DC Corporate Forum

[ivyhopeful56]

I was wondering if anyone has any insight on the type/amount of corporate work available in DC. I have been searching for information on this, but have been unable to find any. I know that chambers has the rankings of the firms for corporate DC, but it doesn't give a huge description about what they actually do and how it differs from NYC corporate.

Also, don't most firms staff cases with individuals from multiple offices, so, for example, Kirkland would use NYC, Chicago, and DC associates on an M&A transaction? If this is how it works then why is there such a bias against the quality of corporate work in DC?

[Anonymous User]

I was wondering if anyone has any insight on the type/amount of corporate work available in DC. I have been searching for information on this, but have been unable to find any. I know that chambers has the rankings of the firms for corporate DC, but it doesn't give a huge description about what they actually do and how it differs from NYC corporate.

Also, don't most firms staff cases with individuals from multiple offices, so, for example, Kirkland would use NYC, Chicago, and DC associates on an M&A transaction? If this is how it works then why is there such a bias against the quality of corporate work in DC?

As a Kirkland DC associate, this is not how it works for Kirkland DC unless we are really really slow. Partners like to have their associates doing their deals, its only when there aren't a ton of deals, the deal is HUGE (e.g. the Constellation-Exelon merger), or you have a prior relationship with someone who moved offices, that you end up working directly on deals in other offices (obviously this doesn't include using tax, labor, other specialists in different offices).

This may be different at other firms, but I wanted to clarify the example you used.

The "best" place to go for corporate work in DC is well known to be Latham.

[Renzo]

I was wondering if anyone has any insight on the type/amount of corporate work available in DC. I have been searching for information on this, but have been unable to find any. I know that chambers has the rankings of the firms for corporate DC, but it doesn't give a huge description about what they actually do and how it differs from NYC corporate.

Also, don't most firms staff cases with individuals from multiple offices, so, for example, Kirkland would use NYC, Chicago, and DC associates on an M&A transaction? If this is how it works then why is there such a bias against the quality of corporate work in DC?

No, this isn't generally how it works (with some infrequent exceptions).

Generally, there will be a partner who works in one office, and he will use the associates in that office on his matters. But, he might seek specific expertise from another office if it were warranted. For example, an M&A partner in NYC would use associates in that office for pretty much all the 'corporate' work; but if there were antitrust issues that needed to be addressed in a deal, an antitrust partner in DC would be brought in on the matter and would then use associates in the DC office to do the antitrust work. However, it's not as if all these associates are in one big fungible office pool, to be called on by anyone nationwide for any type of work.

As for the broader question, corporate work is in NYC because that's where the banks are. It's the same reason regulatory work is all in DC--that's where the government is.

[keg411]

IMO, if you want corporate it seems kind of pointless to go to DC firms. Just apply to NYC V10's and be done with it. (I'm going to dangerously assume that if you have the grades for DC, you should get at least one of the top NYC firms). There are plenty of reasons top people at top schools want DC and corporate work is *not* one.

[ivyhopeful56]

Then what do corporate attorneys do in DC? Sorry for the ignorance

[Anonymous User]

my firm does a lot of bankruptcy / restructuring and transactions that involve heavily regulated industries.

[Anonymous User]

Then what do corporate attorneys do in DC? Sorry for the ignorance

They still do deals, they're just not usually as big/news-worthy as the NY deals. Its a lot of repeat client work because the client likes working with X partner as opposed to a company seeking out the firm bc they're renowned for Y kind of deal. And a lot of the partners are ex NY attorneys who wanted to move to DC for the lifestyle improvement.

Its good work and smaller groups, meaning you can probably take on more responsibility earlier if the partner likes working with you.

[Magnificent]

Then what do corporate attorneys do in DC? Sorry for the ignorance

No one comes to DC to do corporate work. If your interested in corporate your best served going to NYC. DC is more regulatory work for compliance with agency rules and litigation.

[Anonymous User]

Then what do corporate attorneys do in DC? Sorry for the ignorance

No one comes to DC to do corporate work. If your interested in corporate your best served going to NYC. DC is more regulatory work for compliance with agency rules and litigation.

Actually, I know a good number of people who do corporate work in DC. Usually it's a mix of family and other reasons for wanting to be in DC, but there is certainly corporate practices there. The deals tend to be smaller in DC than in NYC, and often more specialized. For example, Covington has a large healthcare transactional practice in DC and their sports transactional practice (which is huge) is DC based.