- Axiom (law firm)
Axiom is a “new model firm" [ [http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1179479101479 "The Rise of the New Model Firm", "The National Law Journal"] 21 May, 2007] with 200 attorneys in offices in
New York ,San Francisco andLondon according to the company’s website.History
Axiom was founded in 2000 by Mark Harris, previously an associate with
Davis Polk & Wardwell . In a 2007 article inSan Francisco Magazine , Harris compared Axiom to “placing the traditional law firm in a wind tunnel and stripping away all that is unnecessary.” [ [http://www.sanfranmag.com/story/who-says-being-lawyer-has-suck "Who Says Being a Lawyer Has to Suck?", "San Francisco Magazine"] January 2007]According to the company’s website and news articles, Axiom’s business model differs significantly from traditional
law firms . The firm does not utilize apartnership pyramid structure and Axiom attorneys choose their engagements based on their level of interest in the work and client involved. Compensation levels vary based on the attorney and, if an attorney chooses not to take an engagement, they go “on the beach” in a manner similar to otherconsultants .Also like consultants, Axiom attorneys are closely integrated with their clients, often working side-by-side. As a result, Axiom does not require the physical overhead of a typical law firm and its billing rates are typically one-half of those of its competitors, according to a Financial Times article. [ [http://search.ft.com/ftArticle?queryText=axiom+legal&y=0&aje=true&x=0&id=071127000120&ct=0&nclick_check=1 "Business Life: Take the Law Into Your Own Hands," "Financial Times"] 27 November, 2007 ] The firm is also backed by venture capitalist
Bob Kagle who gained notoriety for his $6.7 million investment ineBay .Axiom helps its attorneys attain greater self-determination in the way they work and a better
work-life balance which, according to theWall Street Journal ’s Law Blog, has recently emerged as a pressing issue within the legal community. [ [http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2007/11/27/axiom-makes-temping-look-tempting-but-is-it/?mod=WSJBlog "Axiom: A Different Kind of Legal Practice?", "Wall Street Journal" Law Blog] 27 November, 2007] Axiom’s role in this movement was recognized in aSan Francisco Magazine story entitled “Being a Lawyer Doesn’t Have to Suck.” [ [http://www.sanfranmag.com/story/who-says-being-lawyer-has-suck "Who Says Being a Lawyer Has to Suck?", "San Francisco Magazine"] January 2007] This issue was also signaled recently by the launch ofBuilding a Better Legal Profession , the grassroots organization started by students atStanford Law School .Clients
Axiom’s clients represent a cross-section of
Fortune 500 companies includingCisco ,Google ,Honeywell ,Dow Jones ,NBC andYahoo .References
External links
* [http://www.axiomlaw.com Firm Website]
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