath, citing Trembley’s research, argues that the best time to prevent chronic aggressive behavior and teenage crime is when the criminal is in the mother’s tummy. By reducing a cluster of risk factors involving the mother — “maternal poverty, smoking, malnutrition, anger, depression, poor marital relations, low education, and having the baby as a teenager” — we can reduce crime in our society. As Heath states, “we’ll never run out of room upstream.”

Heath compares our “upstream” and “downstream” healthcare spending with other countries and concludes America (compared to other countries’ spending as a percentage of GDP) doesn’t necessarily overspend on healthcare, rather we don’t invest enough in social care (upstream) and spend too much on healthcare (downstream). In fact, when you combine social-care and healthcare spending, our country’s budget, or pot of money dedicated to society’s health and illness, is rather unremarkable. But this distinction in budget allocation, underinvestment in the upstream and overspending in the downstream, compared to other developed countries leaves us with higher costs and worse health outcomes than our peer nations.

It’s no coincidence that Wilkinson and Wisdom are swimming upstream to reduce racial health disparities by providing forums for community, conversation, and education.

Last year, Wilkinson had a myomectomy, which has helped her to discover her life’s purpose. In 2018, Wisdom founded Health In Her HUE as an inviting space for black women to be informed and to also share their expertise and experiences with other black women. This year, they are both executing their visions and amassing gallons of sweat equity in their respective labors of love. Throughout my numerous conversations with each of them, I continue to be in awe of their grit and determination. And I believe you will be inspired by their passions and missions as well. Without further ado, here is a (lightly edited and condensed) write-up of our conversations:

Renwei Chung (Renwei): Can you share a bit about your background and what attracted you two to your current healthcare roles?

Nickeyea Wilkinson (Nicky): Prior to my current in-house counsel role with a North Carolina health insurer, I worked for a tech company that provided Interactive Response Technology (IRT) and Randomization and Trial Supply Management (RTSM) solutions for clinical trials.

The exposure to two different stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem has given me a bird’s-eye view on critical issues impacting the healthcare industry, as well as the methods these stakeholders use in order to address these issues.

Ashlee Wisdom (Ashlee): I was a pre-med student in undergrad because I initially wanted to become a child psychiatrist. After a few internships, and struggling through organic chemistry, I realized I was passionate about healthcare but had no desire to be a clinician.

When I volunteered for an organization Peer Health Exchange during my senior year, the interview and training process was my first exposure to another side of healthcare — public health. My first job after undergrad was working as a grant writer for a federally qualified health center (FQHC), where I learned how inequitable our healthcare system is, and why safety nets like FQHCs even existed.

That job helped me realize I could channel my passion for social justice and equity into a meaningful career in healthcare.

Renwei: What do you hate most about the status quo in healthcare?

Nicky: The cost and access to healthcare (including resources and information) for many people with lower socioeconomic status or who have been historically underserved are still huge issues within our healthcare system, and are two of the things I hate most.

While I appreciate the valiant efforts of many stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem, there is still so much more work to be done to address the costs and access to healthcare. There needs to be an advancement of health equity, particularly as it relates to minorities and women. 

Ashlee: I hate that too often people are afraid to make others uncomfortable with hard truths that need to be said and addressed if we really want to create a more equitable healthcare system.

The shift to a more consumer-focused healthcare industry excites me because it’s forcing many of these legacy healthcare institutions to have a moment of reckoning, which is long overdue.

Renwei: You suffered a bit of a health scare last year Nicky — can you tell us more about this?

Nicky: Over the span of several months, I had severe pain in my lower abdomen. While the pain was not persistent, I had to go to the emergency room a handful of times for treatment. On the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, I woke up in excruciating pain. Again, I rushed to the emergency room. However, this time I was finally given a diagnosis.

I was diagnosed with having an ovarian cyst that had caused my ovary to become twisted. I was told that I needed emergency surgery to save my ovary. Also, I had an abdominal myomectomy to remove a large fibroid. A few months before the surgery, I learned that I had a large and growing fibroid. I explored various treatment options, but some options were not viable for several reasons, including possible infertility. As fate would have it, my episodic emergency quickened my decision to have a myomectomy.

