Most attorneys evaluate a lateral move based on their present-tense reality: What is my book today? What am I billing right now? But a strategic move isn't for who you are today—it’s for who you’re going to be in five years.
In this episode, Andrew Wilcox—legal recruiter since 2003—explains the underappreciated art of forecasting. If you don’t calibrate your next platform to your future trajectory, you risk outgrowing your new firm before the ink on your contract is even dry.
Don't just look at today's billings. Map your top 10 clients and ask:
Are they scaling? If a client is moving toward an IPO, international expansion, or a major M&A event, does your current (or prospective) firm have the sophisticated specialized depth to handle that "next-level" work?
Is the relationship deepening? Are you becoming their "transactional partner" rather than just a "service provider"? Your platform must support that shift in authority.
Legal markets are shifting. Is your specialty growing due to regulatory changes (like AI or Energy Transition), or is it becoming commoditized?
Sector Trajectory: Will your work be more valuable in five years?
Infrastructure Needs: If your practice is moving toward cross-border work or complex arbitration, "referral networks" won't cut it anymore—you’ll need an integrated global platform.
During lateral interviews, push past the present-tense pitch. A firm that offers a great package today might be a dead end in three years if they aren't investing in your space.
The Investment Test: Ask, "What has the firm's investment in this practice looked like over the last 3 years, and what is the plan for the next 3?"
Strategic Priority: Does your practice sit at the center of the firm's 5-year plan, or is it a "legacy capability" that leadership is indifferent to?
"A move that’s perfectly calibrated to your current practice is a mistake. Three years later, you’ll find yourself structurally boxed in again. You need to evaluate prospective firms against where you’re headed, not where you’ve been." — Andrew Wilcox
Ready to build a move that lasts? Let's conduct a "Future State Audit" of your practice to ensure your next platform is one you can actually grow into.
Email: Andrew@Wilcox-legal.com
LinkedIn: Connect with Andrew Wilcox
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