A significant wave of lateral hiring is sweeping through major law firms, reflecting a shift towards a bottom-line focus in the industry. Notable moves include Alfred Wu, senior consultant Philip Nunn, and senior associate Muriel Cheng joining Denton's litigation and arbitration practice, and Hicks Thomas LLP adding nine new partners. Bell Nunnally has recruited a partner from Baker McKenzie for its M&A practice. Top firms such as Kirkland, Paul Weiss, Weil, and McDermott are also actively engaging in lateral hiring in New York. Freshfields has attracted Paul Hastings' Vice Chair of Capital Markets and Securities, while Flora Go has left Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson to join Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Luke Laumann's arrival at a private equity group caps a summer of extensive hiring, which included new offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco via the lateral hires of private equity partners Tana Ryan and Navneeta Rekhi. Law firm management consultants and recruiters suggest that this focus on the bottom line is necessary for firms to remain competitive.