Large law firms constitute integral components of the corporate complexes of cities. Analyses of data from 75 cities between 1950 and 1980 demonstrate that the increasing numbers, sizes, and branching of these corporate law firms correspond closely to the long-term processes of urban growth and change. The hierarchy of linked metropolises compose the key structure within which these firms operate. A governmental network headed by Washington, D.C., which also includes state capitals, overlaps it.
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