Wiley Rein v. Willkie Farr DC (poll) Forum

[Anonymous User]

Interested in both litigation and general regulatory work. Hoping to get an idea of how the two offices are viewed in DC, strengths and weaknesses of each, etc. Input from those currently working in DC is particularly welcome.

[Anonymous User]

At the agency where I'm interning, a few of the attorneys have independently mentioned Wiley as the gold standard for DC regulatory practices. The comments weren't about the experience of working there, rather it was about how the agency folks felt about working with this particular group (whether dealing with investigations, enforcement actions, policy, etc.) - one attorney in particular repeatedly described them as the most respectable firm in town, for what that's worth. I had asked around about Willkie too but generally folks were less familiar, probably due to the smaller size of their DC office.

[Elston Gunn]

I genuinely didn't realize Wilkie even had a DC office, while Wiley is one of the gold (or at least silver) standard DC reg firms. I know Wiley isn't a compensation leader or anything, but it seems like a pretty easy choice unless there's more you aren't telling us.

[Anonymous User]

Op here. My main reservation with Wiley is stability. The partner layoffs a few months ago are concerning, and their summer class size seems to be shrinking yearly. That could be looked at as a positive or negative, but it's something that's not an issue with Willkie.

On the other hand the work is supposed to be top notch, and the associate-partner ratio seems awesome. So idk.

To those voting Willkie: do you have a justification other than Vault?

[Elston Gunn]

Op here. My main reservation with Wiley is stability. The partner layoffs a few months ago are concerning, and their summer class size seems to be shrinking yearly. That could be looked at as a positive or negative, but it's something that's not an issue with Willkie.

Oh, that's fair. I don't have any insight there. I'm assuming you're coming off a clerkship because of the timing and/or are lateralling and have some experience. In that case, even if the worst happens at Wiley, you'd probably be able to lateral to another big firm at that point, but I don't really know.

[Anonymous User]

It's tough to say re: Wiley layoffs. In comparison to (obviously healthy / still-surviving) firms like Latham and Winston, Wiley's layoffs were respectful of associates, and they supposedly only axed deadwood partners and non-producing counsel. Seemed more like streamlining than drastic measures, but we can only speculate from the outside looking in. Would be interesting to get some perspective from current or past associates. That said, I'm just hoping I GET the Wiley interview

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thanks for the feedback so far everyone. Would love to hear more perspectives.

[DCNTUA]

Also interested to hear what people think about this. Hoping to be in a similar position

[Anonymous User]

Giving this a Monday morning bump

[Desert Fox]

[parkslope]

At the agency where I'm interning, a few of the attorneys have independently mentioned Wiley as the gold standard for DC regulatory practices. The comments weren't about the experience of working there, rather it was about how the agency folks felt about working with this particular group (whether dealing with investigations, enforcement actions, policy, etc.) - one attorney in particular repeatedly described them as the most respectable firm in town, for what that's worth. I had asked around about Willkie too but generally folks were less familiar, probably due to the smaller size of their DC office.

(guy who works at FCC)

Yeah I think this is about right. Wiley Rein is very well-known for its telecom practices, much more than anything else. It also does some trade, government contracts and its the preferred firm for Republican-side election law stuff.

I'm not sure what the argument for Willkie is. It's a satellite office of a New York firm. Some of the NY firms have established, substantial presences in DC (Skadden, Cleary, Latham), but Willkie is not one of them. If you want to be in DC, it's better to go with an established name than a random New York law firm's satellite office.

[Desert Fox]

[DCNTUA]

I wish I got an offer at Wiley Rein. They never dinged me after my CB but just held me forever.

DF how do you feel about Wiley Rein? What is the word on them in DC circles outside of telecomm?

[Anonymous User]

I wish I got an offer at Wiley Rein. They never dinged me after my CB but just held me forever.

DF how do you feel about Wiley Rein? What is the word on them in DC circles outside of telecomm?

[Anonymous User]

I voted Willkie b/c Wiley is pretty conservative and that doesn't float my boat.

[Desert Fox]

[Anonymous User]

"I voted Willkie b/c Wiley is pretty conservative and that doesn't float my boat."

Doubt there's a significant difference between these two in that regard. The partners I've met at Willkie generally leaned to the right, though not offensively so.

According to this, Wiley's political contributions in the 2012 campaign were 51% for Obama; Willkie's were 61% for Obama. Seems like a minor difference, and both are still in the "liberal" camp at the end of the day, unlike K&E and most of the Texas firms. In the other DC firms thread, someone mentioned Jones Day as a particularly "conservative" firm for DC; they're essentially tied with Willkie at 61%.
http://excessofdemocracy.com/blog/2013/ ... -law-firms

[Anonymous User]

I can only speak to telecom reputation (different FCC person here). Both firms have great reputations in the area. Wiley is more active in the local bar, for whatever that counts (not a whole lot). Total anecdata, but people at Wilkie seem a bit happier with the work/life balance (supervisor was a Wiley lateral after a few years of the BigLaw life, hated it, know some Wilkie people who enjoy it, but that could be/probably is just a function of different personalities). Bottom line, can't go wrong if you're doing telecom for either, which is the only way I can guide. BigLaw is BigLaw. For what it's worth, Wiley generally hires at a higher GPA than Wilkie DC.

[Anonymous User]

I can only speak to telecom reputation (different FCC person here). Both firms have great reputations in the area. Wiley is more active in the local bar, for whatever that counts (not a whole lot). Total anecdata, but people at Wilkie seem a bit happier with the work/life balance (supervisor was a Wiley lateral after a few years of the BigLaw life, hated it, know some Wilkie people who enjoy it, but that could be/probably is just a function of different personalities). Bottom line, can't go wrong if you're doing telecom for either, which is the only way I can guide. BigLaw is BigLaw. For what it's worth, Wiley generally hires at a higher GPA than Wilkie DC.

This was actually incredibly helpful. Thank you.

[Anonymous User]

I was the earlier not-so-secret FCC guy. To build off what the second person said, that all comports with my overall impression of the firms' telecom practices. Other notable distinctions: Wiley's communications practice is a bit bigger than Willkie's and they seem to rep different types of clients (check the firm websites and Chambers for further detail). To counterbalance the above comment about the Wiley supervisor: I know someone now at the FCC who lateraled from Willkie. That person liked the people at Willkie but ultimately hated the job anyway, which sounds pretty similar to the Wiley supervisor mentioned above. Seems like the standard response from those lateraling into government (they left for a reason), but others have been more enthusiastic about their private practice - I'm thinking of one attorney who did several years at Covington, loved it, and transitioned when it came time to start a family. For telecom practice, a lot of attorneys here highly recommend the elite boutiques (Wilkinson Barker and Harris Wiltshire Grannis).

[Desert Fox]

[DCNTUA]

Biglaw sucks everywhere.

But you seem so personally fulfilled at your job idgi