New York Managing Partner Wendy Cohen discussed at a recent New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Continuing Legal Education program on leadership how leading New York law firms are navigating post-pandemic return-to-office dynamics. Wendy emphasized Katten's balanced, flexible, hybrid approach and underscored the business and cultural imperatives for in-person collaboration to support profitability, associate development and sustained client service.
Wendy noted that Katten's hybrid model generally targets three in-office days per week, while allowing practice-specific variations to accommodate client demands and workflow. She highlighted that productivity is more than just about billable output, pointing to the value of spontaneous collaboration, mentorship and cross-practice interaction while in the office environment. "Interacting with others, mentoring in person, having lunch together in the cafe, and being collaborative, that’s productive in a different way. It invests in people. When people feel better, that increases ultimate productivity, which translates into more revenue."
Wendy also cited the role of regular, firmwide events and welcoming office amenities in strengthening culture and improving attendance, fostering a sense of connection across practice groups and seniority levels. "When you can have events across practice groups and have human interaction, people think 'hey, this is fun!'"
"Leaders of Top New York Law Firms Striving To Overcome Resistance to Return to Office Policies," NYSBA, October 17, 2025