Why Law Firms with Strong Operational Leadership Are Outperforming in 2025

If you want to see where law firm performance is heading in 2025, take a look at who’s already winning. 

According to the 2024 Thomson Reuters Report on the State of the U.S. Legal Market, the firms seeing the strongest growth and profitability aren’t necessarily the biggest or flashiest — they’re the ones with solid operational leadership and strategic discipline.

That means clear goals. Defined roles. Documented processes. Aligned teams. And someone driving the execution.

Operational Strength = Financial Strength

The report confirms what we already see on the ground:

Law firms with strong COOs (or fractional equivalents) are:

  • Hitting higher realization and collection rates

  • Managing headcount and compensation smarter

  • Tracking KPIs and adjusting in real time

  • Leading with a defined vision and focused execution

This isn’t about having more resources — it’s about using them wisely.

Why Some Firms Are Falling Behind

Many firms are still operating on muscle memory. They’re reactive instead of strategic. They lack operational structure and rely on overworked partners to juggle everything.

The result?

  • Plateaued profits

  • Partner burnout

  • Missed opportunities

What Firms Need to Do Differently

  1. Treat the firm like a business — not just a practice

  2. Elevate operational leadership — even if that means bringing in a fractional COO

  3. Align around core goals — and track performance against them

  4. Automate and systematize where possible

ING Collaborations: The Right Move for 2025 

Not every firm can (or should) hire a full-time COO.

But a fractional COO gives you the leadership and strategy you need — without the overhead you don’t.

As we head into the midway point of 2025, the firms that invest in operations will be the ones that thrive — not just survive.

Ready to strengthen your firm’s operational core in 2025? Schedule a consultation with ING Collaborations and let’s build your growth engine.

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Building a Scalable Law Firm: Systems First, Talent Second