Sullivan v. Paul Weiss v. Gibson (for NY Corporate) Forum

[Anonymous User]

Just got an offer from Sullivan and that is the end of my cycle. Now I really need some advice: I am mostly interested in transnational work, especially capital markets and M&A. I understand that both Paul Weiss and Gibson are more known for their litigation work, but I also heard that Paul Weiss's corporate practice is growing. Sullivan does have the best corporate work?? but I've heard bad thing about their culture.

Any input would be appreciated.

[Anonymous User]

Clarify: by Sullivan I meant Sullivan & Cromwell

[Anonymous User]

Is this a serious question, or are you just humbragging? Sullivan & Cromwell has arguably the best corporate group based on leagues tables over the past ten years. It was ranked #2 in corporate based on a Vault survey of partners back in the mid-2000s, and it almost certainly has surpassed Cravath (#1 back then) since the financial crisis (though the partners survey is no longer being conducted). S&C/Wachtell/Cravath are the best for large public M&A. S&C/Davis Polk are the best for capital market. S&C is the best for securities regulation, hands down. Unless you have strong personal/fit reasons for choosing Paul Weiss/Gibson Dunn, S&C is the way to go for corporate among all firms, not just Paul Weiss/Gibson Dunn.

[Anonymous User]

Don't be silly. Go to S&C. If you really hate it, then you can do 3L OGI or lateral to a different firm. The reverse is less likely to be true. An S&C offer or a few years at S&C will make you among the most attractive candidates at 3L OGI/on the lateral market.

For the record, my friends who are at S&C don't hate it.

[Old Gregg]

Don't be silly. Go to S&C. If you really hate it, then you can do 3L OGI or lateral to a different firm. The reverse is less likely to be true. An S&C offer or a few years at S&C will make you among the most attractive candidates at 3L OGI/on the lateral market.

For the record, my friends who are at S&C don't hate it.

OGI is a UVA-only thing, bro.

[thesealocust]

S&C has the best corporate practice from amongst that group, and it's not really up for debate. Asking yourself "how much does it matter that I go to the firm with the best corporate practice?" is very fair though, especially because GDC and Paul Weiss are both fine firms.

At the end of the day, you'll be a lawyer at a law firm and then a lawyer at a law firm or someone else. How much happiness the number of zeroes in your deal or the number of times your cases were in the newspaper gives you isn't totally irrelevant and ambition isn't objectively wrong, but it also may not have that much of an impact on your day to day life.

What you've heard about their culture should matter less than the impression you got and what you can dig up with further work. Do second visits, do more research, etc.

[royilae]

this kind of seems like a brag...S&C is obviously the BEST for corporate notwithstanding fit but I have a feeling you knew that

[Anonymous User]

Is this a serious question, or are you just humbragging? Sullivan & Cromwell has arguably the best corporate group based on leagues tables over the past ten years. It was ranked #2 in corporate based on a Vault survey of partners back in the mid-2000s, and it almost certainly has surpassed Cravath (#1 back then) since the financial crisis (though the partners survey is no longer being conducted). S&C/Wachtell/Cravath are the best for large public M&A. S&C/Davis Polk are the best for capital market. S&C is the best for securities regulation, hands down. Unless you have strong personal/fit reasons for choosing Paul Weiss/Gibson Dunn, S&C is the way to go for corporate among all firms, not just Paul Weiss/Gibson Dunn.

This is really a serious question. I do not have strong personal reasons for choosing PW or Gibson, but I revisited both and really liked them. I will revisit SullCrom soon, but I just am concerned by some bad reviews here at TLS concerning SullCrom. I do like good quality work, but I do value good culture as well.

[Anonymous User]

Don't be silly. Go to S&C. If you really hate it, then you can do 3L OGI or lateral to a different firm. The reverse is less likely to be true. An S&C offer or a few years at S&C will make you among the most attractive candidates at 3L OGI/on the lateral market.

For the record, my friends who are at S&C don't hate it.

OGI is a UVA-only thing, bro.

Lol mind explaining what OGI is to me? Is it like a 3L OCI?

[Anonymous User]

Is this a serious question, or are you just humbragging? Sullivan & Cromwell has arguably the best corporate group based on leagues tables over the past ten years. It was ranked #2 in corporate based on a Vault survey of partners back in the mid-2000s, and it almost certainly has surpassed Cravath (#1 back then) since the financial crisis (though the partners survey is no longer being conducted). S&C/Wachtell/Cravath are the best for large public M&A. S&C/Davis Polk are the best for capital market. S&C is the best for securities regulation, hands down. Unless you have strong personal/fit reasons for choosing Paul Weiss/Gibson Dunn, S&C is the way to go for corporate among all firms, not just Paul Weiss/Gibson Dunn.

This is really a serious question. I do not have strong personal reasons for choosing PW or Gibson, but I revisited both and really liked them. I will revisit SullCrom soon, but I just am concerned by some bad reviews here at TLS concerning SullCrom. I do like good quality work, but I do value good culture as well.

No culture is intrinsically "good." What you need to do is to find the right fit. People can say that the culture at S&C/Cravath/Skadden are bad all they want, but cultures at those firms might fit you well. Many people hate the cultures at DPW, Paul Weiss, Debevoise, etc.

[case]

Ok thanks for clarifying that by Sullivan you meant S&C. You have on offer from S&C, you are capable of researching this independently. No one on TLS is going to have particularly useful advice for you.

[laxbrah420]

The hostility on this website towards winners is fucking ridiculous. First, as a reader of this site, and someone who can't get a job at S&C, I still found it interesting to learn that S&C is the best corporate practice (I did not know that before). Second, when making a decision like this, and you can just verify for free what you already know, it's pretty reasonable to do that. Yall should chill the fuck out.

[Anonymous User]

The hostility on this website towards winners is fucking ridiculous. First, as a reader of this site, and someone who can't get a job at S&C, I still found it interesting to learn that S&C is the best corporate practice (I did not know that before). Second, when making a decision like this, and you can just verify for free what you already know, it's pretty reasonable to do that. Yall should chill the fuck out.

I think what ticked some TLS users about this post is how the OP phrased the question. Absent a description of OP's personality and preferences on culture, asking OP's question on TLS is at most useless for the OP and at worst irritating for non-winners (in your words). If the OP had asked about S&C vs. Cravath or S&C vs. Davis Polk or S&C vs. STB, that wouldn't have seemed like humblebrag, and TLS users would have been more receptive and helpful.

[Anonymous User]

The hostility on this website towards winners is fucking ridiculous. First, as a reader of this site, and someone who can't get a job at S&C, I still found it interesting to learn that S&C is the best corporate practice (I did not know that before). Second, when making a decision like this, and you can just verify for free what you already know, it's pretty reasonable to do that. Yall should chill the fuck out.

I think what ticked some TLS users about this post is how the OP phrased the question. Absent a description of OP's personality and preferences on culture, asking OP's question on TLS is at most useless for the OP and at worst irritating for non-winners (in your words). If the OP had asked about S&C vs. Cravath or S&C vs. Davis Polk or S&C vs. STB with out additional information on fit preferences, that wouldn't have seemed like humblebrag, and TLS users would have been more receptive and helpful.

[thesealocust]

I still found it interesting to learn that S&C is the best corporate practice (I did not know that before).

Also, just to clarify, it only has "the best corporate practice" so obviously amongst that group of three firms.