Renwei: How did this experience with fibroids change your perspective on the current state of healthcare?

Nicky: This experience made me thankful for having access to healthcare and health insurance. It also caused me to reflect on individuals (especially minorities and women) who may not have the same level of access to care that I have. I can’t imagine how crippling my medical expenses would be without adequate health insurance coverage or the financial means to cover them.

Unfortunately, what I can’t imagine, is a reality for someone who looks like me, is in the “places” I frequent, or that I call a friend. I am hopeful that while we are in the age of technology and innovation, we see changes to the healthcare landscape for those individuals who often fall through the cracks.

Renwei: Ashlee, how did your education at Howard University and then at New York University (NYU) inform your current perspectives?

Ashlee: At Howard, I learned a lot about my history and also the importance of being socially and politically conscious as well as community-oriented. NYU equipped me with the knowledge of how structural racism impacts healthcare and gave me a strong grasp on how to analyze the policies and economics of healthcare.

Renwei: Congrats on your speaking engagement this weekend — “How Healthcare’s Failures Fuel Innovation.” How did you choose to focus on this topic for your TEDxWakefield talk on March 7?

Ashlee: I will be talking about how the failures of our healthcare system fuel innovation and the importance of diversity and inclusion in healthcare innovation and investing. I chose these topics because the theme for this TEDx event is “Failing Forward …”

I want to use the opportunity to highlight the work of people of color who’ve founded healthcare companies in response to a pain point they experienced navigating the healthcare system. And then I want to make a CTA to the healthcare ecosystem to include people from historically disadvantaged groups in their innovation process and fund our companies.

Renwei: How would you describe your several years of experience working in community health and academic medical centers?

Ashlee: I would describe them as eye-opening and foundational. Working at an FQHC gave me a deeper understanding of how social inequities impact health outcomes. Then, when I went on to work for an academic medical center, my eyes were opened to the world of world-class research, how it works, and its implications for healthcare delivery.

However, I also observed how these elite spaces play a role in perpetuating the disparities that exist in healthcare. I learned the details of how research is funded and conducted, and I also got an inside peek into the politics behind advancing as a faculty member within an AMC. During that time, there was also a bit of a foreshadowing of my experience working in healthcare innovation and venture.

I soaked in all my experiences and didn’t really know exactly how they would culminate into a career per se, but I knew I was going to take these experiences and insights and apply them to every and any new opportunity as my career in healthcare progressed.

Renwei: You created a wonderful video that you just posted on Instagram about your recent experience with fibroids. Can you share with us what motivated you to create this video?

Nicky: Silently, I endured many years of physical and mental anguish because of fibroids. Realizing that there is a need for support motivated me to create this video, along with several others.

These videos are small “snippets” of a larger documentary on the “black women’s experience” with fibroids [see here, here, and here] that I want to create. I hope that the videos will encourage women to open up about their own health issues, spark conversations, and garner support from leaders representing both the private and public sectors of healthcare, technology, and academia.

I hope to share my story and connect with other women who may share similar experiences and/or conditions. It is now my mission to spread awareness about women health issues, particularly issues impacting women’s reproductive health, as well as voice my concerns about the lack of information, research, and support, especially as it relates to fibroids.

Fibroids have been donned the “black women’s disease” because of how disproportionately fibroids affect black women. I often feel that there is an angle or narrative echoed when we are discussing health issues that greatly impact minorities. And, too often, such discussion does not reflect the minority’s perspective. I want to change the narrative and create opportunities for open and honest discussion.  My voice is a result of my own silence. While it is my “right to remain silent” and keep personal health experiences confidential, doing so does nothing for the greater good.

Renwei: Ashlee, what prompted you to found Health In Her HUE in August 2018? And what are some specific initiatives you are excited about for the rest of 2020?

Ashlee: I founded Health In Her HUE when I was pursuing my MPH at NYU, and while working full time for an academic medical center. At that time, I was working in a department that was extremely toxic for me as a black woman. While experiencing that, I was also reading academic articles for my classes and was saddened and enraged by the racial health disparities.

