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Law Firm Debt Levels Shrink as Partners Put More Skin in the Game

By Lizzy McLellan
December 02, 2019

A recent examination of major law firm failures showed how expansion and revenue gains can sometimes mask the struggles of law firms saddled by massive debt. Eventually, the debt load becomes too heavy, choking off growth and hastening collapse. (see, "Warning Signs: How Big Law's Greatest Failures Unfolded," The American Lawyer (Oct. 29, 2019).

But industry watchers say law firms have become less reliant on bank debt over the past decade, as they explore other funding options. Often, that means raising capital from partners, or turning to other, less common sources.

Michael McKenney, managing director of Citi Private Bank's Law Firm Group, says "a deleveraging" has occurred at law firms since the Great Recession, when firm leaders started to reconsider how they funded operations and growth.

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