Sidley executive committee chair Brian Fahrney on London, talent and the global elite

Brian Fahrney, chair of Sidley Austin's executive committee, joins the podcast to discuss the firm's transformation into one of the fastest-growing US law firms in London. He explains why Sidley spent years investing in private equity, how the strategy reshaped its London office, and why the firm remains bullish on the London market.

The conversation explores the growing importance of the "NYLON corridor", why US clients increasingly expect seamless transatlantic legal advice, and how Sidley thinks about growth, lateral hiring and building market-leading practices on both sides of the Atlantic.

We also discuss AI, law firm culture and leadership, as well as why Fahrney believes the legal industry is consolidating into a smaller group of global firms with the scale to invest in talent, technology and client service. Finally, Fahrney shares his outlook for the next decade of Big Law and explains what he believes will separate the industry's winners from the rest.

Chapters

00:01 Introduction
01:20 Sidley's growth story and Brian's path to executive committee chair
04:46 Running a global law firm
07:00 Why talent is critical to Sidley’s strategy
11:56 How Sidley’s London office became a private capital platform
15:46 The deliberate push into private equity
17:49 Why the NYLON corridor matters
24:16 Big Law consolidation and the firms pulling away
29:08 Partnership structures, talent development and future leaders