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It's going to be a tough life, but I would go Skadden.

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Davis polk is pretty social. Maybe not quite skadden social, but associates go out a fair amount together and they tend to be an active bunch.

Anonymous User wrote: DPW is less of a known entity -- I hear nice, and I feel like it could be a comfortable culture, but worry it could be boring/dull/too serious. I also hear passive aggressive. Not sure what this actually means. It would be helpful if anyone could provide concrete examples of what such a passive aggressive interaction might look like?

I'm a current DPW associate. In my experience, the culture is pretty good (rotated through two groups and didn't find any objectionable personalities), but then again I don't really have anywhere else to personally compare it against.

A pretty common means of delivering a markup is something along the lines of "Looks great! Just a few comments in the attached." Is that passive aggressive? I suppose so, though again I can't speak personally to how things go at other firms.

I have had laterals to DPW tell me that that culture is a little more reserved than other places, for what it's worth.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote: DPW is less of a known entity -- I hear nice, and I feel like it could be a comfortable culture, but worry it could be boring/dull/too serious. I also hear passive aggressive. Not sure what this actually means. It would be helpful if anyone could provide concrete examples of what such a passive aggressive interaction might look like?

I'm a current DPW associate. In my experience, the culture is pretty good (rotated through two groups and didn't find any objectionable personalities), but then again I don't really have anywhere else to personally compare it against.

A pretty common means of delivering a markup is something along the lines of "Looks great! Just a few comments in the attached." Is that passive aggressive? I suppose so, though again I can't speak personally to how things go at other firms.

I have had laterals to DPW tell me that that culture is a little more reserved than other places, for what it's worth.

There are a disproportionate amount of DPW trolls on TLS, so if you really love the average TLS mentality, go there. That said, Skadden is unequivocally a better m&a firm, and as an m&a associate at a V5 (but neither Skadden nor DPW), I think go w/ Skadden.

Anonymous User wrote:There are a disproportionate amount of DPW trolls on TLS, so if you really love the average TLS mentality, go there. That said, Skadden is unequivocally a better m&a firm, and as an m&a associate at a V5 (but neither Skadden nor DPW), I think go w/ Skadden.

Solid use of anon. Also, DPW trolls?

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote: DPW is less of a known entity -- I hear nice, and I feel like it could be a comfortable culture, but worry it could be boring/dull/too serious. I also hear passive aggressive. Not sure what this actually means. It would be helpful if anyone could provide concrete examples of what such a passive aggressive interaction might look like?

I'm a current DPW associate. In my experience, the culture is pretty good (rotated through two groups and didn't find any objectionable personalities), but then again I don't really have anywhere else to personally compare it against.

A pretty common means of delivering a markup is something along the lines of "Looks great! Just a few comments in the attached." Is that passive aggressive? I suppose so, though again I can't speak personally to how things go at other firms.

I have had laterals to DPW tell me that that culture is a little more reserved than other places, for what it's worth.

There are a disproportionate amount of DPW trolls on TLS, so if you really love the average TLS mentality, go there. That said, Skadden is unequivocally a better m&a firm, and as an m&a associate at a V5 (but neither Skadden nor DPW), I think go w/ Skadden.

I mean they're both Band 1 M&A firms, so to the extent what you said re: M&A strength is even true, it won't affect OP in any way and isn't something you'd notice (unless, perhaps, you were a partner at DPW--where you'd be making significantly more money than at Skadden anyway).

OP: posts like this one generally don't get a lot of replies because very few people choose between these firms. Indeed, few people are ever down to Skadden and any other V5 firm, because the other firms all have much more in common than Skadden does with any of them. The reputations are self-fulfilling prophecies, and only you can decide which is better for you.

You should do Second Looks at both firms and speak with more juniors if you haven't already - the more people you meet, the better sense you'll get for whether or not you feel like your initial fit/culture impressions are correct.

Also, while Skadden may have some M&A opportunities that DPW doesn't (unlikely as a junior tbh), you might consider whether you are dead set on that practice vs rotating through some other groups - if so, DPW will probably give you slightly better exit ops in Cap Markets, Fin Reg, and Credit/Finance.

Anonymous User wrote: OP: posts like this one generally don't get a lot of replies because very few people choose between these firms. Indeed, few people are ever down to Skadden and any other V5 firm, because the other firms all have much more in common than Skadden does with any of them. The reputations are self-fulfilling prophecies, and only you can decide which is better for you.

Interesting -- what would you say is the commonality between the non-Skadden firms?

Anonymous User wrote: There are a disproportionate amount of DPW trolls on TLS, so if you really love the average TLS mentality, go there. That said, Skadden is unequivocally a better m&a firm, and as an m&a associate at a V5 (but neither Skadden nor DPW), I think go w/ Skadden.

I'm not sure what the average TLS poster is like, but I definitely don't think I fit well with what maybe is the typical law student stereotype. I wouldn't get along with people who take themsleves a little too seriously, care a lot about doing things just for prestige, love "the law" too much, can't be down to earth or "real", etc. In a nutshell I guess I'm just looking to work with chill people. Please let me know if you have any advice on that

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote: There are a disproportionate amount of DPW trolls on TLS, so if you really love the average TLS mentality, go there. That said, Skadden is unequivocally a better m&a firm, and as an m&a associate at a V5 (but neither Skadden nor DPW), I think go w/ Skadden.

I'm not sure what the average TLS poster is like, but I definitely don't think I fit well with what maybe is the typical law student stereotype. I wouldn't get along with people who take themsleves a little too seriously, care a lot about doing things just for prestige, love "the law" too much, can't be down to earth or "real", etc. In a nutshell I guess I'm just looking to work with chill people. Please let me know if you have any advice on that

Don't work in biglaw