K&L v. BB v. V&E v. Gibson Dunn - Dallas Forum

[Anonymous User]

Interested solely in litigation. I'm struggling with the Texas-based v. satellite office difference.

[de5igual]

These are all satellite offices

[Anonymous User]

Satellite office of Texas based firm vs. satellite office of non-Texas based firm. Regardless of the classification, any input on the respective litigation practices?

[Anonymous User]

Do you have offers at all of these or is this preliminary?

[Anonymous User]

Do you have offers at all of these or is this preliminary?

Offers

[Anonymous User]

I think K&L is struggling. I think GDC, V&E and BB probably all have very similar litigation practices, though GDC may be more national in scope. It is also my impression that GDC has the best office culture - and some great young partners that came from V&E. BB Houston is miserable, but I hear BB Dallas is better. V&E has great work, but the Dallas office is very stuffy, typically overhires and the morale among the young associates (though this is mostly in their Corp group) is pretty bad. Personally, I think GDC is the clear bet.

ETA - they are, indeed, all satellites. Don't be fooled that the Dallas offices of Houston firms are less of a satellite than K&L and GDC. There is something to be said for being in the home office, but I don't think the satellite v. home office consideration should come into plat at all with these firms.

[Anonymous User]

I think K&L is struggling. I think GDC, V&E and BB probably all have very similar litigation practices, though GDC may be more national in scope. It is also my impression that GDC has the best office culture - and some great young partners that came from V&E. BB Houston is miserable, but I hear BB Dallas is better. V&E has great work, but the Dallas office is very stuffy, typically overhires and the morale among the young associates (though this is mostly in their Corp group) is pretty bad. Personally, I think GDC is the clear bet.

ETA - they are, indeed, all satellites. Don't be fooled that the Dallas offices of Houston firms are less of a satellite than K&L and GDC. There is something to be said for being in the home office, but I don't think the satellite v. home office consideration should come into plat at all with these firms.

Thanks for the input. I definitely picked up on a certain energy at the GDC office, excitement about expanding/growth they've experienced. Anyone have any input on whether I would be put at a disadvantage offer wise if I chose to split at GDC, as opposed to spending the full summer?

[Anonymous User]

I think K&L is struggling. I think GDC, V&E and BB probably all have very similar litigation practices, though GDC may be more national in scope. It is also my impression that GDC has the best office culture - and some great young partners that came from V&E. BB Houston is miserable, but I hear BB Dallas is better. V&E has great work, but the Dallas office is very stuffy, typically overhires and the morale among the young associates (though this is mostly in their Corp group) is pretty bad. Personally, I think GDC is the clear bet.

ETA - they are, indeed, all satellites. Don't be fooled that the Dallas offices of Houston firms are less of a satellite than K&L and GDC. There is something to be said for being in the home office, but I don't think the satellite v. home office consideration should come into plat at all with these firms.

Thanks for the input. I definitely picked up on a certain energy at the GDC office, excitement about expanding/growth they've experienced. Anyone have any input on whether I would be put at a disadvantage offer wise if I chose to split at GDC, as opposed to spending the full summer?

Don't have any specific intel on GDC, but I think most firms are impressed by people who have second half options - shows the candidate was sought after. Doubt it hurts your offer chances in the slightest.

[Anonymous User]

These are all satellite offices

I think K&L is struggling. I think GDC, V&E and BB probably all have very similar litigation practices, though GDC may be more national in scope. It is also my impression that GDC has the best office culture - and some great young partners that came from V&E. BB Houston is miserable, but I hear BB Dallas is better. V&E has great work, but the Dallas office is very stuffy, typically overhires and the morale among the young associates (though this is mostly in their Corp group) is pretty bad. Personally, I think GDC is the clear bet.

ETA - they are, indeed, all satellites. Don't be fooled that the Dallas offices of Houston firms are less of a satellite than K&L and GDC. There is something to be said for being in the home office, but I don't think the satellite v. home office consideration should come into plat at all with these firms.

It is ridiculous to compare the satellite status of K&L Gates Dallas to BB/V&E Dallas

[Anonymous User]

I don't see why anybody would consider K&L for even one minute after their inexcusably high no-offer rates this last season.

[20141023]

.

[Anonymous User]

I don't see why anybody would consider K&L for even one minute after their inexcusably high no-offer rates this last season.

