The inaugural 2024 Law Firm Index Mid-Sized 200 evaluates law firms with attorney headcounts between 50 and 150—firms often overlooked by national rankings—using a rigorously objective framework that prioritizes data over self-reported financials.
Leveraging the Leopard Law Firm Index (LLFI), a real-time, size-adjusted scoring system, this ranking measures performance across four key pillars: ROI, Promotions, Growth, and Diversity.
The Index incorporates ungameable indicators such as lateral hire success, internal promotions, and demographic representation, offering a holistic, real-world snapshot of legal market performance.
Key Findings from the 200 Firms
- Strong ROI Performance: Numerous firms reported hiring ROI above 90%, signaling alignment between recruiting and long-term strategy.
- Partner Promotions Drive Stability: Firms with 5+ partner promotions showed stronger retention and pipeline development.
- Balanced Talent Growth: Top performers balanced external hires and internal advancement.
Below, we explore firm performance by individual categories such as growth, diversity, promotions to partner, and ROI on hiring—identifying leading firms, notable data trends, and benchmarks across the Mid-Sized 200 cohort.
Growth Performance
Growth is measured by net headcount change and strategic hiring. While high growth can indicate operational expansion, it may also bring cultural or sustainability challenges.
The average growth figure for the top firms was 5, with a median of 2, suggesting most growth is modest and targeted—though a few standouts show aggressive expansion.
Top Performer: Mintzer Sarowitz Zeris & Willis PLLC (#76)
Score: 133 (net change)
Location: Garland, TX
Profile: Operating from 12 offices, the firm added 22 attorneys (mostly lateral), offsetting the loss of 19 to achieve a net gain. While promotions are low (2.56% for partners, 0% for counsel), the firm achieved 0% attrition in 2025, indicating stable onboarding despite rapid growth following its acquisition by the Dallas-based Willis Law Group in May 2024.
Ethnic Diversity
The ethnic diversity pillar reflects firms’ representation of attorneys from historically underrepresented backgrounds. With an average of 13% and a median of 11%, these metrics suggest that while some firms are making strides, the sector has a long way to go in building equitable representation across all levels.
Top Performer: Hamilton Miller & Birthisel LLP (#1)
Score: 44% high ethnic diversity
Location: Miami, FL
Notable Mention: Coleman Chavez & Associates LLP (#3)
Score: 43% ethnic diversity
Profile: Based in Roseville, CA, Coleman, Chavez, & Associates LLP increased headcount from 67 to 99 (48% growth) and reported 0% lateral attrition. While partner promotions were strong (10.53%), no associates advanced to counsel—highlighting a gap in mid-level career pathways.
Promotions to Partner
Firms with higher promotion rates often show stronger internal mobility, leadership cultivation, and long-term attorney engagement. The average number of promotions was 3, with a median of 2, underscoring the selectivity and impact of internal elevation.
Top Performer: Kopka Pinkus Dolin (#176)
Score: 10 partners promoted
Location: Farmington Hills, MI
Profile: Based in Farmington Hills, MI, Kopka Pinkus Dolin promoted 10 partners, demonstrating strong upward mobility at the top tier. While the firm’s elevation rate signals a clear commitment to senior leadership development, the focus on partner-level advancement leaves questions about broader career progression across other roles.
ROI on Hiring
Return on Investment (ROI) evaluates how effectively firms retain and leverage new talent. ROI averages were impressive:
- 92% for lateral hires
- 83% for new hires
An exclusive group of 18 firms achieved 100% ROI for both categories, highlighting exceptional hiring alignment.
- Beasley Allen Law (#106)
- Gable & Gotwals, Inc. (#186)
- Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd PA (#197)
- Hill Ward Henderson (#60)
- Kahana & Feld LLP (#15)
- Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL (#54)
- Krieg DeVault (#54)
- Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein (#60)
- Liskow & Lewis (#197)
- Miller & Chevalier (#172)
- Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell LLP (#42)
- Pierce Atwood LLP (#137)
- Poyner Spruill LLP (#173)
- Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC (#70)
- Tonkon Torp (#191)
- Weinberg, Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn & Dial, LLC (#15)
- Wyatt Tarrant & Combs, LLP (#173)
- Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP (#39)
These firms set the standard for talent integration and performance longevity.
Conclusion
The Mid-Sized 200 is more than a leaderboard—it’s a diagnostic tool for understanding what successful law firm operations look like today. High performance in gender and ethnic diversity, partner promotions, ROI, and talent growth highlight key levers firms can pull to remain competitive.
As this segment continues to evolve, transparency, inclusion, and strategic growth will be essential pillars for long-term sustainability.
For more firm-specific metrics or to request custom comparisons by region, practice area, or growth stage, contact Leopard Solutions.
