Are there techniques to lessen the risk of taking the bait of stellar lawyers at the final presentation, but working thereafter with a switch to earthly types? This question occurred to me when GC New England Mag., 4th Q. 2007 at 27, used the term. I think of bait-and-switch as empty promises of the attention and expertise of an individual, like the eminent senior partner of the firm. Then the third-year associate shows up.
A broader meaning, however, is what the general counsel quoted in the article means. “He sees a mismatch between the assurances made by the team that sells the deal and the resources available to actually do the work” (See my posts of Aug. 4, 2007: separately meet the associates proposed for your matters; and May 30, 2005: pros and cons of beauty parades.). Not just one person is paraded but then disappears; the broader capabilities of the firm are touted but then disappoint.
All I can imagine for the individual sleight-of-hand is to offer some kind of premium for the time of the eminent lawyer and threaten a deep discount on other people’s time.