Top Law Schools

Do they exist? What markets? Any advice on how to find them or when they might hire?

They exist. The one that comes to mind off the top of my head is Gunderson (though that may arguably straddle the line between "boutique" and biglaw firm).

That said, they don't seem to be the same kind of boutique that exists on the lit side (e.g. super selective, sometimes very small, filled with superstars, etc) and I suspect that is because of the differences in the nature of the work.

Pircher Nichols in LA/Chicago maybe. Go to a big firm if you want transactional.

yup the access to big time work goes to the places that have the bodies to handle it. This is why the best transactional firms are also on the bigger end

they don't seem to be the same kind of boutique that exists on the lit side (e.g. super selective, sometimes very small, filled with superstars, etc) and I suspect that is because of the differences in the nature of the work.

This is right, but they're definitely getting more selective along pedigree lines. For incoming associates, they increasingly want the best of the best law schools. For laterals, they increasingly want former Cravath, DPW, etc. types.

Wachtell.

AntipodeanPhil wrote:Wachtell.

except wachtell actually has a notable commercial and m&a lit practice composed of about 1/3 their attorneys

Not sure a "pure" transactional one exists but several boutique that have significant transactional practices exist. I work at one in Dallas that is pretty clearly split 50/50 between lit and transactional work. As a first year associate, my workload is just slightly tipped toward lit.

Most that I've seen tend to be real estate or tax focused, all of the major markets have one or two market paying ones. Both RE/Tax can be more broad than you might think too.