The first question which springs to the minds of law firm partners when considering any senior level recruit.
On the one hand law firms spend a great deal of time and effort cross selling clients, trying to prevent a situation where clients only deal with one person. Creating clients of the firm.
On the other hand when it comes to recruiting a senior lawyer the same firms expect them to be able to bring clients and business with them and regard them as unmarketable if they cannot do so.
As firm brands become stronger and clients use firms because of the firm, rather than the individual lawyer will this attitude change?
It will be interesting to see.
In the mean time should firms look beyond the following at the talent and ability of the potential recruit and the value they could add if they joined?
In the short term this is more of a hope than an expectation.