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Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 7:44 pm
by Anonymous User
Title pretty much says it all. My SO and I are moving to DC and are trying to figure out which firms provide the best chance to make partner (I know, I know, the odds are not great at any firm). FWIW, senior litigation associate at a V5 in NYC.
Inside info on any firm would be helpful. Mainly focused on big firms, but could be open to a litigation boutique if it's the right fit. Also focused on general commercial litigation and/or antitrust.
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 7:46 pm
by grand inquisitor
Williams & Connolly
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 7:51 pm
by Anonymous User
grand inquisitor wrote:Williams & Connolly
My impression was that they don't take senior laterals. Is that right?
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 11:38 pm
by Anonymous User
No inside info, but you should work with a headhunter. Your situation comes up quite a bit.
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 11:39 pm
by Nebby
Your own
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 11:41 pm
by UVA2B
As a senior lateral, are you potentially bringing any clients? That could make a big difference in finding a firm willing to entertain partnership.
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 11:59 pm
by Johann
UVA2B wrote:As a senior lateral, are you potentially bringing any clients? That could make a big difference in finding a firm willing to entertain partnership.
Lol a senior associate is not bringing clients from a V5
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 12:07 am
by UVA2B
Johann wrote:UVA2B wrote:As a senior lateral, are you potentially bringing any clients? That could make a big difference in finding a firm willing to entertain partnership.
Lol a senior associate is not bringing clients from a V5
You're probably right, but it's not insane to think a senior associate could bring work for the firm, which would directly factor into partnership. Even at a V5 (to the extent that even matters), senior associates can develop relationships that could lead to carrying the business to a new firm, so long as that firm can continue to provide the type of service they need.
It's disingenuously dismissive to think a senior associate at a big firm couldn't possibly gain the trust of a client where they would migrate with that associate. That sort of business poaching happens all the time.
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 12:17 pm
by Anonymous User
UVA2B wrote:Johann wrote:UVA2B wrote:As a senior lateral, are you potentially bringing any clients? That could make a big difference in finding a firm willing to entertain partnership.
Lol a senior associate is not bringing clients from a V5
You're probably right, but it's not insane to think a senior associate could bring work for the firm, which would directly factor into partnership. Even at a V5 (to the extent that even matters), senior associates can develop relationships that could lead to carrying the business to a new firm, so long as that firm can continue to provide the type of service they need.
It's disingenuously dismissive to think a senior associate at a big firm couldn't possibly gain the trust of a client where they would migrate with that associate. That sort of business poaching happens all the time.
Not bringing any clients, no.
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 3:12 pm
by Desert Fox
New and growing boutiques are the answer.
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 7:29 pm
by star fox
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 10:58 pm
by lolwat
Desert Fox wrote:New and growing boutiques are the answer.
The right boutique will probably give the best chance, with new and growing ones probably on the higher side of that chance. Some boutiques never make anyone partner since they want the power and money concentrated in the current partners; others hire with the mentality that they'd like to offer partnership to every associate hired as long as they stay there long enough and don't suck.
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 11:41 pm
by everythingbagel
.
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2017 11:34 am
by gaddockteeg
By partner, do you mean equity?
If you're referring to just title, I know a lot of DC firms that have high % chances of making "counsel."
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2017 11:46 am
by Anonymous User
gaddockteeg wrote:By partner, do you mean equity?
If you're referring to just title, I know a lot of DC firms that have high % chances of making "counsel."
Yes, I'm primarily talking about equity partner. But, for the sake of completeness, I'd be interested to hear about firms with a high chance at counsel as well.
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2017 6:26 pm
by Anonymous User
Anecdotal and very likely incorrect info:
First, Williams / Connolly and Covington come to mind. I’ve also heard positive things about the chances of equity at Jenner Block as well as Arnold Porter KS. Jenner’s partner track is super long from what I’ve heard — varying levels of nonequity partnership before equity.
As for counsel, obvious answers are Kirkland and Akin Gump which treat “counsel” and “non equity partner” as basically senior associates.