Yup: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 9&start=60

Also, someone on here was recently saying that Gibson no-offers for grade drops or something like that, but I don't know which office they were talking about or how recent that info is. You might want to search for it before making a final decision.

Literally just read an entire thread on this. Appears to be a TLS troll that became "conventional knowledge" over time. On Vault they offered 138/141, and I imagine more than 3 had grade drops.

[cdelgado]

I don't see why anybody would consider K&L for even one minute after their inexcusably high no-offer rates this last season.

Yup: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 9&start=60

Also, someone on here was recently saying that Gibson no-offers for grade drops or something like that, but I don't know which office they were talking about or how recent that info is. You might want to search for it before making a final decision.

Literally just read an entire thread on this. Appears to be a TLS troll that became "conventional knowledge" over time. On Vault they offered 138/141, and I imagine more than 3 had grade drops.

Thank you for the incorrect information, anon.

You are quoting last year's no-offer rates for K&L, which are markedly different than this year. Furthermore, the "TLS troll" is a number of individuals who are familiar with the situation and the people involved.

[Anonymous User]

I don't see why anybody would consider K&L for even one minute after their inexcusably high no-offer rates this last season.

Yup: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 9&start=60

Also, someone on here was recently saying that Gibson no-offers for grade drops or something like that, but I don't know which office they were talking about or how recent that info is. You might want to search for it before making a final decision.

Literally just read an entire thread on this. Appears to be a TLS troll that became "conventional knowledge" over time. On Vault they offered 138/141, and I imagine more than 3 had grade drops.

Thank you for the incorrect information, anon.

You are quoting last year's no-offer rates for K&L, which are markedly different than this year. Furthermore, the "TLS troll" is a number of individuals who are familiar with the situation and the people involved.

I'm the Anon who posted the 138/141 stat. I think you misinterpreted what I said. I was referencing the GDC numbers, not K&L, and the "TLS troll" refers to the GDC no-offer-if-grades-drop schtick, not the recent K&L Gates no offer talk.

[cdelgado]

My full apologizes. When I hit post, I thought you may have been referring to GDC when I hit post, but decided to be a jackass anyway. That is entirely my fault.

Just trying to steer some people clear of what could potentially lead to a no-offer.

[jbagelboy]

i'm amused by this

also, Gibson if you ever want to leave Texas, V&E if you are committed

ETA - re: Gibson grade drops, I think the idea is that they don't stop entirely caring about grades after 1L, not that they will no offer left and right for grade drops. They let you know that academics continue to be important as a 2L. And if you have a particularly shitty 2L performance they'll give you a heads up to step it up. They are also known for being pickier about grades with lateral hiring, even for attorneys coming from other top firms, than other places

[Anonymous User]

Anymore input as to which way to start leaning with regards to these firms and their litigation practices?

[Anonymous User]

Pretty sure BB focuses way more on Lit than V&E (at least in TX)

[Anonymous User]

Pretty sure BB focuses way more on Lit than V&E (at least in TX)

How about GDC?

[Anonymous User]

Here are my rankings (current TX junior associate):

GDC - Great office culture, great work, growing office; more focus on litigation than corporate (corp. only has about 3-4 partners, but all are solid); lower p'ship chances

BB - Litigation group seems happy AFAIK, good work; have heard some rumblings of financial issues, but not sure how much weight to put on them

V&E - More focus on corporate than litigation; some office culture complaints, but mostly from corporate; lost many of the most promising partners to GDC four years ago, but still a solid option

K&L - Not worth considering if you have the above options unless you really want to split for the added $

[Anonymous User]

Just an FYI: I don't believe Gibson will let you split between firms. They will let you split, but only between two different Gibson offices.

Also, regarding the whole "Gibson no offers for grade drops" rumor, I haven't seen any truth to this whatsoever, and I know some Gibson summers that dropped substantially in their grades from 2L -> 3L. Maybe it's happened in the past, but I haven't seen it.

[Anonymous User]

Here are my rankings (current TX junior associate):

GDC - Great office culture, great work, growing office; more focus on litigation than corporate (corp. only has about 3-4 partners, but all are solid); lower p'ship chances

BB - Litigation group seems happy AFAIK, good work; have heard some rumblings of financial issues, but not sure how much weight to put on them

V&E - More focus on corporate than litigation; some office culture complaints, but mostly from corporate; lost many of the most promising partners to GDC four years ago, but still a solid option

K&L - Not worth considering if you have the above options unless you really want to split for the added $

I would completely agree with this. Go with GDC.