Yvette Ostolaza (Sidley Austin LLP), analyzes the American legal sector and its main challenges at IE Law School’s LawAhead Center.
On November 24, the LawAhead Center on the Legal Profession at IE Law School hosted a new session with Yvette Ostolaza, Management Committee Chair and Executive Committee member at Sidley Austin LLP, in an event held at the IE Tower that brought together partners and senior executives from major law firms, corporate legal departments, and the Center’s sponsors.
During the session, Ostolaza reviewed several of the key dynamics currently shaping the U.S. legal market, including technological change, shifting client expectations, regulatory complexity, and the rise in litigation and M&A activity, among others.
Part of the discussion focused on the consolidation of law firms in the United States. Ostolaza noted that mergers are
becoming increasingly common as firms seek broader geographic reach, expanded capabilities, and economies of scale. However, she emphasized that these combinations also bring significant challenges, particularly regarding cultural integration, financial alignment, and the need to maintain consistent service quality across a larger organization.
Regarding the role of artificial intelligence in legal practice, Ostolaza explained that these technologies offer substantial efficiency gains and cost savings, allowing lawyers to focus on higher-value strategic work. At the same time, she highlighted the challenges firms must address, including data security, ethical use, workforce training, and the integration of AI into traditional practice models.
Ostolaza also examined the ongoing talent wars in the U.S. legal market. Firms are investing heavily in recruitment, retention, and workplace culture to differentiate themselves. These dynamics are reshaping hiring practices, career paths, and firm operations across the industry.
The session offered participants a clear overview of the pressures and opportunities currently reshaping the American legal sector, contributing to LawAhead’s mission to foster informed debate on the future of the profession.
About the LawAhead Center on the Legal Profession
The LawAhead Center on the Legal Profession at IE Law School promotes reflection on the challenges and opportunities facing the legal sector in Spain and globally. The Center brings together leading business law firms—CMS Albiñana, Cuatrecasas, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo, Garrigues, Pérez-Llorca, Roca Junyent, Sagardoy Abogados, and Uría Menéndez— alongside major corporations such as AENA, CaixaBank, Mapfre, Microsoft, and Telefónica.