Evaluate why I chose STB over rest of V10 sans Wachtell Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am interested in PE M&A, PE fund formation and public M&A. I want a good exposure to acquisition financing and capital markets as well. According to http://www.mergermarket.com/pdf/FINAL_L ... 3_2011.pdf, STB's public M&A is just as good as the rest of the V5 by relevant regions and in value. They have top tier (according to Chambers) Banking & Finace, Cap Markets and M&A -- which only CSM matches. Of course they also have the top tier PE buyout and fund formation practices, which no other V5 matches.

Thought the people were good, too. There were also some other special considerations that I can't mention (risk of outing), which led me to pick them over, specifically, S&C and Skadden. I also disliked Skadden's fratty culture; a top partner at my offer dinner was dropping f-bombs and acting douchey. Hate the CSM rotation system. DPW is 2nd-rated in regards to M&A/PE and so is Cleary. Weil is only good at bankruptcy. K&E is in Chicago and does mid-market PE deals with a shark tank free-market system that favors fellaters. I felt S&C could be eliminated because I was not interested in financial institutions practice, which S&C is especially well-known for.

Considered Debevoise, but thought STB was superior in every way except maybe fewer hours and slightly better culture.

Only thing I am concerned about in PE M&A and fund formation is the fewer exit options available vis-a-vis public M&A, which some may argue S&C and Skadden are more well-known for.

Good move?

update:

Assuming OP is not simply trolling--which is an extremely questionable assumption on TLS--I fail to see what purpose the proposed evaluation has given that it sounds like decision has already been made. This could have been a good thing to ask prior to making a decision, but I really fail to see the point currently--hence I think the thread does tend to come off as either a subtle brag or troll or both.

I haven't submitted my signed letter. Honestly, I'm still potentially entertaining Skadden because I want to lateral out of NY into a satellite office after a couple of years, and they have the best satellite offices in key regions (DC, NorCal, SoCal) as well as a public M&A practice that seems second only to Wachtell.. S&C is out though.

A key question I have is whether or not specializing in public M&A vs. PE M&A will change my exit options and whether Skadden's satellite office advantage over STB would make it a better choice despite the fact that I disliked the culture/people. I'm willing to bear a sub-optimal culture/fit if it would better my exit options.

[Blindmelon]

Cool story bro.

[Flash]

Bro story cool.

[Helmholtz]

Thread reminded me of this pic:

[Anonymous User]

Not a brag thread. I'm just insecure and need objective observers to validate my reasoning.

[Helmholtz]

Not a brag thread. I'm just insecure and need objective observers to validate my reasoning.

It does not seem like a wrong choice at all, especially if you're interested in PE work.

[courtneylove]

1. Humble Brag
A form self promotion where the promoter thinks he is, almost subliminally, bragging about himself in the context of a humble statement or complaint. Everyone listening thinks he a jackass.

I am exhausted from my two week vacation to Hawaii. I need a vacation.

[irie]

i hope you realize how incredibly different the work is between "PE M&A" and "PE Fund Formation"

just because they both have the words "private equity" doesn't mean they are related practices.

[Kabuo]

I hope you realize that the title of this thread is so douchey that even if you had a legit question or point, it will invite only snark.

[TheFriendlyBarber]

Cool story, douche.

[Anonymous User]

You would have been a better fit at SullCrom

[kaiser]

In what world is a thread like this not totally douchey? OP, please grow up

[Anonymous User]

made a similar decision.

[Kabuo]

made a similar decision.

Why didn't you make a thread about it?

[Anonymous User]

You would have been a better fit at SullCrom

Why?

[Anonymous User]

You would have been a better fit at SullCrom

Why?

My OCI interviewers from there were super cocky

[Nicholasnickynic]

Sorry about your tiny pink wachtell rejection, loser.

[Anonymous User]

You would have been a better fit at SullCrom

Why?

My OCI interviewers from there were super cocky

So disclosing my situation and explaining my reasoning in hopes of drawing helpful criticism is super cocky simply because I'm successful at getting law firm offers?

[Nicholasnickynic]

You would have been a better fit at SullCrom

Why?

My OCI interviewers from there were super cocky

So disclosing my situation and explaining my reasoning in hopes of drawing helpful criticism is super cocky simply because I'm successful at getting law firm offers?

There were these ten super hot chicks, and they all wanted to have sex with me. And I chose one of them. Do you think I chose right?

What? Am I cocky? No. I'm not cocky just because I'm successful at getting hot babes and want to know if I chose right.


P.S. I really am very sorry about your tiny pink wachtell rejection.

[Anonymous User]

There were these ten super hot chicks, and they all wanted to have sex with me. And I chose one of them. Do you think I chose right?

What? Am I cocky? No. I'm not cocky just because I'm successful at getting hot babes and want to know if I chose right.


P.S. I really am very sorry about your tiny pink wachtell rejection.

I was somewhat surprised about Wachtell, but I take solace in the fact that I'll be billing 700-900 fewer hours at STB.

[Nicholasnickynic]

There were these ten super hot chicks, and they all wanted to have sex with me. And I chose one of them. Do you think I chose right?

What? Am I cocky? No. I'm not cocky just because I'm successful at getting hot babes and want to know if I chose right.


P.S. I really am very sorry about your tiny pink wachtell rejection.

I was somewhat surprised about Wachtell, but I take solace in the fact that I'll be billing 700-900 fewer hours at STB.

Thats funny, because people that are billing 700-900 hours more than you while working at Wachtell take solace in the fact that are not working at a shit-heap like STB.

[Anonymous User]

I don't think this thread is particularly douchey. Moot, since the decision is made, but not douchey. STB versus the other V10 is not an uncommon choice: with 100 SA's there are probably 300+ people with STB offers, most of whom are choosing between it and the other V10's.

I think OP's reasoning is solid, though I'll echo something someone else said which is that PE M&A is quite different from PE fund formation. The former is just M&A work, while the latter has a strong regulatory component. STB is a very strong well-rounded firm, and it looks like you chose it over CSM or S&C for cultural reasons, which is perfectly reasonable within this range of firms.

[Anonymous User]

Thats funny, because people that are billing 700-900 hours more than you while working at Wachtell take solace in the fact that are not working at a shit-heap like STB.

I'm still not totally convinced that working at Wachtell would, by itself, provide numerous more exit options vs. another V5 (or STB), given the heavy self-selection that goes on and the level of talented people working there.

[Anonymous User]

I don't think this thread is particularly douchey. Moot, since the decision is made, but not douchey. STB versus the other V10 is not an uncommon choice: with 100 SA's there are probably 300+ people with STB offers, most of whom are choosing between it and the other V10's.

I think OP's reasoning is solid, though I'll echo something someone else said which is that PE M&A is quite different from PE fund formation. The former is just M&A work, while the latter has a strong regulatory component. STB is a very strong well-rounded firm, and it looks like you chose it over CSM or S&C for cultural reasons, which is perfectly reasonable within this range of firms.

I'm interested in PE FF and want to try it out because I've heard good things about it (interesting work and more predictable scheduling). I also heard it's good to have experience in it if I want to try and exit into an in-house position at a PE firm.

[3ThrowAway99]

Assuming OP is not simply trolling--which is an extremely questionable assumption on TLS--I fail to see what purpose the proposed evaluation has given that it sounds like decision has already been made. This could have been a good thing to ask prior to making a decision, but I really fail to see the point currently--hence I think the thread does tend to come off as either a subtle brag or troll or both.