Shark tank

By Kim Isaac Eisler

Subjects: Biography, Lawyers, Kumble Finley, New York Times reviewed, Law firms, History, Law partnership

Description: Until it all fell apart in 1988, Finley Kumble was the second largest law firm in the world, with offices throughout the United States and in London and a stellar line-up of partners including former U.S. senators Paul Laxalt and Russell Long. Eisler has spun a fascinating expose of the greed and quest for power that brought these attorneys together and then tore their firm apart. The book contains few courtroom scenes or attorneys pleading for justice for their clients; justice and the interest of clients was not a major concern at Finley Kumble. Readers instead will find a detailed account (preceded by a very helpful chronology of events) telling what went wrong with this firm and may even be thankful, at the book's end, for the firm's collapse.