The California legal market has been significantly impacted by economic turmoil. “Crisis equals opportunity” is the siren call of several firms who have alighted on the West Coast recently. Swan Legal Search is working closely to grow select firms and has developed an impressive track record in meeting these goals to grow successful offices. We are actively placing partners in a variety of legal settings, and welcome a conversation with you to enhance your understanding of the current California legal market. Call us and give us a challenge. We’ll impress you.

• Bankruptcy
  
There is a need for experienced attorneys to handle chapter 11 cases and international restructuring representing secured creditors, debtors and equity holders. Distressed commercial real estate restructuring transactions abound, and we need attorneys representing lenders and borrowers, and attorneys who can advise secured lenders on enforcement and bankruptcy strategies. A few firms are considering adding small bankruptcy groups.


• Corporate/Banking
  
The market for corporate partners and groups of partners is strong. Firms are seeking partners with business in a broad range of corporate specialties, including securities, finance, secured lending, private equity and "soft IP"/entertainment.


• Entertainment
  
This is perhaps the most competitive area of law in California, yet firms have a fairly steady need for entertainment lawyers, both in litigation and on the transactional side, and most will hire opportunistically if an excellent resume is presented. We also handle in-house entertainment positions.


• Environmental
  
There is a demand for environmental lawyers in the land use, CEQA, natural resources, regulatory and compliance areas. Several Los Angeles and Bay Area firms have asked us to locate partners in both litigation and transactional capacities to fill their environmental ranks. Water Law is emerging as a growth area, and we have great needs for public and municipal law experience.


• Erisa, Tax, and Estate Planning
  
We have hiring needs in these areas selectively. Excellent firms are seeking partners with portable business.


• Health Care
  
There is a need for litigation, regulatory and transactional partners in the health care arena with a variety of national firms with a California presence.


• In-House
  
Click to see a representative list of current in-house needs.


• Intellectual Property
  
We are seeking patent prosecutors, patent litigators, trademark, and copyright partners. We have positions available for attorneys with EE, physics, computer science, biotech, chemistry, ME and biomedical degrees, as well as non-technical undergraduate degrees. Opportunities exist up and down the California coast.


• Labor & Employment
  
Several international and regional firms have stepped up their demands for Labor & Employment partners with a mix of litigation and counseling work. Wage and hour class action experience a plus. Associates and partners are encouraged to consider our portfolio of active listings.


• Litigation
  
There is a steady demand for litigation partners. A wide variety of firms are seeking litigators in the areas of general commercial litigation, securities, white collar, labor, insurance coverage, health care, real estate, IP and antitrust. The Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and Orange County firms, national firms and small boutique shops are interested in strong litigation resumes.


• Real Estate
  
Partners with portable books are marketable in this area in both litigation and in transactional law. Experience in land use or environmental law is helpful.