How Partner Profits Have Changed Over 10 Years

A lot changes in 10 years.

In 2006, Google bought YouTube for $1.65 billion, the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl, and Wachtell’s partner profits averaged $3.8 million.

Well, maybe noteverythinghas changed. Wachtell topped the charts in both The American Lawyer’s 2006 and 2016 editions in the area that matters most to many partners: their average profits. The only difference? This year, Wachtell boasted $6.6 million profits per partner.

That is to say, $1 million went a lot further in law firm economics a decade ago.

In 2006, $1 million marked the No. 44 highest average partner-profit in the ...