Law Practice
Sep. 25, 2025
Rainmaking in transition: Beyond the lone lawyer model
The age of the lone rainmaker is fading. California law firms must rethink how they build and sustain business as senior partners retire and clients demand team-driven service. This article explores how firms can transition rainmaking into a collective effort -- through shared credit, technology, training, and culture -- to ensure growth and continuity in a competitive legal market.
George Brandon
President
Email: george@legalxcellence.com
George Brandon is president of LegalXcellence.com. He is a seasoned management, business development, marketing and IT professional with over 30 years of experience in the legal services industry, as well as an experienced business development attorney coach and marketing director with a proven track record of helping lawyers achieve their business development goals.
For decades, law firm business development has been shaped by the myth of the "lone rainmaker." These charismatic partners cultivated deep client relationships, filled the pipeline and kept the firm afloat. Many California firms have thrived thanks to such figures, but the legal industry, driven by client demands, technology, and generational turnover, is evolving. The lone rainmaker model is no longer sustainable.
Firms across the state are finding them...
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