The outcomes for black women were abysmal, and not because black women are inherently more unhealthy, but because of structural racism. I was deeply disturbed and felt like I had to do something to make black women more aware of how much our social context impacts our health.

But I didn’t want to just stop there, I also wanted to equip them with information and tools that they could use to better care for themselves, and also navigate a healthcare system that’s often unsafe for them.

Health In Her HUE’s effort to equip black women to be empowered consumers of healthcare includes making it easier for them to connect with providers who look like them and whom they’re more likely to trust. We’re using technology to make those connections easier for black women to do. So I’m really excited about our beta launch and the opportunity to validate the demand for a platform and space like Health In Her HUE.

Within the first two weeks of launching, we’ve had almost 200 black women and providers create profiles on the platform. I am also extremely excited about hosting our first event series and a summit later this year. I really want to create an inviting space for black women to be informed and to also share their expertise and experiences with other black women.

Renwei: You mentioned you believe things happen for a reason, can you expound on this?

Nicky: I believe that our life purpose(s) is married to our desires and experiences. Beyond having a flourishing legal career, I desire to be a wife and a mom. The fact that I am dealing with issues that can impact my fertility, is a threat to my desires.

However, I am an incredibly optimistic person and a woman of faith. I will use my experiences with fibroids and ovarian cysts as a testimony and an encouragement tool. I do believe that sharing my story and advocating for other women, is one of my life’s purposes. Everything does happen for a reason! 

Renwei: It was great chatting with you. Is there anything else you would like to share with our audience?

Nicky: Yes, please seek out opportunities to advocate for your health. Share your individual story. You never know who your story is giving a voice to!

Ashlee: Health In Her HUE is looking for advisors — if there’s anyone who connects with our mission and what we’re trying to build, please reach out to me at ashleewisdom@healthinherhue.com or on Twitter @AshleeWisdom. If you’re interested in checking out our Beta, you can here.

There are also several ways to keep in touch with Health In Her HUE’s progress: Join us on Instagram @HealthInHerHUE, Twitter @HealthInHerHUE, Facebook @HealthInHerHUE, LinkedIn @HealthInHerHUE

On behalf of everyone here at Above the Law, I would like to thank Nickeyea Wilkinson and Ashlee Wisdom for taking the time to share their stories with our audience. We look forward to following their successes and wish them health, wealth, and happiness in their respective careers.

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Renwei Chung is the Diversity Columnist at Above the Law. You can contact Renwei by email at projectrenwei@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter (@renweichung), or connect with him on LinkedIn. 

A couple of years ago, a Reuters investigation uncovered another revamp of immigration policies under President Trump. ICE has a Risk Classification Assessment Tool that decides whether or not arrested immigrants can be released on bail or their own recognizance. The algorithm had apparently undergone a radical transformation under the new administration, drastically decreasing the number of detainees who could be granted release. The software now recommends detention in almost every case, no matter what mitigating factors are fed to the assessment tool.

ICE is now being sued for running software that declares nearly 100% of detained immigrants too risky to be released pending hearings. The ACLU’s lawsuit [PDF] opens with some disturbing stats that show how ICE has rigged the system to keep as many people detained as possible.

According to data obtained by the New York Civil Liberties Union under the Freedom of Information Act, from 2013 to June 2017, approximately 47% of those deemed to be low risk by the government were granted release. From June 2017 to September 2019, that figure plummeted to 3%. This dramatic drop in the release rate comes at a time when exponentially more people are being arrested in the New York City area and immigration officials have expanded arrests of those not convicted of criminal offenses. The federal government’s sweeping detention dragnet means that people who pose no flight or safety risk are being jailed as a matter of course—in an unlawful trend that is getting worse.

Despite there being plenty of evidence that immigrants commit fewer criminal acts than natural-born citizens, the administration adopted a “No-Release Policy.” That led directly to ICE tinkering with its software — one that was supposed to assess risk factors when making detention determinations. ICE may as well just skip this step in the process since it’s only going to give ICE (and the administration) the answer it wants: detention without bond. ICE agents can ask for a second opinion on detention from a supervisor, but the documents obtained by the ACLU show supervisors depart from detention recommendations less than 1% of the time.

