WilmerHale Boston for Corporate Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi all - oci is over, my options are on the table, and I just want a sanity check before making a decision.

I'm interested in corporate work - not sure exactly what type, though working with emerging companies/tech transactions seems like my kind of thing... not very interested in massive m&a work or financial institutions. As of now, I'm not a "pay off my debt and ditch biglaw" type - I think I could see myself staying in for the log haul, if they'll have me.

I've basically narrowed down my offers to Kirkland NY and WilmerHale Boston (please don't tell me to go to Ropes or Goodwin if I want Boston corporate - those aren't options, unfortunately).

I clicked much better with the people I met at Wilmer, and would rather be in Boston - but it obviously is much more of a lit firm... am I making a mistake by hitching my horse to a smaller cart like WH's corporate practice? Would I be (much) better off starting at Kirkland NY and then trying to transfer to their new Boston office in a few years? I really like the people and the work at Wilmer - I'm just a little concerned about being in the significantly smaller practice area and what that means for my long-term at the firm. Thoughts?

[Anonymous User]

wilmer isn't strong in corporate work. did you apply to K&E boston? you may want to reach out to them and say you have an offer in NY but would rather be in boston.

[Anonymous User]

wilmer isn't strong in corporate work. did you apply to K&E boston? you may want to reach out to them and say you have an offer in NY but would rather be in boston.

OP here - summering at Kirkland Boston isn't an option for me... several partners from Kirkland ny mentioned that the Boston office will be expanding quickly and it won't be a huge deal to transfer there after a year or two... which is a serious consideration.
I'm curious what exactly you mean when you say they're not "strong" - they have great chambers rankings, etc. the corporate group definitely isn't the core of the firm, but it's been my impression that the work they do is legit - just not top-of-the-market giant deals (which don't appeal to me much).

[dabigchina]

Wilmer is a no brainer imo. They have a decent corporate practice in Boston that is focused on life sciences companies. Ifrankly wasn't even aware of k/e's Boston practice.

[Anonymous User]

Wilmer is a no brainer imo. They have a decent corporate practice in Boston that is focused on life sciences companies. Ifrankly wasn't even aware of k/e's Boston practice.

Thanks - K&E just opened their Boston office in June or July, and I guess have mostly been poaching Ropes people left and right...

[Anonymous User]

wilmer isn't strong in corporate work. did you apply to K&E boston? you may want to reach out to them and say you have an offer in NY but would rather be in boston.

OP here - summering at Kirkland Boston isn't an option for me... several partners from Kirkland ny mentioned that the Boston office will be expanding quickly and it won't be a huge deal to transfer there after a year or two... which is a serious consideration.
I'm curious what exactly you mean when you say they're not "strong" - they have great chambers rankings, etc. the corporate group definitely isn't the core of the firm, but it's been my impression that the work they do is legit - just not top-of-the-market giant deals (which don't appeal to me much).

Emerging companies is the foundation of what Wilmer does in Boston. Its a pretty solid practice and if that is the work you want to do, it would probably be better off than trying to do Kirkland in Boston in a couple years. It seems like Kirkland is going to focus on PE work in the Boston office and its never a great idea to take an offer with plans to lateral if you already have an option available in the market you want to lateral to. Wilmer's corporate practice may be small, but your interest is in their strength and the adjunct professors my school uses from the firm seem to be exclusively from that practice.

[Anonymous User]

Wilmer is a no brainer imo. They have a decent corporate practice in Boston that is focused on life sciences companies. Ifrankly wasn't even aware of k/e's Boston practice.

Thanks - K&E just opened their Boston office in June or July, and I guess have mostly been poaching Ropes people left and right...

This is not completely true. The poaching has been firm wide to bring Ropes attorneys into several offices, not just bringing in people to the Boston office. If anything, the Boston office is growing fastest in Private Investment Funds with 5 or 6 people from another firm in Boston

[Anonymous User]

Wilmer is a no brainer imo. They have a decent corporate practice in Boston that is focused on life sciences companies. Ifrankly wasn't even aware of k/e's Boston practice.

Thanks - K&E just opened their Boston office in June or July, and I guess have mostly been poaching Ropes people left and right...

This is not completely true. The poaching has been firm wide to bring Ropes attorneys into several offices, not just bringing in people to the Boston office. If anything, the Boston office is growing fastest in Private Investment Funds with 5 or 6 people from another firm in Boston

This is accurate. They took the co-head of Proskauer's funds group and another partner and a few associates are going. But I know for a fact that Weil and Ropes associates have offers for K&E Boston M&A and some have jumped ship already.

On the OP's topic, Wilmer corporate will be just fine if you want to live in Boston. The emphasis is on life sciences (rather than K&E which is private equity buyouts). Pick where you want to live... don't go to NY with the goal of coming back. Wilmer is totally fine for corporate.