As large-scale federal layoffs loom and uncertainty surrounds government employment, small and midsize law firms are positioning themselves as attractive alternatives for displaced or disillusioned federal attorneys. KCNF Managing Partner Elaine Fitch recently spoke to Law360 about the shifting landscape.
With anticipated reductions in force (RIFs) across federal agencies and thousands of government employees facing job insecurity, Fitch sees an opportunity for firms like KCNF to recruit highly skilled legal professionals seeking more stable workplaces.
Fitch emphasized the appeal of her firm’s unique focus: representing federal employees. This mission-driven work, she explained, is familiar and personally meaningful to many government attorneys who want to “fight the good fight.”
Additionally, the experience federal employees bring from the other side is invaluable. “Sometimes when we’re on the outside, it’s like a black hole in the federal government,” she said. “You don’t know how the omelet is made, so they can come in and say, ‘This is what’s going on. This is how it works. These are the people that need to be talked to. This is what’s important.’ So there’s a tremendous experience there.”
Fitch explained that many of the former government attorneys who have gravitated to KCNF have actually represented the government across from her as opposing counsel. “It’s a huge compliment, obviously, if they think well enough of us after being on the other side that they would want to work for us,” she said. “I think part of it is our size. We’re nimble, but we’re big enough that we’ve got a support network here. We work really closely with each other, and there’s a lot of strategizing and a good collegial atmosphere. And we also try not to work people to death. I mean, that’s one of the reasons why you work in a small firm, is you want a work-life balance.”
As KCNF celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the firm has welcomed new attorneys with deep government experience, including Briana Imran, previously with the EEOC, and Keir S. Bickerstaffe, a former deputy associate solicitor at the U.S. Department of Labor. Their insights and institutional knowledge not only strengthen the firm’s capabilities but also offer immediate value to clients navigating complex federal employment issues.
Read the full Law360 article here.