"Going from Good to Great," ALM's Law Firm Business Development Best Practices

This American Lawyer Media article covers Littler Mendelson's strategic decision to spread beyond its California roots while sticking with their specialty of labor and employment. While other labor firms corralled cash-cow work in broader litigation areas, such as intellectual property (Seyfarth Shaw) or insurance defense (Jackson Lewis), Littler burrowed deeper into its traditional haven. "In the 90s, everyone was jumping into employment law because it was red hot, but recently it has not been the flavor of the day," says Marko Mrkonich, Littler's managing partner. He notes that competition has made it hard for law firms to charge premium rates for most employment work. Despite passing up some big-ticket practice areas, Mrkonich insists that his firm chose the right strategy, noting that savvy clients are increasingly focused on the depth and specialization of service providers. "We're not managing for short-term quarter to quarter results; we're focused on being the best at what we do," he says. More quotes from Mrkonich, and quotes and mentions from Littler's Jeremy Roth, David Casey, Lindbergh Porter, Marguerite Walsh, and Allan King.