Also BuckleySandler. My friend is there and I think over 75% of senior associates make counsel. Counsel to Partner is another story though.
Lastly ive heard of decent chances at equity at arent fox too.
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2017 10:06 pm
by run26.2
Desert Fox wrote:New and growing boutiques are the answer.
Out of curiosity, how many dc-based firms would you put in this category?
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2017 12:21 am
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Anecdotal and very likely incorrect info:
First, Williams / Connolly and Covington come to mind. I’ve also heard positive things about the chances of equity at Jenner Block as well as Arnold Porter KS. Jenner’s partner track is super long from what I’ve heard — varying levels of nonequity partnership before equity.
As for counsel, obvious answers are Kirkland and Akin Gump which treat “counsel” and “non equity partner” as basically senior associates.
Also BuckleySandler. My friend is there and I think over 75% of senior associates make counsel. Counsel to Partner is another story though.
Lastly ive heard of decent chances at equity at arent fox too.
Williams & Connolly doesn't take laterals, right? That's what I assumed. I know once in a long while they'll take a lateral partner, but I thought lateral associates was never a thing.
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2017 12:24 am
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Anecdotal and very likely incorrect info:
First, Williams / Connolly and Covington come to mind. I’ve also heard positive things about the chances of equity at Jenner Block as well as Arnold Porter KS. Jenner’s partner track is super long from what I’ve heard — varying levels of nonequity partnership before equity.
As for counsel, obvious answers are Kirkland and Akin Gump which treat “counsel” and “non equity partner” as basically senior associates.
Also BuckleySandler. My friend is there and I think over 75% of senior associates make counsel. Counsel to Partner is another story though.
Lastly ive heard of decent chances at equity at arent fox too.
Williams & Connolly doesn't take laterals, right? That's what I assumed. I know once in a long while they'll take a lateral partner, but I thought lateral associates was never a thing.
I’ve seen some Cravath/Davis Polk/Skadden/etc first- and (on at least one occasion) second-years lateral to W&C without coming off of clerkships. I haven’t seen a lateral mid level though. And def not a senior associate. Only two lateral partners ever at the firm were a tax guy & someone from the SG’s office
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2017 12:38 am
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Anecdotal and very likely incorrect info:
First, Williams / Connolly and Covington come to mind. I’ve also heard positive things about the chances of equity at Jenner Block as well as Arnold Porter KS. Jenner’s partner track is super long from what I’ve heard — varying levels of nonequity partnership before equity.
As for counsel, obvious answers are Kirkland and Akin Gump which treat “counsel” and “non equity partner” as basically senior associates.
Also BuckleySandler. My friend is there and I think over 75% of senior associates make counsel. Counsel to Partner is another story though.
Lastly ive heard of decent chances at equity at arent fox too.
Williams & Connolly doesn't take laterals, right? That's what I assumed. I know once in a long while they'll take a lateral partner, but I thought lateral associates was never a thing.
I’ve seen some Cravath/Davis Polk/Skadden/etc first- and (on at least one occasion) second-years lateral to W&C without coming off of clerkships. I haven’t seen a lateral mid level though. And def not a senior associate. Only two lateral partners ever at the firm were a tax guy & someone from the SG’s office
Pretty sure the stated policy is that they won't take laterals after the fourth year. Not sure how that works in practice though
Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2017 12:46 am
by Anonymous User
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Re: Best DC Firms for Making Partner
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2018 8:18 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Anecdotal and very likely incorrect info:
First, Williams / Connolly and Covington come to mind. I’ve also heard positive things about the chances of equity at Jenner Block as well as Arnold Porter KS. Jenner’s partner track is super long from what I’ve heard — varying levels of nonequity partnership before equity.
As for counsel, obvious answers are Kirkland and Akin Gump which treat “counsel” and “non equity partner” as basically senior associates.
Also BuckleySandler. My friend is there and I think over 75% of senior associates make counsel. Counsel to Partner is another story though.
Lastly ive heard of decent chances at equity at arent fox too.
Very interesting, thanks. Anyone else?
I suppose it would also be helpful to know which firms provide slim/no chance at equity partner.