From Library Journal
The past 20 years have seen the transformation of law firms into giant business entities which market themselves to wealthy clients and to powerful attorneys they hope to attract. Typical of the new breed was Finley, Kumble, at one time the second largest law firm in the world, with 240 partners--whose greed and backstabbing were the principal reason for its demise in 1987. Founder Kumble explains how and why the firm collapsed, offering extremely candid observations and anecdotes about the persons involved. Kim Isaac Eisler's Shark Tank ( LJ 2/15/90) gives a more organized, objective look at the firm's fall; however Conduct Unbecoming , with its thoroughly intriguing mix of venom and humor, is highly recommended, especially to public libraries. The New York firm of Milbank, Tweed, as Pollock demonstrates, was one of those surprised and shaken by the rise of Finley, Kumble and their ilk. Founded in 1866, staffed by attorneys from solid WASP backgrounds, servant of wealthy families like the Rockefellers, Milbank, Tweed had never marketed itself. In the 1980s, the firm realized it would have to make changes in order to compete with other legal giants. Detailing those changes and their effects, Turks and Brahmins is an informative book, but, lacking the strong personalities and bitter clashes that enliven Conduct Unbecoming , it will probably not be as interesting to the lay reader. For legal and business collections.
- Sally G. Waters, Stetson Law Lib., St. Peters burg, Fla.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
- Sally G. Waters, Stetson Law Lib., St. Peters burg, Fla.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
