Law firm leaders back Barack

Leaders of top US law firms have overwhelmingly backed incumbent President Barack Obama to secure another term at the White House, seeing off the challenge of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

A survey by the American Lawyer found that 83 of 106 Am Law 200 managing partners, chairs, and other firm leaders, or 78.3 per cent, said they expect the president to win when the ballots are counted on 6 November.Just 23 leaders, or 21.7 per cent, predicted a win for Mr Romney.

Debate

However, the majority of those surveyed responded before the first debate between the two candidates – in which Mr Romney was widely declared the ‘winner’. Of just eight law firm leaders who gave their opinion after the 3 October showdown, four favoured the president while four plumped for Mr Romney.
The news follows reports last month that lawyers at the top 20 US firms had given the president almost twice as much in campaign donation as they have to Mr Romney.

Biggest backers

President Obama received $1.9 million from law firms, with his biggest backers at DLA Piper stumping up a whopping $345,000 in direct donations.