The negative effects of this indefinite detention are real. The lawsuit points out zero-risk detainees can see their lives destroyed before they’re allowed anything that resembles due process.

Once denied release under the new policy, people remain unnecessarily incarcerated in local jails for weeks or even months before they have a meaningful opportunity to seek release in a hearing before an Immigration Judge. While waiting for those hearings, those detained suffer under harsh conditions of confinement akin to criminal incarceration. While incarcerated, they are separated from families, friends, and communities, and they risk losing their children, their jobs, and their homes. Because of inadequate medical care and conditions in the jails, unmet medical and mental-health needs often lead to serious and at times irreversible consequences.

When they do finally get to see a judge, nearly 40% of them are released on bond. ICE treats nearly 100% of detained immigrants as dangerous. Judges — judges employed by the DOJ and appointed by the Attorney General — clearly don’t agree with the agency’s rigged assessment system.

There will always be those who say, “Well, don’t break the law.” These aren’t criminal proceedings. These are civil proceedings where the detained are tossed into criminal facilities until they’re able to see a judge. This steady stripping of options began under the Obama administration but accelerated under Trump and his no-release policy.

ICE began to alter its custody determinations process in 2015, modifying its risk-assessment tool so that it could no longer recommend individuals be given the opportunity for release on bond. In mid-2017, ICE then removed the tool’s ability to recommend release on recognizance. As a result, the assessment tool—on which ICE offices across the country rely— can only make one substantive recommendation: detention without bond.

The ACLU is hoping to have a class action lawsuit certified that would allow it to hold ICE responsible for violating rights en masse, including the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause. Since ICE is no longer pretending to be targeting the “worst of the worst,” the agency and its deliberately-broken risk assessment tool are locking up immigrants who have lived here for an average of sixteen years — people who’ve added to their communities, held down jobs, and raised families. These are the people targeted by ICE and it is ensuring that it is these people who are thrown into prisons and jails until their hearings, tearing apart their lives and families while denying them the rights extended to them by our Constitution.

(Check it out on the next page…)

ACLU Sues ICE Over Its Deliberately-Broken Immigrant ‘Risk Assessment’ Software

More Law-Related Stories From Techdirt:

Netflix Continues To Release CYOA Content, Doesn’t Refer To It As ‘CYOA’…For Now
Senators Hawley & Feinstein Join Graham & Blumenthal In Announcing Bill To Undermine Both Encryption And Section 230
So Wait, People Seriously Think Bill Barr Will Rein In Tech Monopoly Power?

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Olga V. Mack is the CEO of Parley Pro, a next-generation contract management company that has pioneered online negotiation technology. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology.  Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She founded the Women Serve on Boards movement that advocates for women to participate on corporate boards of Fortune 500 companies. She authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat and Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security. You can follow Olga on Twitter @olgavmack.  

If only this had happened before I delivered my recent CLE presentation at the New York State Bar Association. I spoke about Social Media and the Law and had a whole section on the phenomenon of serving process over Twitter. Little did I know, two weeks later I would be cited as an expert on this whole process and have a little case study to discuss.

The Florida House of Representatives recently launched an investigation of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The organization’s former chief, Tiffany Carr, collected millions in taxpayer funds, but reportedly pocketed $7.5 million for herself, raising questions of mismanagement at the non-profit. When the House voted to subpoena Carr last month, it began its effort to serve her, only to find she’d disappeared.

Yesterday, the House took the unorthodox step of serving the subpoena via Twitter:

The move raised questions among observers wondering if this was even legal. House spokesperson Fred Piccolo Jr. responded to critics citing the highest legal authority imaginable — Above the Law:

Welp, there you have it folks. That said, I’m not entirely sure this particular Tweet holds up. It might, but there may be more court maneuvering before this is all over.

