Q: “According to Am Law, in a dozen years, your firm’s average equity partner profits soared by $2 million — from about $350,000 in 1995 to $2,350,000 in 2007, right?”
Partner: “That’s what they published.”
Q: “In 2007, you personally were at the top of the equity partnership, weren’t you?”
Partner: “I’m not going to apologize for success.”
Q: “I haven’t asked you to apologize yet, have I?”
Partner: “No.”
Q: “The point is: you were making a lot of money in 2007 when it first hit you that your 65th birthday was approaching, right?
Partner: “Yes.”
Q: “Millions of dollars a year?”
Partner: “Yes.”
Q: “That amount dwarfed what your mentors at the firm made 20 or more years earlier, didn’t it?”
Partner: “Sure. So what? All well-run big firms became more lucrative over the past two decades.”
Q: “But not everyone in those firms — or yours — benefitted, did they?”
Partner: “Your question is too vague. You’ll have to be more specific.”