#92: What to Do When the Work Dries Up - Responding to Enforcement & Regulatory Downturns in BigLaw

If you have built your BigLaw career around a thriving regulatory or enforcement practice, you know how difficult it can be for you and your practice when that work suddenly isn't there. One month you are buried in nvestigations motivated by government inquiries or merger reviews, and the next your phone goes quiet because enforcement priorities shifted, agency budgets got cut, or a new administration has redirected resources. It is unsettling, especially when your brand, reputation and and client base are tied to that flow of work.

In this episode, I walk through the reality of what it can feel like and what to do when your once-busy enforcement and regulatory practice slows. I share how to distinguish between cyclical downturns and structural changes that reshape a practice like this long term, and share some specific examples across areas such as FCPA, antitrust, and privacy to illustrate how BigLaw attorneys can pivot effectively. I also outline practical steps to stay visible with clients as well as inside your firm so that even when the billable work is not there, your value and future opportunities are.

At a Glance:
00:00 Introduction need to navigate BigLaw downturns in regulatory and enforcement work
01:20 When busy practices suddenly dry up: regulatory shifts and enforcement changes
02:14 How external forces such as politics, budgets, and agency leadership reshape your practice overnight
03:03 Early warning signs that your work is slowing down in these areas
03:37 The emotional impact: anxiety, uncertainty, and fear of career derailment
04:08 Diagnosing cyclical vs. structural downturns with concrete indicators
05:16 Why this distinction matters for your long-term career strategy
05:39 Examples of temporary pivots that kept practices alive (FCPA, antitrust, GDPR, privacy)
07:04 How lawyers can broaden their practices to adapt to structural changes
08:08 The importance of proactive client communication, including with "good news" updates
09:37 What to do when billable hours stall: seeking work across departments and staying visible
10:41 Positioning yourself as a thought leader through articles, CLEs, and conferences
11:29 Documenting outreach, cross-practice contributions, and client loyalty for firm leadership
12:21 Demonstrating cross-practice value: aligning with busier groups inside your firm
13:30 How client loyalty and referrals strengthen your standing even in slow periods
13:58 Reframing your practice to be less narrowly defined by one enforcement area
14:27 How one partner survived cuts by documenting value and broadening expertise
15:16 Long-game mindset: showing your firm that you are indispensable beyond billable hours

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Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast