Each year management and marketing consultant Robert Denney comes out with a list of "What's Hot and What's Not" in the legal profession and he issued a mid-year update this month.
Maritime law topped his list of hot practice areas, fueled by a booming Chinese economy. Denney cited Blank Rome as one of the mainly large firms who handle this practice.
Immigration, anti-trust, white collar crime and election law were other hot practice areas. Environmental law, particularly a focus on climate change and global warming, is an area that is becoming more popular, according to Denney's report.
Spain is the up-and-coming geographic market for U.S. law firms, he said. Jones Day, DLA Piper and Latham & Watkins are a few of the firms who have opened up shop there.
Consumer-safety issues, particularly dealing with Chinese imports, are increasing. Philadelphia firm Woloshin & Killino recently filed a class action suit regarding Chinese-made tires that have been recalled by the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration.
In the marketing arena, Yellow Pages has added three new subheads under their attorneys listings, focusing on child custody law, motorcycle accidents and trucking accidents.
Unfunded retirement plans are beginning to create problems as the baby boomers are hovering around retirement age, Denney said.
Full-time management is becoming increasingly popular and necessary, according to the report. Firm leaders are ceasing to practice law, instead focusing solely on management issues.
What areas of the law - business or legal - have you seen picking up or cooling off? Do you agree with Denney's take? If you have an opinion, email me at [email protected].
~Gina Passarella, Staff Reporter
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