Under the Federal Rules, Rule 4(f)(3) provides for alternative forms of service that the court deems “reasonably calculated, under all circumstances to apprise interested parties of the pendency of the action and afford them an opportunity to present their objections.” This is how the Wikileaks Tweet was blessed under the law.

Though a critical factor in the Wikileaks Tweet was the fact that plaintiffs showed that the Wikileaks account was actively monitored and that the subject of the action was definitely the person monitoring the account. But Carr resigned as head of the organization so tagging that agency wouldn’t guarantee that she would be aware of the Tweet. There is no personal handle being “at-ed” here. Courts might have concerns that the Tweet wasn’t reasonably calculated to apprise Carr. Indeed the media coverage about the Tweet might have reached her before the Tweet did.

Also, I’m no expert in Florida law, but I’m not sure there’s a corollary for Rule 4(f)(3). Rule 1.070 covers process and it appears the rule authorizes personal service, service by mail, and service by publication (governed by statute, Title VI, Chapter 49) but those rules seem very narrowly construed. There just doesn’t seem to be the sort of “catch-all” provision that Rule 4(f)(3) provides.

Perhaps the House should get on creating that provision!

Service by Twitter is very real, but it’s not as simple as throwing a notice into the Twittersphere. Whether the Florida House managed to effectively serve Carr yesterday is going to require a little more scrutiny than it may have appeared at first glance.

Disgraced nonprofit CEO served a subpoena via Twitter by Florida House [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Earlier: Can You Serve A Subpoena Over Twitter? Yes, And It Just Happened To WikiLeaks

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Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.

As we have noted, ad nauseum some might say, running a hedge fund doesn’t seem to be as much fun as it used to be, which is probably why so many of its most famous practitioners have chosen to, uh, not do it anymore. This is not usually a problem for anybody, really: The hedge fund manager gets to do something that will hopefully make him happier and his clients, whether they know it or not, are freed from paying too much for far, far too little. There is an exception. A small one, to be sure, but a potentially legally-important one: Investors not in the hedge funds themselves, but in the hedge fund firm that manages them. Or doesn’t as much anymore, as Dyal Capital Partners complains about Jana Capital Partners, of which it owns 20%.

It’s a cool and overcast February afternoon as I turn my car into the parking lot of Green Oaks Hospital.

Fifteen years ago, my brothers executed the same turn with me, an unwilling passenger in the back seat.

Today is a happy occasion. I am sitting for an interview about mental health and my journey to long-term recovery.

Fifteen years ago, I was in crisis. My brothers dragged me out of my bedroom past a .45 automatic on my nightstand and a granite dresser top littered with Xanax pills and cocaine residue. I did not want to leave that room. I did not want to see the next morning. I wanted to die.

The drizzle has started before I can exit my car. I’m glad I brought my black jacket because we are taking outside photos.

Fifteen years ago, it was warm and sunny. Bad things happen on beautiful days.

I walk through the front doors and take a seat on the bench, just inside the entrance. I catch eyes with the nurse inside the reception glass. There are several people in the waiting room. I wonder what is going on in their lives.

Fifteen years ago, the nurse behind the glass was the enemy. My brothers were the enemy. I wanted to die.

A nice gentleman, sitting across from me, smiles and says hello. I look at him and smile back. Fifteen years ago, I don’t look up from the floor. I am ashamed. I am scared. I want to die.

The photographer and interviewer arrive. We walk through a secured area into the heart of the facility. There are many doors to many rooms. I wonder if one of those rooms is where I sat with the psychiatrist, nurse, and family. They were all trying to help me. I wanted to die.

We take photos in a beautiful, green, parklike area behind the facility. It is strangely surreal. I don’t notice the cold.

Fifteen years ago, all I saw only concrete and darkness. I wanted to die.

We have a wonderful interview. I break down relating the role of my brothers and late father in saving my life, and the bond we share today. I pause the interview to compose myself.

Fifteen years ago, my only thought was that I  am dark stain on the Cuban name, deserving to be wiped spotless from the earth, with no further mention. I wanted to die.

The interview ends. We stroll back out through the locked entrance into the lobby. The same pleasant man says hello. He has an infectious smile in an area where there is so much pain. I remind myself to smile more.

