Was the Lateral Flight From AmLaw Firms to Startup Boutiques Worth It?

From October 2008 through September 2009, according to The American Lawyer's Lateral Report, 114 partners left The Am Law 200 to start or join small practices, up from 70 in the previous 12-month period. Some might think it's insane to leave a large firm to hang up a shingle in the midst of an economic downturn, but those who've done it think it's crazy to stay put. The founding partners of these new boutique firms seem to be relishing their new autonomy, and say their firms are doing well financially.