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Irell is the right choice, correct?

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 2:20 pm
by Anonymous User
I think I know the answer to this, but just looking for other opinions. I am planning on Patent Lit, tech background, PTO reg, etc.
I have a handful of offers, and I am looking to stay in Cali.
Offers in hand from:
Irell
Alston and Bird
WilmerHale
Expected from:
Gibson Dunn
Skadden Palo Alto (maybe)

I am basically ready to accept the Irell offer. Even if the Gibson and Skadden ones came through, I think I would still stake Irell. This is the right choice, no? As far as patent lit on the west coats goes, I don't think Irell can be beaten. What's the consensus?

Re: Irell is the right choice, correct?

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 2:23 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:As far as patent lit on the west coats goes, I don't think Irell can be beaten. What's the consensus?
I'm pretty sure the consensus will be that you're absolutely right, even if you remove the phrase "on the west coast" from that sentence.

Re: Irell is the right choice, correct?

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 2:24 pm
by imchuckbass58
Anonymous User wrote:I think I know the answer to this, but just looking for other opinions. I am planning on Patent Lit, tech background, PTO reg, etc.
I have a handful of offers, and I am looking to stay in Cali.
Offers in hand from:
Irell
Alston and Bird
WilmerHale
Expected from:
Gibson Dunn
Skadden Palo Alto (maybe)

I am basically ready to accept the Irell offer. Even if the Gibson and Skadden ones came through, I think I would still stake Irell. This is the right choice, no? As far as patent lit on the west coats goes, I don't think Irell can be beaten. What's the consensus?
I think that's probably right. If I recall correctly, neither Gibson or Skadden is especially known for IP.

The one factor I would take into consideration is the fact that Irell will be a very different work environment from all the other firms you mentioned, for reasons I'm sure you already know (smaller firm, only two offices, not particularly social, more intellectual bent, etc).

I would probably go with Irell if you are fine with that environment.

Re: Irell is the right choice, correct?

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 3:28 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:I think I know the answer to this, but just looking for other opinions. I am planning on Patent Lit, tech background, PTO reg, etc.
I have a handful of offers, and I am looking to stay in Cali.
Offers in hand from:
Irell
Alston and Bird
WilmerHale
Expected from:
Gibson Dunn
Skadden Palo Alto (maybe)

I am basically ready to accept the Irell offer. Even if the Gibson and Skadden ones came through, I think I would still stake Irell. This is the right choice, no? As far as patent lit on the west coats goes, I don't think Irell can be beaten. What's the consensus?
What was your time between callback -> offer?
Did you tell them about your other offers to expedite this process?
Lastly, mind sharing stats?

Re: Irell is the right choice, correct?

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 6:22 pm
by Anonymous User
Irell, and it's not even close. WilmerHale's main patent lit office is in Boston (where they are more focused on biotech stuff); their Palo Alto office is tiny. Skadden's PA office is similarly small, and Skadden as a firm doesn't attract top IP cases. Gibson Dunn's IP practice is virtually non-existent.

Re: Irell is the right choice, correct?

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 6:27 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:As far as patent lit on the west coats goes, I don't think Irell can be beaten. What's the consensus?
I'm pretty sure the consensus will be that you're absolutely right, even if you remove the phrase "on the west coast" from that sentence.
Depending on what you're looking for, Irell can be matched or beaten, but certainly not by the other firms you've listed there (for reasons indicated by the previous poster).

Re: Irell is the right choice, correct?

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 6:28 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:As far as patent lit on the west coats goes, I don't think Irell can be beaten. What's the consensus?
I'm pretty sure the consensus will be that you're absolutely right, even if you remove the phrase "on the west coast" from that sentence.
Depending on what you're looking for, Irell can be matched or beaten, but certainly not by the other firms you've listed there (for reasons indicated by the previous poster).
What firms beat Irell for IP lit? I know a handful that match it

Re: Irell is the right choice, correct?

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 7:55 pm
by Anonymous User
op here, stats as requested:

T2 - 50-100 range
top 2%, law review
significant work experience in engineering before school, hard science undergrad
it was about 3 work days between call-back and offer

a question to other posters in this thread. what firms in your opinion beat Irell for patent lit on the west coast? just curious, my mind is basically made up in favor of Irell.

Re: Irell is the right choice, correct?

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 8:16 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:what firms in your opinion beat Irell for patent lit on the west coast? just curious, my mind is basically made up in favor of Irell.
There really aren't any. I can see an argument for MoFo SF being a peer patent lit firm, but it certainly doesn't "beat" Irell.

Re: Irell is the right choice, correct?

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 8:43 pm
by Anonymous User
or Weil redwood shores

Re: Irell is the right choice, correct?

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 12:22 pm
by Anonymous User
OP here again...

Dinged by Gibson via snail-mail shortly after posting this, but just got the offer from Skadden Palo Alto.

Accepted the Irell offer the other day. Do you guys think it makes sense to try to split the summer with Skadden up in Palo Alto, or should I just stick with Irell the whole summer. I think I know that I want to stay with Irell, but should I give Skadden a chance just because they are Skadden? Also, Skadden does some transactional work, Irell does not do much, and maybe I should give that a chance? Does splitting summers hurt you in any way?