Fifteen years ago, I could not remember the last time I smiled. I could not remember a day I had not cried. I wanted to die.

The rain is coming down in buckets. I run to my car. I pull out into the street and drive toward home. I watch the building get smaller in the rear-view mirror. It’s now paradox. So much pain but a symbol of my future. Good things do happen on rainy days.  I am glad to be alive.

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Brian Cuban (@bcuban) is The Addicted Lawyer. Brian is the author of the Amazon best-selling book, The Addicted Lawyer: Tales Of The Bar, Booze, Blow & Redemption (affiliate link). A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, he somehow made it through as an alcoholic then added cocaine to his résumé as a practicing attorney. He went into recovery on April 8, 2007. He left the practice of law and now writes and speaks on recovery topics, not only for the legal profession but on recovery in general. He can be reached at brian@addictedlawyer.com.

With the men’s college basketball tournament approaching, we are inviting our clients and candidates to join Lateral Link’s bracket challenge for a chance to win $5,000. Entry is free, all you have to do is register on Lateral Link, follow us on LinkedIn, and fill out your bracket. Before practicing at Am Law 200 firms, most of our recruiters attended top law schools, and had the chance to witness the trials and tribulations of their school’s team firsthand. Here are their thoughts on their school’s chances in the upcoming tournament. 

Paul Dorfeld | The Ohio State University

When I came to Ohio State, the basketball program was fresh off NCAA sanctions under the previous head coach. Over the next decade-plus, Thad Matta revitalized the program, leading them to five conference crowns, four conference tournament titles, two final fours, and an NIT title. Current head coach Chris Holtmann has brought the program back the past three seasons and currently has them ranked in the top 20. The boys are poised for a run this March, so the Buckeyes are my sleeper pick!

Jesse Hyde | University of Michigan and Loyola University Chicago School of Law

In 2018, my two alma maters squared off in the Final Four. I have enjoyed seeing the recent success of both programs and am particularly excited about Juan Howard being Michigan’s coach. He is an outstanding leader and next year’s recruiting class is stacked. Go Blue!

Steven Rushing | Florida

Florida was never a basketball school. At least until winning back-to-back NCAA championships in ’06-’07. Being on campus for that incredible run made winning seem easy and we’re living and breathing off that feeling to this day. With only a championship able to quench that thirst, I’m hoping for a miracle run with our hot and cold team this March Madness.

Scott Hodes | Florida

I started at the University of Florida right after their Final Four run in 1993. Coach Billy Donovan took over soon thereafter and really put Florida basketball on the map. Since that time, they made history with back-to-back championships with arguably one of the best college basketball teams in recent memory, and Gator fans have grown accustomed to deep tournament runs. Although inconsistent as of late, they are not a team to be taken lightly come every March.

Ryan Belville | Michigan

Michigan basketball keeps me afloat during the, shall we say, somewhat lean football years as of late. Two final fours and an elite 8 in the last seven years is solid. Let’s see if we can make another deep run this year. 

David Lat | Harvard

I am probably the one person in America who does not follow March Madness, so I’m afraid I don’t have much to say about Harvard — and given their history in the tournament, I don’t think there’s much to be said. I’ll just quote the Harvard Lampoon from 2013, when the Crimson did surprisingly well: “America, we are sorry for messing up your brackets and also your financial system and everything else.”

Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts from Lateral Link’s team of expert contributors. Michael Allen is the CEO of Lateral Link. He is based in the Los Angeles office and focuses exclusively on Partner and General Counsel placements for top firms and companies. Prior to founding Lateral Link in 2006, he worked as an attorney at both Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and Irell & Manella LLP. Michael graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, San Diego before earning his JD, cum laude, from Harvard Law School.

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Lateral Link is one of the top-rated international legal recruiting firms. With over 14 offices world-wide, Lateral Link specializes in placing attorneys at the most prestigious law firms and companies in the world. Managed by former practicing attorneys from top law schools, Lateral Link has a tradition of hiring lawyers to execute the lateral leaps of practicing attorneys. Click here to find out more about us.