Research published by legal industry experts David Parnell and Patrick McKenna has found that an overwhelming majority of managing partners at leading US law firms admit to being aware of bullying and other disrespectful or intimidating behaviour by members of their team. Even more interestingly, the study found that while 70 per cent of respondents acknowledged that keeping tabs on partner behaviour was one of their responsibilities as a managing partner, 40 per cent conceded that managers’ discomfort about addressing the problem has either slowed or entirely inhibited their ability to respond to bullying behaviours.

Bullying from above

The most likely bullies, according to respondents, were unsurprisingly those with the most power and status within their firm. The vast majority are high-earning partners, with three-in-four bullies making either average or higher-than-average profits per partner. Without clearly defined behavioural standards, internal disciplinary procedures and a link between a firm’s cultural values and its compensation system, many managing partners will struggle keep their own heavyweights in line, suggest Mr Parnell and Mr McKenna. However, some managing partners are already succeeding in tackling bad behaviour head-on – around 59 per cent of respondents have reduced a partner’s compensation in response to poor behaviour in the last five years, while 52 per cent have let a partner go for conduct that offended their firm’s values.

Sources: Law.com; Legal Business World