WilmerHale DC v. Cleary DC Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am fortunate enough to have offers at both WilmerHale DC and Cleary DC. I still have CB's with firms that could really shake things up for me (Boies DC, Weil NY and Skadden LA); but assuming that these are my only two offers, I could use some input as to what might be the right choice.

I enjoyed both firms when I visited. I do think that I clicked better with the Wilmer folks. I also just liked their offices better.

I am interested in complex commercial lit, antitrust, white collar and international arbitration. I think I am in it for the long haul, though I would like to move in and our of government later in my career.

I have to admit I am doing some prestige whoring here... the strength of the Cleary brand really appeals to me (though it seems that WH has a much stronger DC presence). What else should really drive my decision when it comes to these two firms?

Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Satellite offices are fail. Cleary has more of a "brand" in NYC, but Wilmer is a much bigger brand in DC and will take you a lot further in DC. Go to Wilmer; there is literally no reason in your post why you should go to Cleary. (And I am generally a big Cleary cheerleader.)

[Blindmelon]

I am fortunate enough to have offers at both WilmerHale DC and Cleary DC. I still have CB's with firms that could really shake things up for me (Boies DC, Weil NY and Skadden LA); but assuming that these are my only two offers, I could use some input as to what might be the right choice.

I enjoyed both firms when I visited. I do think that I clicked better with the Wilmer folks. I also just liked their offices better.

I am interested in complex commercial lit, antitrust, white collar and international arbitration. I think I am in it for the long haul, though I would like to move in and our of government later in my career.

I have to admit I am doing some prestige whoring here... the strength of the Cleary brand really appeals to me (though it seems that WH has a much stronger DC presence). What else should really drive my decision when it comes to these two firms?

Thanks!

Wilmer. You click better, Wilmer and many federal agencies are revolving doors, their white collar/gov investigations practice is one of the best (think Enron/Worldcom) and international arbitration and ITC work is huge there. You will have more opportunities to explore different types of practice there, etc. Cleary is an amazing (NY) firm, but Wilmer is one of a few DC powerhouse firms, especially in what you're interested in.

[Anonymous User]

Wilmer. You click better, Wilmer and many federal agencies are revolving doors, their white collar/gov investigations practice is one of the best (think Enron/Worldcom) and international arbitration and ITC work is huge there. You will have more opportunities to explore different types of practice there, etc. Cleary is an amazing (NY) firm, but Wilmer is one of a few DC powerhouse firms, especially in what you're interested in.

OP here. Thanks for this. Substantive and helpful. The bolded was my sense when I was there - and that was a lot of the appeal. Have been wondering if that is the general consensus.

Any insight as to why WH dropped in the Vault rankings this year? Should I just disregard that entirely, or could it be a sign of trouble?

[Anonymous User]

Wilmer. You click better, Wilmer and many federal agencies are revolving doors, their white collar/gov investigations practice is one of the best (think Enron/Worldcom) and international arbitration and ITC work is huge there. You will have more opportunities to explore different types of practice there, etc. Cleary is an amazing (NY) firm, but Wilmer is one of a few DC powerhouse firms, especially in what you're interested in.

OP here. Thanks for this. Substantive and helpful. The bolded was my sense when I was there - and that was a lot of the appeal. Have been wondering if that is the general consensus.

Any insight as to why WH dropped in the Vault rankings this year? Should I just disregard that entirely, or could it be a sign of trouble?

Vault rankings are meaningless for everything except corporate work in NYC. Ignore them.

[quakeroats]

I am fortunate enough to have offers at both WilmerHale DC and Cleary DC. I still have CB's with firms that could really shake things up for me (Boies DC, Weil NY and Skadden LA); but assuming that these are my only two offers, I could use some input as to what might be the right choice.

I enjoyed both firms when I visited. I do think that I clicked better with the Wilmer folks. I also just liked their offices better.

I am interested in complex commercial lit, antitrust, white collar and international arbitration. I think I am in it for the long haul, though I would like to move in and our of government later in my career.

I have to admit I am doing some prestige whoring here... the strength of the Cleary brand really appeals to me (though it seems that WH has a much stronger DC presence). What else should really drive my decision when it comes to these two firms?

Thanks!

As one metric to think about, here are the Chambers Partners D.C. rankings for each firm:

Cleary:

Antitrust (Band 1)
David I Gelfand (Band 2)
George S Cary (Band 1)
Jeremy Calsyn (Band U)
Leah Brannon (Band U)
Mark Leddy (Band 1)
Mark W Nelson (Band 4)
Corporate/M&A & Private Equity (Band 3)
John T Byam (Band 4)
Paul Marquardt (Band 4)


Wilmer:

Antitrust (Band 3)
Leon B Greenfield (Band 5)
Thomas Mueller (Band 4)
William J Kolasky (Band 2)
Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Band 1)
Craig Goldblatt (Band 2)
William J Perlstein (Band S)
Corporate/M&A & Private Equity (Band 3)
Stephanie C Evans (Band 3)
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Scott Kilgore (Band 3)
Environment (Band 4)
Kenneth Meade (Band 5)
Intellectual Property (Band 3)
David L Cavanaugh (Band 4)
Litigation (Band 2)
Litigation: General Commercial
Randolph D Moss (Band 3)
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
Howard Shapiro (Band 2)
Media & Entertainment (Band 2)
Patrick J Carome (Band 2)
Real Estate
Allen H Fox (Band 3)
Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite: Regulatory (Band 2)
Jonathan Nuechterlein (Band 1)
Samir Jain (Band 4)

[vamedic03]

The "Cleary brand" has nothing on the "WilmerHale" brand in DC.

There are only a handful of traditional, well-respected DC firms, WilmerHale is one of them.

When looking at DC, look past the overall Vault rankings. There are several DC firms that are underrated by Vault: Hogan and Steptoe quickly come to mind.

[Anonymous User]

OP.

Vault rankings are meaningless for everything except corporate work in NYC. Ignore them.

I am slowly beginning to realize the truth in this. Admittedly, I have a hard time with it. I guess I goes used to treating rankings (USNews) as the word of God for so long that it has become a hard habit to break.

working for a NY firm's DC office may leave you with the worst of all worlds: DC bonus + NY hours.

Had not considered this. Thanks GTL.

[vamedic03]

FWIW - Vault DC rankings seem to be fairly accurate:

http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/ran ... gYear=2012

2012:

(1) Williams & Connolly
(2) Covington & Burling
(3) WilmerHale
(4) Arnold & Porter
(5) Skadden
(6) Gibson Dunn
(7) Kirkland
(8) Latham
(9) Hogan
(10) Sidley
(11) Jones Day
(12) Akin Gump
(13) OMM
(14) Mayer Brown
(15) Patton Boggs
(16) Steptoe
(17) Crowell
(18) Wiley Rein
(19) Ropes & Gray
(20) Willkie Farr