Johnson Downie and Lippman Jungers Join Forces to Create CenterPeak

September 20, 2024 – Legal search firms Johnson Downie and Lippman Jungers recently formed a strategic merger combining the expertise and networks of Sabina Lippman, Clint Johnson, Mark Jungers, and their respective colleagues. The name of the new firm is CenterPeak. Combined, the two firms have placed more than 2,000 law firm partners and opened more than 40 offices for AmLaw 50 firms.

“When we established Lippman Jungers, our goal was to build the leading legal recruiting firm in the United States, serving the elite segment of all major markets,” said Ms. Lippman, co-founder of Lippman Jungers. “With our growth in recent years and this exciting merger with Johnson Downie, we are almost there.”

Since its inception in 2008, Johnson Downie has been a legal search firm in Texas and providing senior recruitment services for the Houston, Dallas, and Austin legal markets. Lippman Jungers, established in 2011, is known for its deep connections and placements among the legal in New York, California, and globally.

“We are especially proud of the relationships we have forged with the dynamic leaders of the world’s most profitable law firms and the trust they have placed in us as key strategic advisors,” said Mr. Johnson, founder of Johnson Downie. “We’re equally proud of the reputation we’ve earned among major rainmakers as the go-to firms for taking their practices to the next level. I could not be more excited about the future for our newly combined firms.”

“Joining forces represented a unique opportunity to supercharge our collective vision to be the best and most trusted legal recruiting firm in the world,” said Mr. Jungers, co-founder of Lippman Jungers. “In the months and years ahead, we will raise the bar of our concierge service to a new level for our clients and candidates.”

Origins of the Merger

“We talked with clients for two years about which firms and recruiters they like and used most for their most critical needs,” Mr. Johnson said. “Client after client said…..Lippman Jungers. Merger discussions ensued and took 15 months to culminate.”

Mr. Johnson notes that the impact the existing clients of Johnson Downie and Lippman Jungers will be hugely positive. “It is the biggest reason we did it,” he said. “Now we can do more for the clients that loved us both separately. The combination has made us the strongest (and probably the biggest by revenue) law firm lateral partner recruiting firm in the world.

Related: The Year of CEO Ousters

Looking ahead, Mr. Johnson anticipates more and expedited growth. “We will do 55-60 million this year,” he says. “Hoping to drive to 100 million in two years. We will add more geography (Chicago and London) and build out the ranks.  We want to do the most important lateral partner placement work for the top 35 law firms in the world.”

As president and CEO of CenterPeak, Mr. Johnson leads the board of directors. His track record includes placing hundreds of partners and facilitating the opening of over 30 new offices for elite law firms. Mr. Johnson has been recognized repeatedly in Lawdragon’s Global 100 Leaders in Legal Strategy & Consulting.

Ms. Lippman began representing law firm partners in 2000, placing over 700 partners in the last two decades and opening offices for firms across the United States and Asia. She has placed partners and groups in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.

Mr. Jungers started representing law firm partners in 2001 and has placed hundreds of partners over the last two decades. He has expertise in law firm office openings, having spearheaded 10 domestic or international openings for AmLaw 100 Law firms. Some of his clients include Latham & Watkins, Paul Weiss, Quinn Emanuel, and Sidley Austin.

Related: Understanding Organizational Culture

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media

Share This Article

RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments