While fee income across the UK’s top 100 law firms increased by 1.4% in the quarter ended 31 January 2010, the top 10 firms suffered a decrease of 7.5% compared with the same quarter in the prior year. Analysis of the latest Quarterly Legal Sector Survey, from business advisory firm Deloitte, highlights a large divergence in performance between the top 100 firms with the smaller firms (those in the 51-100 category) achieving fee income growth of 6%.

Interesting stuff, so the bigger ( and more expensive) firms are losing business to the smaller (less expensive) firms.

Well isn't that what you'd expect in a recession?  Of course it is and now we have the official proof.

At least their conclusion is on the button.  Not like the scientists who pulled the legs off a Grasshoper, slapped the table and when it didn't jump they concluded that it was deaf.

You can read the full Deloitte report here (it's not long)