Fried Frank or Goodwin for M&A/PE Forum

[Anonymous User]

Offer from FF, callback at Goodwin next week.

Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

Assuming both New York, FF easily over Goodwin. Goodwin Boston would give FF a run for its money, though.

[Anonymous User]

its NY

[Anonymous User]

The answer is empirically Goodwin.

FF --> Real Estate gods, both dirt + land use
Goodwin --> Private Equity, esp tech/life science deals and middle-market M&A

[Anonymous User]

The answer is empirically Goodwin.

FF --> Real Estate gods, both dirt + land use
Goodwin --> Private Equity, esp tech/life science deals and middle-market M&A

FF for real estate might be right for dirt law + land use, but Goodwin for REIT work, which does include a decent amount of M&A.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. So without limiting to M&A/PE, which firm should i take assuming i get an offer from Goodwin?

[Anonymous User]

Bumping this old thread. Any thoughts between the 2 for PE M&A?

[Chrstgtr]

Bumping this old thread. Any thoughts between the 2 for PE M&A?

I would be hesitant to go to Goodwin over any other comparable firm given Goodwin's recent layoffs. If you are only looking to be around for another year or so, go get that fat signing bonus Goodwin is offering.

[2013]

I’d say Goodwin.

[Anonymous User]

I’d say Goodwin.

Can you elaborate on why?

[2013]

I’d say Goodwin.

Can you elaborate on why?

It has a lower hours requirement for a bonus, and I think it’s better for PE.

[Anonymous User]

I’d say Goodwin.

Can you elaborate on why?

It has a lower hours requirement for a bonus, and I think it’s better for PE.

Does 1,950 v. 2,000 hours really matter for an NYC PE practice? I had assumed most NYC PE associates easily clear 2000 hours per year.

[Chrstgtr]

I’d say Goodwin.

Can you elaborate on why?

It has a lower hours requirement for a bonus, and I think it’s better for PE.

Does 1,950 v. 2,000 hours really matter for an NYC PE practice? I had assumed most NYC PE associates easily clear 2000 hours per year.

FF also has a generous non-billable bonus hours allotment (300 pro bono and 125 firm service (i.e. recruiting, filling out surveys, or writing articles)

[Anonymous User]

Is FF historically pretty quick to follow market compensation (i.e., year end bonuses) and any corresponding increases to the salary/bonus scale?

Any sense of their remote policy going forward?

[Anonymous User]

Is FF historically pretty quick to follow market compensation (i.e., year end bonuses) and any corresponding increases to the salary/bonus scale?

Any sense of their remote policy going forward?

They do (and always will) follow market. They don't want to be first in line for client reasons but they will always match once it is apparent that it is market (i.e. after Cravath, SullCrom, et. al match).

They haven't announced WFH policy going forward but it is clear that it won't be 100% in the office nor 100% remote. In reality, this probably means that you will do whatever the partners you work for want you to do. I imagine this is the case everywhere, though

[DiligentSage]

I’d say Goodwin.

Can you elaborate on why?

It has a lower hours requirement for a bonus, and I think it’s better for PE.

Does 1,950 v. 2,000 hours really matter for an NYC PE practice? I had assumed most NYC PE associates easily clear 2000 hours per year.

FF also has a generous non-billable bonus hours allotment (300 pro bono and 125 firm service (i.e. recruiting, filling out surveys, or writing articles)

Goodwin doesn't have a cap on pro bono hours counting for billable credit, so not sure that's really an advantage either way (300 is sufficiently high as to be effectively uncapped unless you're doing a big case or something).

Agree generally with the above that the distinction with 1950 vs. 2000 is effectively irrelevant for how much you'll be working in PE but also agree that Goodwin is better for midmarket PE work.

[Anonymous User]

I’d say Goodwin.

Can you elaborate on why?

It has a lower hours requirement for a bonus, and I think it’s better for PE.

Does 1,950 v. 2,000 hours really matter for an NYC PE practice? I had assumed most NYC PE associates easily clear 2000 hours per year.

FF also has a generous non-billable bonus hours allotment (300 pro bono and 125 firm service (i.e. recruiting, filling out surveys, or writing articles)

Goodwin doesn't have a cap on pro bono hours counting for billable credit, so not sure that's really an advantage either way (300 is sufficiently high as to be effectively uncapped unless you're doing a big case or something).

Agree generally with the above that the distinction with 1950 vs. 2000 is effectively irrelevant for how much you'll be working in PE but also agree that Goodwin is better for midmarket PE work.

Is midmarket PE work better than upmarket PE work?

[Anonymous User]

I’d say Goodwin.

Can you elaborate on why?

It has a lower hours requirement for a bonus, and I think it’s better for PE.

Does 1,950 v. 2,000 hours really matter for an NYC PE practice? I had assumed most NYC PE associates easily clear 2000 hours per year.

FF also has a generous non-billable bonus hours allotment (300 pro bono and 125 firm service (i.e. recruiting, filling out surveys, or writing articles)

Goodwin doesn't have a cap on pro bono hours counting for billable credit, so not sure that's really an advantage either way (300 is sufficiently high as to be effectively uncapped unless you're doing a big case or something).

Agree generally with the above that the distinction with 1950 vs. 2000 is effectively irrelevant for how much you'll be working in PE but also agree that Goodwin is better for midmarket PE work.

300 is definitely as good as unlimited for an M&A associate. Does Goodwin offer firm service office like the 125 FF does? Even if not, I'm not sure 1875 vs. 1950 would really make a difference but it is getting closer to mattering.