The American dream: law firms
① British lawyers may gaze covetously across the pond today when the American Lawyer, a magazine, publishes its annual ranking of American law firms by earnings.
② American firms are typically much more profitable than their British counterparts.
③ Two say their revenues exceeded $3bn for the first time last year.
④ The Brits' revenues are watered down by expansion into emerging markets, where they cannot charge fees as high as those commanded in New York, or indeed in London.
⑤ They have also struggled to break into the lucrative American market, where there's no shortage of domestic lawyers chasing business (and ambulances).
⑥ Attracting talent there is also hard, given the superstar salaries offered by top practices.
⑦ Pay in British firms is based more on seniority than the business each partner brings in.
⑧ Little wonder that Allen & Overy, a London outfit, is rumoured to be hunting for an American alliance.
⑨ If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
▍生词好句
company /ˈkʌmp(ə)ni/: n. 公司（泛指）；陪伴；连队
companion /kəmˈpanjən/: n. 伴侣；陪伴
firm /fəːm/: n. 公司（一小群人合伙建立的公司）
law/accounting/consulting firm: 律师/会计/咨询事务所
business partner: 商业伙伴
partnership /ˈpɑːtnəʃɪp/: n. 合伙人制度
group /ɡruːp/: n. 公司（大型企业，业务形态多样）
consortium /kənˈsɔːtɪəm/: n. 财团
covetously /ˈkʌvɪtəsli/: adv. 贪婪地
pond /pɒnd/: n. 池塘 （文中指大西洋 the Atlantic）
counterpart /ˈkaʊntəpɑːt/: n. 相对应的人/物
exceed /ɪkˈsiːd/: vt. 超过；超越（overpass）
water down: 稀释
emerging market /ɪˈməːdʒɪŋ/: 新兴市场
command /kəˈmɑːnd/: vt. 拥有；指挥
lucrative /ˈluːkrətɪv/: adj. 有利可图的
chase /tʃeɪs/: vt. 追赶
ambulance /ˈambjʊl(ə)ns/: n. 救护车
ambulance chaser:（怂恿受伤者起诉的）冷血讼棍律师
talent /ˈtalənt/: n. 人才
practice /ˈpraktɪs/: n. 实务
seniority /ˌsiːniˈɑːrəti, siːnɪˈɒrɪti/: n. 资历
outfit /ˈaʊtfɪt/: n. 公司；（为特定场合或活动而穿的）全套服装
hunt /hʌnt/: vi. 寻找；搜寻
rumour /ˈruːmə/: vt. 谣传
alliance /əˈlʌɪəns/: n. 同盟
utilitarianism /jʊˌtɪlɪˈtɛːrɪənɪz(ə)m/: n. 实用主义
