Milbank v. Arnold & Porter v. Holland & Knight (NYC) Forum

[Anonymous User]

So I'm currently trying to decide between offers at Milbank, A&P, and H&K for an upcoming SA position. All NYC.

For those of you that are unaware, H&K pays below market ($145k), although this isn't necessarily a deal breaker for me.

As of right now I think I'm leaning towards Milbank, however I was wondering what the wisdom of TLS has to say about it. My primary interests are corporate, although I'm not completely opposed to litigation. Milbank's Project Finance practice group is also interesting to me, both because of the work and I've heard that the hours are a bit more predictable/lenient than general corporate (correct me if I'm wrong).

My main concerns are:
1) Job security
2) Exit options
3) Work-life balance (this is relative, of course. I know that no biglaw firm has "good" work-life balance).
4) Culture (I would ideally like to work with some laid back people and not plethora of stuffy, snobby know-it-alls).

Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

What city?

[Anonymous User]

What city?

All NYC. Sorry, edited in OP.

[gchatbrah]

Milbank, and it's not even close. NYC is the HQ office, the firm is miles ahead of these other two for corporate work, and the firm has a fantastic location in the city. Add in pure lockstep compensation and a commitment to 100% offers, and you have yourself a winner. Accept, and don't look back.

[Anonymous User]

Milbank, and it's not even close. NYC is the HQ office, the firm is miles ahead of these other two for corporate work, and the firm has a fantastic location in the city. Add in pure lockstep compensation and a commitment to 100% offers, and you have yourself a winner. Accept, and don't look back.

All good points. Is Milbank really that far ahead of A&P/H&K in corporate? I know it's a corporate-centric firm, but is there really no comparison?

Anyone else with thoughts?

[Anonymous User]

This is relevant to the LA office, but it might apply to NYC - PF has the worst hours by far, just because there's a LOT of work and lean staffing.

[Anonymous User]

This is relevant to the LA office, but it might apply to NYC - PF has the worst hours by far, just because there's a LOT of work and lean staffing.

Hmm, good to know. Which group would you say has the most reasonable hours?

[Anonymous User]

This is relevant to the LA office, but it might apply to NYC - PF has the worst hours by far, just because there's a LOT of work and lean staffing.

Hmm, good to know. Which group would you say has the most reasonable hours?

No idea. I'm summering there next year. But I suppose you'll find out when you summer.

[Anonymous User]

This is relevant to the LA office, but it might apply to NYC - PF has the worst hours by far, just because there's a LOT of work and lean staffing.

Hmm, good to know. Which group would you say has the most reasonable hours?

No idea. I'm summering there next year. But I suppose you'll find out when you summer.

Summering there next year as well. I gathered that Trusts and estates might have the most reasonable or atleast most consistent hours.

[Anonymous User]

This is relevant to the LA office, but it might apply to NYC - PF has the worst hours by far, just because there's a LOT of work and lean staffing.

Hmm, good to know. Which group would you say has the most reasonable hours?

No idea. I'm summering there next year. But I suppose you'll find out when you summer.

Summering there next year as well. I gathered that Trusts and estates might have the most reasonable or atleast most consistent hours.

You summering in LA as well, or NYC?

[Anonymous User]

Summering there next year as well. I gathered that Trusts and estates might have the most reasonable or atleast most consistent hours.

You summering in LA as well, or NYC?

NYC

[Anonymous User]

This is relevant to the LA office, but it might apply to NYC - PF has the worst hours by far, just because there's a LOT of work and lean staffing.

Milbank's PF group is actually pretty humane, at least in NYC. PF is definitely not the "worst by far", not by a long shot. Securities, lev fin, FRG all beat them out. That said, the deals are pretty high powered, so while there is the occasional ruined Christmas, the unpredictability is nowhere near as brutal as with some other transactional practices at the firm.

[Anonymous User]

This is relevant to the LA office, but it might apply to NYC - PF has the worst hours by far, just because there's a LOT of work and lean staffing.

Milbank's PF group is actually pretty humane, at least in NYC. PF is definitely not the "worst by far", not by a long shot. Securities, lev fin, FRG all beat them out. That said, the deals are pretty high powered, so while there is the occasional ruined Christmas, the unpredictability is nowhere near as brutal as with some other transactional practices at the firm.

Is there a consensus on one or two practice areas that are considered to be the best for quality of life?

[Anonymous User]

Not Milbank specific, but certain types of investment fund management, specifically registered fund work, is said to be marginally more humane than other types of corporate work.

[Anonymous User]

This is relevant to the LA office, but it might apply to NYC - PF has the worst hours by far, just because there's a LOT of work and lean staffing.

Milbank's PF group is actually pretty humane, at least in NYC. PF is definitely not the "worst by far", not by a long shot. Securities, lev fin, FRG all beat them out. That said, the deals are pretty high powered, so while there is the occasional ruined Christmas, the unpredictability is nowhere near as brutal as with some other transactional practices at the firm.

Is there a consensus on one or two practice areas that are considered to be the best for quality of life?

Same dude you quoted here.

So I'm not sure about "consensus" but to be honest if you're coming to work at a firm like Milbank and "humane" is your concern...I'm not sure what the fuck you're doing. Tax and T&E are pretty humane. I can tell you that leveraged finance and bankruptcy are probably NOT your gigs. I think the alternative investments (essentially structured products) group works more reasonable hours on the whole, and same with the transportation/space finance group. Transportation is a lot more like PF in that the deals are stretched out over a much longer period of time, so while there's a lot more work done on a per deal basis, it's not like a lev fin deal where someone is asking you to crank out papers by Sunday at 5.30 on a Friday.